In 2018 alone, over 2.5 billion user accounts were hacked. If you haven’t thought about protecting your information before, you should now.
Faced with such statistics, it might feel like protecting your data seems impossible. But there are tactics you can use to protect your personal information. One of the easiest ways to do so is to clear your browser cache.
But what does clear cache mean and why should you do it? Find out everything you need to know about the importance of clearing your cache.
What Does Clear Cache Mean?
Clearing your browser cache is a good idea for both security and performance reasons. But what does it mean to clear your cache in the first place?
When you visit a website, your browser stores information to make the loading process faster. Your browser could save location information or files that make up a website like HTML files or graphics and images.
The next time you visit that site, your browser will check for updated content and only download files that aren’t already in the cache. This process reduces the amount of bandwidth needed and lets the page load faster. Clearing your cache deletes these saved files.
The Benefits of Clearing Your Cache
Since having a cache speeds up your page loading times, why would you want to clear your cache?
First off, those saved files can take up a lot of space on your computer. This could be a problem for users with limited hard drive space. Another reason is that you may have files from websites that you never plan to visit again.
Deleting files from your cache not only frees up space, but it can also protect your browsing history. If you share a computer, you may want to get in the habit of clearing your cache after every session.
It’s also important to clear your cache to prevent compatibility problems. If you have a problem with a webpage, try clearing your cache and cookies.
Protecting Yourself Online
Reading a website’s privacy policy is also one of the best ways to protect your information online. Not only do you discover what kind of data each website collects, but you also learn more about how they use it.
If you’re concerned about privacy, disabling the cache helps to protect your information. Although it can take longer to load pages, many people find the added privacy and security worth it.
Are Cookies and Cache Memory the Same?
Both cache memory and cookies make your internet browsing experience more convenient by saving data, but they are not the same thing.
In computer terms, “cookies” are small bits of data stored on a user’s computer. These pieces of data are usually related to a user’s information and used for tracking purposes.
Two common types of cookies are session cookies (temporary cookies) and permanent cookies. Session cookies only store information as long as someone remains on that webpage. Permanent cookies store information like log-in details to make web browsing faster.
It’s a good idea to clear your cache and delete your cookies on a regular basis to protect your privacy and keep your computer running efficiently.
How to Clear Your Browser Cache on a Mac
The process of clearing your cache varies from browser to browser and also depends on the device you’re using. For instance, it’s a little different to clear your cache and cookies on a Mac versus a PC.
If you use multiple devices, it’s a good idea to learn how to clear your cache and delete cookies on each of them.
Old cache files can really bog down your Mac, making your computer slower and less efficient. Follow the steps in this article to learn how to delete cache on Mac and free up valuable hard drive space.
After you clear those files, make sure to empty your trash on your desktop. It’s also a good idea to get a cleaner app to remove any stray bits of data and leftover junk.
How to Delete Cache Files on a PC Browser
Again, finding the location of your cookies and cache memory depends on the browser that you use. Below, you’ll find the most common browsers used on a PC and the easiest ways to clear your information.
Internet Explorer
While using Internet Explorer, select the “Tools” button. Next, click on “Safety” and then select “Delete browsing history.”
You can select which files you want to keep and which ones you want to remove. For instance, you may want to delete your browsing history and cached files but keep your log-in cookies.
Microsoft Edge
To clear your browsing history and cache data stored in Microsoft Edge, go to your “Favorites” and then select “History.” Picking “Clear History” deletes your browsing history.
If you store your browsing history in the cloud and use Cortana, go to “History” again. From there, you can change what Microsoft Edge knows about you and what it stores in the cloud.
Firefox
Start by selecting the menu button in the top corner of your browser screen. Select “Options” and then click on “Privacy and Security.” Under the Cookies and Site Data section, there’s an option to clear data.
Like most browsers, your Firefox cookies location is in the same place as the cache data. From here, you can make changes such as the option to delete cookies and data when you close the browser.
Chrome
Select the Chrome menu (More menu). Pick “More Tools” from your options and select “Clear browsing data.” You can choose to delete data from a set period such as the past hour or choose all-time to delete everything.
Choose what you want to remove or keep and then clear it. If you have sync on, your cookies clear from other devices linked to your Google account as well. You can turn off sync if you want.
Other Ways to Protect Your Information
In simple terms, what does clear cache mean? It means deleting those saved files that your browser collects from websites to speed up loading times. By doing this, you protect your information and also free up space on your hard drive.
Going forward, you may want to buy a computer cleaning app that deletes these files for you. Protect yourself by changing your browser settings, managing permissions, and deleting stored passwords.
Looking for even more advice and tips on keeping yourself safe online? Check out the rest of our site for tips like these as well as more on the latest gadgets and technology.