Why and how to erase your browsing history

Web browsers keep track of your past activity for a reason. That history comes in handy if you want to find a funny article again, or return to your favorite photo of the kids, or if restore a tab that you accidentally closed. At the same time, some people find this constant tracking a little on the creepy side. Not to mention that, if you share a computer with others, you might not want them finding out about a gift you secretly bought them, your interest in 1970s folk rock, or your more private Google searches.



Fortunately, all of today's web browsers make it very simple to erase your history and wipe away your online tracks. In this guide, you'll find out about the information your browser automatically logs, what that data does—and how to get rid of it.

What your browser saves
Before you roll up your sleeves and start blitzing all the data stored in your browser, you should know what that information is and what it does. After all, on some occasions, you might want to clear specific types of files and not others. When you dive into a browser's settings, you'll see references to these different data types, though the terms might vary slightly from browser to browser.

First of all, our primary concern: your browser history, which is the list of sites and pages you've visited in the past. This history helps you retrace your steps, bring back pages you want to refer to again, and reach your favorite sites more quickly. Many browsers draw from your history to suggest specific URLs as soon as you start typing addresses in the search bar.

READ MORE AT: https://www.popsci.com/erase-browsing-history#page-2

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