Temporary internet files include:
- Cookies.
- A history of the websites you've visited.
- Information that you've entered into websites or the Address bar, such as your name, address, and the website addresses that you've visited before.
- Saved web passwords.
- Saved web forms.
- Temporary information stored by browser add-ons. (E.g., Adobe Flash Player, Java, et al.)
HOW... for starters, here's an excellent beginner's level article on "How to [Manually] Clear Your Web History in Chrome, Firefox and IE9"
A few words about Cookies: First, what is a cookie? Short answer, see: http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/cookie-whatis.aspx. Most cookies will save your login credentials (i.e., username and password) on you PC, without expiration. Some, however, will expire after a predetermined time, such as a year, month, etc. E.g., eBay will save your login for only 24 hours; after that, the cookie expires and you have to login again.
The easy way to clear ALL temporary (junk) files: CCleaner... Those of you who took the time to read some of the comments posted (at the end of the 'How-To-Geek' article) will notice several references to a program called CCleaner, which contains no Adware or Spyware, and is reliable, stable, updated regularly, and FREE! Click here download CCleaner.
However, a word of caution! CCleaner also provides other helpful (but, potentially hazardous to your PC's health -- especially, if you don't know what you're doing) tools. Namely, I'm talking about it's Registry Cleaner. DO NOT DO MESS WITH YOUR REGISTRY UNLESS YOUR DATA IS BACKED UP! You have been warned!
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WHEN... to clear your browser's cache is, totally subjective. But, if you're having browser "issues", flushing your cache is a good place to start, because... it won't going to hurt anything and will probably clear up the problem. Examples:
- Occasionally, a cookie file can become corrupted. So, if you're having "trouble" logging in to a website (e.g., MeritBadge.Net), then "clearing your cache" will usually (almost always) fix the problem.
- If your temp. Shockwave/Flash cache files become corrupted, you could have trouble viewing videos on any site. "Clearing your cache" will usually fix the problem.
NOTE: All of this is assuming that you're already practicing good security... i.e., running good anti-virus software, firewall, anti-malware protection, etc. -and- have not been doing "stupid" things like downloading torrent files (just one example).
Ah-hem... but, that's another discussion for another time.
At any rate, when to clean you cache (or run CCleaner) is pretty much based on preference. Some folks (on the more paranoid end of the scale) set their browser(s) to clear the cache automatically each time the browser is closed (shut down). On the other end, most folks never pay attention to "it" because they don't even know about "it". And, BTW, whenever you're using a public or shared computer, it's a good idea (actually, a must do) to clear the cache before you walk away.
Personally, I clear my browser's cache, eh, fairly regularly... somewhere between weekly and monthly... or sooner, if things start slowing down or acting a little buggy.
