You may have noticed a list of previously searched for terms are displayed when you type a search into a web site search box (such as Google or Yahoo!). These previous searches are not saved by any web site, but are actually saved by your web browser through a feature called AutoComplete.

According to Microsoft: “Internet Explorer includes a feature called AutoComplete that keeps track of information that you’ve recently typed, such as Web site addresses, information in forms, and search queries. As you type new information, AutoComplete tries to anticipate what you are typing and offers possible matches.”

Unless deleted or turned off, the AutoComplete function of your browser stores all your web searches so that it can “help” you by offering dropdowns to prior searches when you start to type in a search box – at sites like Google, Yahoo, etc.

To manually turn off AutoComplete, you can perform the following steps:

Internet Explorer 7:

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options
3. Choose the tab labeled Advanced
4. Scroll down and look under Browsing for Use inline AutoComplete
5. Remove the checkmark from the box next to Use inline AutoComplete (see below)
6. Click Apply
7. Click OK

Internet Explorer 6:

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options
3. Choose the tab labeled Content
4. Under Personal Information, select Autocomplete
5. Under Use AutoComplete for, uncheck all checkmark boxes
6. Click OK
7. Click OK

Firefox:

1. Open Firefox
2. From the Tools menu, select Options
3. Choose the tab labeled Privacy
4. Uncheck the box next to Remember what I enter in forms and the search bar
5. Click OK

To manually delete AutoComplete history, you can perform the following steps:

Internet Explorer 7:

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options
3. Choose the tab labeled General
4. Under Browser History, select Delete
5. Next to Form data, choose Delete forms…
6. Click Yes

Internet Explorer 6:

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options
3. Choose the tab labeled Content
4. Under Personal Information, select Autocomplete
5. Select Clear Forms
6. Click Yes

Firefox:

1. Open Firefox
2. From the Tools menu, select Options
3. Choose the tab labeled Privacy
4. Select Clear now…
5. Put checkmark next to the box labeled Saved Form and Search History
6. Click Clear Private Data Now

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Web searches and form data aren’t the only information that is being stored on your computer as you browse the Web.

Every website you visit, picture you view, video you watch, online chat you have, and more is all being recorded in hidden files. With just a little effort, this information could be available to your spouse, your boss, your kids, or even a hacker trying to steal your identity!

Manually erasing these files each time you go online can be extremely time consuming and is not practical for most busy people. Plus, some of the hidden files that contain your sensitive data (like the locked index.dat) cannot be removed manually. Fortunately, there is an easy-to-use personal privacy solution that provides maximum privacy protection: ParetoLogic Privacy Control.

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