How To & More: Advanced Computing Help

If you have a broadband (very fast) connection, the time you save using a cache might be pretty small. The idea of a Web cache goes back to the days not so long ago when most of us used dial-up access to the Internet. At 56 Kbps (dial-up/modem speed) or slower, shaving off some time to get a few graphics files was significant. Dial-up is still around today, and in these cases it's still a factor, but to most of us, the time-saving benefits of a browser cache are negligible

Cache contents can interfere with Web viewing.

Consider the case where a page has been updated since you last loaded it. Sites that update frequently, such as news sites, usually, but not always contain special code that forces the browser to check for updated pages. If the browser doesn't check first, the outdated version in the cache will load instead of the fresh content.

Cached material can also be a security risk.

Many Web sites are designed to prevent any sensitive information you enter, such as banking data or passwords, from being stored in your cache. Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing if this is the case, which can leave your computer vulnerable to a hacker's attack. Usernames and other sensitive information are also often used in the contents of the address bar, which provides another route into the browser cache.

If you have a broadband (very fast) connection, the time you save using a cache might be pretty small. The idea of a Web cache goes back to the days not so long ago when most of us used dial-up access to the Internet. At 56 Kbps (dial-up/modem speed) or slower, shaving off some time to get a few graphics files was significant. Dial-up is still around today, and in these cases it's still a factor, but to most of us, the time-saving benefits of a browser cache are negligible.

It's easy to manually clear your browser cache.

If you want to clear the contents of your browser cache, all browsers offer a simple means to do it. Depending on the browser you are using, the basic instructions for the most common browsers are included in the following table.

Or make it automatic.

For those who like things to happen with minimal effort, your browser can empty the cache automatically every time you exit.

Internet Explorer 7: In the Tools menu, click Internet Options, and then select the Advanced tab. Check the Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed box.

Firefox: In the Tools menu, click Options, and then select the Privacy tab. Check the Always clear my private data when I close Firefox box.