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Tom’s Tech Tips

Tom’s Tech Tip: Legal Nurse Consultants Empty Your Cache with Panache!

I’m often asked what’s the best way to empty the cache on a web browser. The answer depends first on why you want to clear the cache and to what extent. If you’re just trying to remove browsing history but leave the cookies, that’s one answer. If you’re trying to completely wipe out every bit of information in the browser, history and cookies, that’s another answer. Then there’s the question of which browser you’re using (IE, Firefox® or Chrome).

In this blog I’m going to concentrate on computers. And I’m going to assume there are two reasons you want to clear your cache. The first and simplest reason is that you want to cut down on the amount of memory being taken up by the cached web files. As you surf the web, your computer stores a copy of each page you visit. This is to help speed up reloading that page should you go back to it and to make your browsing experience seem faster. Caching also helped to compensate for the slow Internet speeds of the dial-up and DSL dark ages. But before computer hard drives became so large, people with profligate surfing habits and caches ate up a lot of hard drive space which actually slowed their computer’s response. Setting limits on the size of a cache file and occasionally dumping it helped to alleviate that issue.

Today, both of those issues are of little to no consequence due to increased hard drive sizes and high-speed Internet everywhere. That being said, I still tend to dump my cache when I finish a browsing session just to make sure I’m seeing the current version of each page I visit and recommend that you do the same. So, here are instructions for browser/cache clearing for three popular browsers (one of which includes a warning):

  1. In Firefox you can set this by going to Tools, Options, Privacy and check the button to “Clear history when Firefox closes.” This will not clear your cookies or saved passwords – only your history and cached pages.
  2. In Internet Explorer® (IE) you can go to Tools, Internet Options, General and check the button to “Delete browsing history on exit.” Warning: According to Microsoft® this will clear everything, including cookies, passwords, etc., so this is NOT recommended (although in my experience it does save passwords and cookies – but the risk is up to you).
  3. Google’s® Chrome browser doesn’t have the clear history on exit option without getting a plug-in, so you have to manually clear it when you’re done. I’ll give you those steps later.

I tend to use three different browsers when I’m doing research on legal nurse consulting projects. I use IE for those pages which display best in IE and to save log-ins and passwords for pages that are important, but that I don’t visit often.

Despite my previous blog, I’ve gone back to Firefox for my main browsing experience simply because I like Firefox. Best of all, using Firefox as my main browser frees me to use the Chrome browser for research and quick look-ups. The reason I like Chrome is not just that it loads quickly, but because I can wipe it after a research session so that my next search is as free of cookie-based influences as is reasonably possible. Since I’ve got Firefox and my saved passwords, cookies, etc., I use Chrome as a throw-away for legal nurse consulting-related research.

So if you’re a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant looking for a throw-away browser to give you a fresh start each time you do research for your legal nurse consultant jobs, download a copy of Chrome and get started. Then when you’re done working, click on the “hamburger” (three stacked lines) button in the upper right corner of the Chrome toolbar, then click on More tools, make sure all the buttons are checked and “the beginning of time” drop-down is selected. Then, click on Clear browsing data to wipe Chrome clean.

Legal Nurse Consultants Empty Your Cache with Panache!

Remember though, unless you want to cause yourself a world of hurt, don’t ever completely clear any browser that you use to keep stored passwords and cookies. Keeping your browsers separate takes a bit of discipline, but once you get used to it you’ll soon feel like it’s second nature and find it useful for all your purposes as a successful legal nurse consultant.

Keep on Techin’,

Tom

P.S. Comment here and share which browser(s) you use and why.

3 thoughts on “Tom’s Tech Tip: Legal Nurse Consultants Empty Your Cache with Panache!

  1. Tom-
    Thank you for the tip! I always get something fresh and useful out of each of your blogs. I really appreciate that you address all the major types of computers and programs across the board. I love my Macs! Very versatile, fast and dependable.

  2. OMG, Tom. I feel that I am in a world of trouble, just trying to understand your tech tips. Fresh from 133 hours of video and then the Houston CLNC® Certification Seminar – it was everything I hoped it would be. But I am ashamed to admit that I don’t know the meaning of “cache” in this context and I have never understood cookies.

    FYI: I have my UPS mailbox and address, have filed for my LLC, ordered my marketing materials, and had my first networking meeting Tues after my return from the Houston CLNC® Seminar.
    He is a man who knows EVERYBODY, including, get this, is the administrator of the Buncombe Co. Bar Association, AVL, NC (as well as med mal attorneys, PI, and others)!

    I keep a planner and write my agenda for the following day each night. I can’t settle for doing something every day, but have multiple goals, attaining all unless blocked by something out of my control. Now, to get those exam results!

    Thanks for all your help. I feel close and indebted to you and Vickie. You are my heroes. I will keep you posted of my success.

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*The opinions and statements made by Vickie Milazzo, the founder of Medical-Legal Consulting Institute, Inc. are based on her experiences and expertise, should not be applied beyond the specific context provided, and do not guaranty or project actual results. Vickie Milazzo is no longer involved in the operations or management of the business, but is involved as an independent education consultant.

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