How to delete your Mac's Web browser history

#1 Macworld

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 08:01 AM

Post your comments for How to delete your Mac's Web browser history here

#2 Kyle_Varnell

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 08:29 AM

Was this article really necessary? Who doesn't know how to delete their browser's history?

-2

#3 user88331

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 09:07 AM

Kyle_Varnell, on 29 April 2011 - 08:29 AM, said:

Was this article really necessary? Who doesn't know how to delete their browser's history?

I know sometimes it's hard to believe the world has people different from you, but indeed it is true. Elitism is idiocy in its purest form. Have a nice day.

#4 len5

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 09:20 AM

I bet there are more than a few wives that aren't happy with this article.

len

#5 kranbollin

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 10:43 AM

I have NetShred X running and always use private browsing.
My wives are not happy.

#6 tewha

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 12:06 PM

Safari also has the Reset Safari command, which might be worth a mention for the extra options it provides.

#7 darkprints

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 12:22 PM

BetterPrivacy is an add-on for Firefox that removes "SuperCookies" that this article doesn't cover.

#8 jfa643

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 12:26 PM

Well, I am not sure I understand what the author is suggesting, but clearing histroy in Safari should not be the end of the story. It is also necessary to empty the cache. With respect to the latter, according to a hint at Mac OSX Hints a while ago, Empty Cache does not eliminate all traces of prior activity; the cache needs to be flushed as follows: at the prompt in the Terminal application, type the command:

dscacheutil -flushcache

#9 MEPace

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Posted 29 April 2011 - 02:02 PM

Kyle_Varnell, on 29 April 2011 - 08:29 AM, said:

Was this article really necessary? Who doesn't know how to delete their browser's history?

I would say the author also doesn't know how to completely erase all history of a browsing session. History, cache, top sites, images of web pages stored on the hard drive (in Safari at least), Flash cookies and other data. I'm not sure how long the trail goes but a web session generates a lot of junk that gets collected and stored in a lot of different places all of which provide information about web sites that were visited.

#10 danw12321

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Posted 30 April 2011 - 08:25 AM

The link clearly states 'Mac Basics' in the beginning of it. DO NOT CLICK ON IT IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OTHER PEOPLE DON'T!!!

www.danw.tumblr.com

#11 Zappageek

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Posted 01 May 2011 - 02:49 AM

Having worked as an Apple Tech Support Agent a few years back, I can tell you that there are many folks out there that are clueless just like WE ALL used to be at some point. They are practically begging for help. The first place I would point them to is naturally HELP in the Finder and for each application. As we really did not have time to discuss such matters, this was a logical step. Though this issue is not really "Cake or Death." I happen to like Camino as a secondary browser. It seems to be left out here - but that is ok. Most people would get the jist of what to look for from this article.

#12 neploleppard

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Posted 01 May 2011 - 08:49 AM

I know people that can't even turn their computers on. Basic tasks like this are pretty necessary to learn.

I will agree, however, it's silly to write a whole article on it. MacWorld is a vast website of knowledge. Those people that cannot clear their history are likely not reading most of the things on this site. Who would read what they don't comprehend? :-P

For the lad who thinks this is an elitist attitude... not everyone is an elitist. Some are just realistic. Idiocy comes in many forms: Including ignorantly obnoxious. Have a nice life.

#13 neploleppard

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Posted 01 May 2011 - 08:50 AM

...and now for some irony:

For those who reply aggressively to comments: Many of us don't bother returning back to the articles after the first time. We won't be reading those replies. So be sure to write them in a fashion that amuses you very much. We wouldn't want you to be bored. ;-)

#14 TeaEarleGreyHot

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Posted 01 May 2011 - 09:35 AM

Flash Cookies, anyone?

http://www.macworld....sh_cookies.html

For those not realizing it, these are cookies that flash media stores on your computer that neither you nor your browser can clear. They are expressly for tracking you. Completely evil. The only way to clear them is to go the flash player settings manager applet on adobe's website, which is so awkward and clunky that they have to write: "Note: The Settings Manager that you see above is not an image; it is the actual Settings Manager."

http://www.macromedi..._manager07.html

And Adobe wonders why we don't trust them!