How to Delete Cookies
Cookies are small files that are left on your computer by websites that you visit. Cookies can be used for anything from remembering your specific preferences for a website to tracking your sessions on a website. Although cookies are not viruses or spyware, many people are still concerned about the impact of cookies on their privacy. If you are concerned about the cookies that are stored on your computer, you can remove them from your computer.
Instructions
Deleting Cookies from Internet Explorer:
- Exit Internet Explorer
- Exit any open instances of Windows Explorer
- Select Start, then Run
- In the Run box, type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter on your keyboard
- Under the tab labeled General, find the button labeled Delete (it will be in the Internet Properties box under Browsing History)
- Once you open the Delete Browsing History box, select Delete Cookies
- Choose Yes in the Delete Cookies box that you see
Deleting Cookies from Mozilla Firefox
- Select Firefox from the menu at the top of the screen
- Click Preferences
- Choose the tab labeled Privacy
- Click the Show Cookies button
- If you want to remove specific cookies, select them from the list and click Remove Cookies
- If you want to remove all of the cookies on your computer, click Remove All Cookies
Deleting Cookies from Apple Safari
- Select Safari from the menu at the top of the screen
- Click Preferences
- Choose the tab labeled Security
- Click the Show Cookies button
- If you want to remove specific cookies, select them from the list and click Remove
- If you want to remove all of the cookies on your computer, click Remove All
- Once you have deleted all of the desired cookies, press the Done button
Deleting Cookies from Netscape Navigator
- Select the Tools menu
- Pick the Cookie Manager from this menu
- Select Manage Stored Cookies
- If you want to remove specific cookies from your computer, select and delete the cookies you do not want
- If you want to remove all of the cookies on your computer, select that option to delete all of them
Every browser allows you to disable your computer from accepting cookies. However, this can cause your browser to be incompatible with certain websites that require cookies to run properly.
If you do not want to fully disable cookies but still want to have more control, you can either choose to accept only certain types of cookies or have your browser notify you before it accepts a cookie.
