[ QUOTE ]
pjandyho said:
Thank you Aaron. Does that mean that if someone hack into your system and get to your cookies you are doomed? All on-line transaction and the likes would be known? Like getting a hold of your password?
[/ QUOTE ]
Usually a few cookies in and of themselves won't contain much presonal data that can be useful by them selves, unless you've just intered your name or other data somewhere online (usually that kind if info is in many other places if someone has access to your machine.
The temporary internet files (or internet cache) is a different story. It may contain HUGE amounts of personal information that you have given websites -- and hold onto it for a long time. Credit card numbers, passwords, etc.
Your internet cache is designed to save some info so that your browser doesn't have to always get everything from a site EVERY time you want to see it. While it can save you time, cut down net traffic, it also poses some security concerns, as you may well imagine.
A prudent approach might be to experiment with the size of your cache and the conditions under which it is refreshed, so you achieve a compromise of retaining enough to keep your machine quick -- yet not so much to be a security liability. IMO wiping the cach often emhances your security, also.
All of the security threats mentioned about temporary internet files also apply to your Win SWAP FILE, only to a much GREATER degree, since sensitive data may be written to your SWAP FILE (on your hard drive) any time your computer is powered up -- not just when you're online.