How to view your browser history and delete it without a trace

Everything we do online, whether browsing, chatting, shopping, or watching videos, leaves a trace. This is unavoidable, however much we may dislike it. All web browsers (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, etc.) collect our data to establish a connection with the destination page and display the requested information, as we can see by viewing our browsing history.

This process automatically stores a large amount of data in the browser's cache. This is the trail of our online activity. How can we access this trail? Is it possible to delete this data? That's what we'll discuss in this post.

Before proceeding, it's important to note that clearing your internet or browser history doesn't completely eliminate the risk we mentioned earlier. This action simply clears the browser's cache, wiping the temporary memory where browsing data is stored. Removing this trace would also mean deleting your download history, login credentials and passwords, and even specific images and data stored on some websites.

It's also fair to say that this stored data doesn't mean anyone is spying on us. In reality, the information is stored to improve the browsing experience and ease of use . For example, it reduces the loading time of previously visited pages.

Even so , it's advisable to clear your browser cache regularly. This significantly reduces the risk of this data being viewed by prying eyes. It's a matter of basic security: while it's true that the browser only saves a history of visited pages, a skilled hacker can extract much more information about us from it.

Above all, it is important to erase the history if we use a computer shared with other users (for example, at your workplace) or if you connect, for example, from an internet cafe or an open WiFi network.

That said, let's see below how the browsing history can be seen depending on the browser we are using. And also what are the steps to follow to delete it, if we consider that this is necessary.

In Google Chrome

Let's start with the most popular and widely used browser in the world (it's estimated to be the preferred choice for four out of five internet users worldwide), and of course, in Spain as well. Chrome is the market leader, far ahead of its closest competitor, Mozilla Firefox.

Furthermore, it's important to remember that Google Chrome is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop operating systems, as well as Android and iOS smartphones. Regardless of which operating system you use, the procedure for viewing and deleting your browsing history is the same:

To view the history in Chrome there are two methods:

• Press the keys Control+H.
• Ir a «Settings» (the three dots on the top right) and select the option "Record".

The results are displayed chronologically, with the most recently visited pages appearing first. There is a search field to locate visited pages.

The option "Tabs of other devices" offers us the results of the user's history segmented by device that we have used to navigate: the home computer, the work computer, the mobile, a tablet, etc.

To erase the history, we access it through one of the two methods mentioned above. Next, click on the "History" tab to display the complete list of pages visited.

• To delete all history, we choose the option "Clear browsing data".
• If we only want partially clear history, there are several options: by time interval (one or several specific dates, the pages visited during the last hour, etc.) or even by checking the selection box of certain pages, choosing them one by one to be eliminated from the history.

In Mozilla Firefox

Launched in 2002, Mozilla Firefox is the second most popular web browser in the world. Like Chrome, it can be used with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. It also has a mobile version for iOS and Android.

The methods for viewing and erasing history differ for the PC version or the mobile phone version. Let's look at each of the two assumptions:

In the case of the desktop version, these are the steps to follow:

1. First we click on the icon menu (the three horizontal bars) and from there we will "Options".
   Then we select the category "Privacy & Security".
2. In it we look for the option of "Record". By clicking on it, all our browsing history will appear that we can consult in detail.
3. The deletion options can be selected in whole or in part (browsing, downloads, cookies ...).
4. Finally, the final elimination is carried out by clicking on the button "Clean now."

The process for Mozilla Firefox for mobile is slightly different. This is what we should do:

• Click on the icon menu (again the three horizontal bars). Depending on the configuration, this is located at the bottom or top of the screen.
• Then we select "Options".
  • On Android You have to select the option "Clean private data" integrated into the "Privacy & Security" menu. To execute the data deletion, click on "Clear data".
  • On iOS Access the Firefox configuration menu and select "Data Management". Then you have to move the button for visited pages to the right. Finally, we click on "Clear private data."

In Safari

Safari, Apple's browser, comes pre-installed on all Apple devices. However, the procedure for clearing browsing history differs. There's a specific method for Mac computers and another for iOS devices.

This is what to do to see and delete the browsing history if we use Safari on macOS:

1. First of all, we go to the top menu bar to click on "Safari".
2. Next, we select "Record" to view it. If what we want is to delete it, we use the option "Clear history and website data", using the custom options that the system offers.

On iOS devices, the procedure is as follows:

1. First we open the menu of "Settings".
2. Then we click on the option "Safari".
3. Then we select "Record" to view or "Clear history and website data" To erase.
4. To confirm the deletion, press "Clear history and data."

In Opera

Despite being an older browser (released in 1996) and increasingly less popular, it remains useful for many users. Furthermore, Opera is fully compatible with major operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, and Linux. Similar to Mozilla Firefox, the methods for viewing and deleting browsing history differ depending on whether the device used is a computer or a smartphone.

On a desktop computer, proceed as follows:

1. The first step is to click "Record"- The clock icon displayed in the sidebar. All visited websites will appear there.
2. If after the consultation we want to delete all or part of the history, press "Clear browsing data". 
3. Finally, we select the desired options and agree by clicking on "Delete data".

In contrast, in Opera Mini (the smartphone version), you have to go to the "Settings" menu and select the "Clear browsing data" option.

In Microsoft Edge

Let's now see how to view the history in Microsoft Edge , the successor to Internet Explorer, which, despite everything, is still used by quite a few users. The process is as follows:

1. First step: we click on the three point icon.
2. select "Setting".
3. In the drop-down menu we find the option "Exploration history" to see the pages visited and the "Clear browsing data" to remove them.
4. Finally, we click on "Delete".

On the Internet Samsung

Finally, we reviewed how to view and delete Samsung's internet history . As you probably already know, since 2012 the South Korean brand has had its own browser for Android, which it installs on all the smartphones and tablets it manufactures.

For convenience, many Samsung users do not bother to install another browser, since everything they need is already offered by this one. It is for this reason that there are so many Samsung Internet users around the world. In this case, to check the browsing history and delete it, the steps to follow are these:

1. We open the settings menu by pressing the icon with three horizontal bars.
2. Then we select "Privacy & Security".
3. The options that we have here are those of consultation (choosing «Browsing history») or deleted ("Delete navigation data").
4. To execute the cache clearing, you must finally press the button "Remove".