Clearing Cache, Cookies, And Active Login Sessions

When you have a serious problem with your blog, like any variant of authentication / login confusion - maybe (for example) inadvertent creation of a second Blogger account, I will probably advise you to

Clear cache, cookies, and authenticated sessions.

Different browsers will offer different menu selections, to allow you to do this.

Here I'll note that when you clear cache, cookies, and authenticated sessions, following my recommendations, you are almost guaranteed to later have problems with Commenting, Logins, and / or Stats. Try clearing cookies selectively, if this option is provided in your browser - and if you understand which cookies you need to clear. 

Also note that, in spite of opinions expressed by some blog owners, advice to clear cache, cookies, and / or authenticated sessions only complements other advice to permit third party cookies and / or not clear cookies routinely. Please don't confuse advice to clear content, with advice to adjust your security policy - and permit key services.

With Chrome, you clear private data using the Wrench Icon - Options - "Under the Hood" - "Clear browsing data" wizard. My selections for clearing are:

• Clear browsing history
• Clear download history
• Empty the cache
• Delete cookies and other site data

I do not select, and recommend not clearing:

• Clear saved passwords

I personally do not select:

• Clear saved form data

With Firefox V3, you clear private data using the Tools - "Clear Recent History" wizard. My selections for clearing, in this case, are:

• Browsing & Download History
• Cache
• Cookies
• Active Logins

I do not select, and recommend not clearing:

• Site Preferences

I personally do not select:

• Form & Search History

With Internet Explorer V8, you clear private data using the Tools - "Delete Browsing History" wizard. My selections for clearing, in this case, are:

• Temporary Internet files
• History
• Cookies

I do not select, and recommend not clearing:

• Form data

I personally do not select:

• Passwords
• InPrivateFiltering data (this you may wish to read about)

For consistent results, do not select:

• Preserve Favorites website data

With Opera V10, you clear private data using the Tools - "Delete Private Data" wizard. My selections for clearing are:

• Delete temporary cookies
• Delete all cookies
• Delete password protected pages and data
• Delete entire cache
• Clear history of visited pages
• Clear history of downloads
• Clear bookmark visited time

I do not select, and recommend not clearing:

• Clear all email account passwords

I personally do not select:

• Clear Password Manager
• Delete persistent storage
• Close all tabs

With Safari V5, you clear private data using the Gear icon - "Reset Safari" wizard. My selections for clearing are:

• Clear history
• Empty the cache
• Clear the Downloads window
• Remove all cookies
• Close all Safari windows

I do not select, and recommend not clearing:

• Remove all website icons
• Remove saved names and passwords

I personally do not select:

• Remove other AutoFill form text
• Reset all location warnings

Firefox appears to distinguish between "Cookies" and "Active Logins". If you examine the IE V8 "Delete Browsing History" screen, you'll note the advice about cookies.

Files stored on your computer by websites to save preferences such as login information.

This makes it appear that the equivalent of "Active Logins" (aka "authenticated sessions", in some of my advice) may be simply part of "cookies".

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If you are reading this article as part of protecting yourself when using a public computer, select everything in the above checklist, when you are closing the browser. Then, if at all possible, reset the computer - either Shut Down and Restart, or Power Off, after closing all open applications. Better safe then sorry.

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Clearing of "cache, cookies, and active login sessions" is a broad process, and can haveunwanted side effects. It's possible to only clear "browser cache", and it's possible to remove cookies, selectively. You'll also want to know how to enable cookies and scripts.

Remember to restart the browser, after clearing any private data, or changing any settings. And note the possible effects, depending upon your Internet service, of cache outside your browser, which you cannot clear. And finally, consider how all of this fits into the topic ofLayered Security - which includes filters in the browser, in add-ons in the browser, in applications on the computer, and in appliances on the network.