thought: Most of them are 12 years old! Just think what they'll be able to do when they're older. What's a person to do? This part outlines what you need to know and do to stay safe online, as well as how to secure personal information like browsing history from prying eyes. But Firefox wouldn't be much of a browser if it left you to fend for yourself, so I also tell you about the steps Firefox takes to protect you. Those 12-year-old twerps don't stand a chance.           Chapter 14: Clearing Your Tracks Overview It's your tenth anniversary. Your spouse turns to you inquisitively and says, "I'm sorry, and you are?" It wasn't all that long ago that computers were equally rude. So-called dumb terminals knew nothing about the person in front of them and had to keep asking the same question day in and day out: "I'm sorry, and you are?" Thankfully, you live in the personal computing era. And what's the use in having a computer if there's nothing personal about it? Life is hard, and computers make it easier by remembering information about you so you don't have to keep entering it. As possibly the most-used program on your computer, your Web browser in particular needs to keep track of all sorts of information: your usernames, passwords, where you downloaded stuff, and the complicated addresses of sites you visit frequently. Can you imagine if you had to remember everything on your own? Human brains just weren't designed to store the Internet (and the Firefox developers haven't yet acquired the licensing to redesign them). Trustworthy technologies, of course, keep you in control of your private information at all times. Firefox gives you control over just how much information you want Firefox to remember about you and allows you to wipe the slate clean at any time. Also keep in mind that none of the information Firefox stores about you is accessible via the Internet; it all remains on your own computer.             Using the Clear Private Data Feature Firefox stores a variety of information while you browse, such as your browsing history, your download history, and the online forms you fill out. Each piece of information is stored to make your browsing experience more convenient. Download history, for example, is maintained so that you can easily find and open the files you download. Although this kind of memory is convenient, you will probably want to clear it frequently if other people use your computer (such as family members or co-workers) so that no one can invade your privacy.