Cookies are files used by various websites to follow you and your searches on the internet. In most cases they cause no problems to your computer. However, they do take up space, and can impact on your privacy. Advertising agencies can use them to follow the types of things you search for. There are ways to simplify these cookies, and you can customize them so you remain in control. Most browsers have a means of doing this, or you can use special applications, such as CCleaner. Let’s look at each search engine and the methods you can use to remain in control of your cookie settings.
Deleting your cookies in Google Chrome
In order to view your content settings, click on ‘menu’ and then settings’. Go to ‘advance settings’ followed by ‘content settings’. There are four options available:
- Store every cookie, with out any choice,
- Delete the cookies as soon as you conclude your session,
- Block every cookie – not always the best option, or
- Stop third-party tracking cookies.
Google Chrome also gives you the option of working with exceptions, where you can choose which websites you will allow to use cookies and those you won’t.
If you click on ‘All cookies and site data’ you will be able to see a list of all the cookies that are stored on your computer. There are various options available – delete all or choose selected files.
If you are using Android, or iOS click on ‘settings’, ‘privacy’ and and ‘clear browsing data’.
Deleting your cookies in Mozilla Firefox
Firefox was popular in the past, but has lost popularity recently, due to the difficulties experienced with the transition to mobile devices. iOS is particularly difficult. Despite that it remains popular with some internet users. It takes all cookies by default, but has a wider variety of choices when trying to manage these ‘cookies’, than Google Chrome.
Go to ‘custom settings’ and select ‘options’. Go to the ‘privacy tab’, then ‘history’, and click on ‘use custom settings’. There are some choices here…
- Choose to either ‘accept’ or ‘delete cookies’,
- Or block cookies completely,
- Or block only third-party cookies,
- Or Firefox can ask you if you wish to store cookies each time they are trying to store them,
- Once you click on ‘show cookies’ you can select from a list those you wish to delete,
- If using an android, go to the ‘privacy tab’ for more options.
Deleting your cookies in Safari
Apple mobile devices use Safari as the default browser. It is also available on Windows but is very popular with mobile device users. It only stores cookies from the websites that you actually visit, but there are options available here too.
- Go to ‘tools’ menu, ‘preferences’ and then ‘privacy’,
- There are three options on Safari that allow you to manage cookies,
- You can allow cookies, or block all cookies, or
- Block access to other third parties, including advertisers.
When deleting your cookies, go to ‘privacy’, ‘remove data’, and ‘now’. You can also delete cookies by clicking on ‘advanced’.
Deleting your cookies in Internet Explorer
A well-used browser that also offers the widest protection for users. There are several ways to manage your cookies.
Go to ‘internet options’ through the ‘Tools’ menu. Click on ‘privacy’ and there are various options available. You can accept or block all, or restrict this to those you want to keep.
You can easily delete all cookies by clicking on the ‘internet options’ then ‘general’, then go to delete. ‘Safety’ will perform a similar action.
With internet Explorer you can also select which cookies you want to delete, click on ‘settings’, and in ‘browsing history’ you will see the temporary files, that can be deleted from the list that appears.
This is also possible on Windows, but take care with important folders.
Locate ‘folder options’, ‘show hidden files, folders, and drives’; and ‘hide protected operating system files’, then click on ‘apply’.
You can also do this through your hard drive. Click on ‘AppData’ and then go to ‘roaming’ and from there you can access ‘cookies’. Here, you can delete text files. Find ‘Low’ folder and select files to delete. Once you have completed this action, return to ‘Show hidden files, etc.’ and ‘hide’, and then click on ‘apply’.
CCleaner allows you to see a list of all the files that will be deleted, and you can select. If you are sure you want all files deleted, click ‘Run Cleaner’ cookies will be deleted.