The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Temporary Internet Files

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Temporary Internet Files

Temporary internet files are image, text, and formatting files that websites that you visit save on your hard drive. The files are saved on your computer the first time you visit the site. Storing a large number of files can slow down your computer's ability to perform basic tasks. You should limit the amount of space on your hard drive dedicated to storing files from visited websites. Cookies and other files have the potential to spawn popups that cover your screen in seconds.

Some browser versions do not allow you to completely avoid storing files, but you can limit the resources to 1% or less. Cleaning out the temporary internet files folder will not delete the cookies. There is software available that will scan your computer and locate all internet files (including cookies). The software recommends whether the file in question is good, bad, or ugly; all you have to do is decide whether to keep or trash it.

A little time spent learning about internet security can go a long way toward preventing computer mishaps. We should not be afraid of temporary internet files, but we should be cautious about how much we trust them and how we deal with them.

Temporary internet files are image, text, and formatting files that websites that you visit save on your hard drive. They are placed there by the websites without your intervention. The files are saved on your computer the first time you visit the site, so the next time you visit, you only need to load new information or files that have changed since the last time you visited - files that have not changed are loaded from the temporary internet files folder at a much faster speed than over the internet.

This appears to be a very appealing option, especially for those of us who still work at home on dial-up connections (my teenage brother-in-law insists I'm "old school" because I don't have DSL - I think he's right). Storing temporary internet files on the hard drive significantly reduces the time it takes to fully load and view a website.

However, there are a few questions that must be addressed in any discussion of temporary internet files. The first, and perhaps most insignificant, concern is that you may miss out on all of the website's up-to-date information. If your browser loads files from your temporary internet files folder rather than the website's updated material, you may miss out on an updated football score or see a different image than others. The system is designed to prevent such events from occurring, but the possibility exists.

Second, storing a large number of files can slow down your computer's ability to perform even the most basic tasks, such as word processing (a deadly one-two combination if you're using dial-up!). Fortunately, you can limit the number and size of files stored on your hard drive. Typically, you can set the amount of hard drive space you're willing to dedicate to temporary internet files in your browser's Tools>Options menu. Depending on your browsing habits and need for speed, you may want to set this to high or low.

Third, the temporary internet files folder may contain viruses, inappropriate images or text, or files that may leak personal information to websites. This is obviously a major concern whenever you give someone virtually unrestricted access to your hard drive. Images from an inappropriate website that you unintentionally visited (this has happened to all of us) may be saved on your hard drive. Corrupted files could have been placed there by an unknown website you only visited once. Cookies and other files have the potential to spawn popups that cover your screen in seconds.

Before you grab your pitchfork and storm the beast's castle, there are a few things you can do to gain some control over your temporary internet files folder without completely destroying it.

I already mentioned that you should limit the amount of space on your hard drive dedicated to storing files from visited websites. This is the best option for those who are less concerned with corrupted or inappropriate files being stored and more concerned with their Jurassic-era computer's ability to perform at a reasonable speed. Some browser versions do not allow you to completely avoid storing files, but you can limit the resources to 1% of your hard drive or a small number of megabytes.

Some people prefer to clean out their temporary internet files folder on a regular basis; obviously, this will remove malicious files and free up some space on your computer, but it will also remove files you may want. A quick note about the files beginning with "Cookie:" cleaning out the folder will not delete the cookies. The cookie files in the temporary internet files folder are simple files that point the browser to the actual cookie in your hard drive's "Cookies" folder. If you truly want to rid your system of internet files, you'll need to empty that folder as well.

The most prudent option, in my opinion, is to use available software to manage the content of your temporary internet files. You want some files because they make your life easier. Some files are undesirable because they slow down your computer and make your grandmother blush. There is software available that will scan your computer and locate all internet files (including cookies). The software recommends whether the file in question is good, bad, or ugly; all you have to do is decide whether to keep or trash it, then click the appropriate button.

Temporary internet files can make our internet browsing time more efficient and convenient. Regrettably, they may also jeopardize the security of our hard drives. We can keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our computers happy, safe, and secure with a little hands-on management.