Why Do Deleted History Items Show Up in Search?

So you just bought your significant other a present and cleared your browser history to conceal the deal, only to be foiled by the present popping up in the search when they use the computer. The Web browser's history field isn't the only thing that keeps track of your search history and what you enter on websites you visit. The browser also runs autofill and autocomplete services that predict what you're going to fill in on online fields based on what you typed in the past. Additionally, services like Google may keep track of your search history.

1. Autocomplete and Autofill

   • Autocomplete and autofill are two features designed to help reduce typing based on previous behavior. According to PC Magazine, autocomplete offers suggestions as to which word or Web address a user is trying to enter, while autofill is a feature that will fill out additional data on a form based on the information previously entered in fields. Autocomplete and autofill are not included in browser history as they perform different functions; however, what they contain can be just as informative as Web browser history.
     

   Site-stored History

   • Some search engines that work with a user account store your Web search history. The Web-based history saves search results to behave similarly to autocomplete, except on a platform-neutral level. Site-stored search history is also helpful for the search engine because it can custom-tailor the autocomplete-style search guesses to your personal search history to focus on what else you are likely to search for.
     

   Delete Browser Data

   • Autocomplete and autofill data can be deleted from the browser under a separate setting from the browser history. The process varies from browser to browser.
     To clear the data in Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" icon, choose "Internet Options" from the drop menu, open the "Content" tab, select "Settings" under the "AutoComplete" header, check all the boxes and click "Delete AutoComplete history."
     To clear the data in Firefox, select "Options" from the "Tools" drop menu, open the "Privacy Tab," click "Clear Recent History," set the "Time range to clear" to "Everything," check the "Form & Search History" field and choose "Clear Now."
     To clear the data in Chrome, select "Settings" from the "Customize" icon drop field, enter the word "Search" in the search field and uncheck the box next to "Use a prediction service to help complete searches and URLs typed in the address bar."
     

   Disable Google History

   • You can delete your Google account browsing history by going to Google's Web History site (see Resources.) This website will bring up a list of all websites viewed associated with your Google account. To delete all past search activity, click on the "Settings" option from the gear icon drop menu, click "Delete All" and then select "Delete All" again from the pop-up window.