The Shared Computer Privacy Problem
The next user can open the address bar and see your recent URLs. They can find your autofilled email address in a login form. If you stayed logged into a site, they have access to your account. If you downloaded something, the download history is visible. This isn't a theoretical risk — it's how browsers work.
What Gets Left Behind After a Session
- Browsing history: Every URL you visited, visible in the address bar autocomplete and the history menu
- Session cookies: If you didn't fully close the browser, session cookies may still be active — meaning active login sessions
- Persistent cookies: 'Remember me' login cookies that survive the session entirely
- Form autofill data: Your email address, name, and other form fields saved for future autofill
- Download history: A record of every file you downloaded during the session
- LocalStorage data: Sites may have written identifiers or draft content to LocalStorage that persists across sessions
- Saved passwords: If the browser prompted to save a password and you clicked yes, it's now stored for the next user
Why Incognito Mode Isn't a Reliable Solution for Shared Use
Incognito mode is useful on shared computers — but only if you always remember to use it, and only if you use it correctly from the start of every session. In practice, most people open a regular browser window first, do some browsing, then remember incognito. Everything from the regular-window portion of the session remains.
Automatic Cleanup: The Reliable Alternative
With Broom Cookie Cleaner, you can set a profile rule with the 'On Browser Exit' trigger. When the browser closes, it automatically clears: cookies, history, LocalStorage, form data, downloads history, and any other data types you've included. The next person opens the browser to a clean state.
This approach is more reliable than incognito because it runs on close rather than requiring setup before you begin.
Take Control of Your Privacy Today
Automatically manage and delete cookies with Broom Cookie Cleaner
Setting Up Broom for Shared Computer Use
Here's the recommended Broom configuration for shared browsing scenarios:
- 1Create a 'Shared Use' profile: Name it clearly so you know what it does. Set the trigger to 'On Browser Exit' so it runs automatically when the browser closes.
- 2Select all data types: On a shared machine, there's no reason to preserve any local data. Enable cookies, history, cache, LocalStorage, IndexedDB, form data, downloads, and service workers.
- 3Activate the profile in the extension: Open the Broom extension, go to Profiles, and activate your Shared Use profile. It runs automatically from that point.
- 4For shared home computers: Consider a separate profile that keeps your own account cookies (whitelist your specific domains) while cleaning everything from other users' sessions.
- 5Pair with a strong password on the browser profile: Broom handles data cleanup; browser profile separation handles preventing access to your bookmarks and saved passwords.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about browser cookies answered
What if I can't install extensions on the shared computer?
On public computers where you can't install software, your best option is to use the browser's built-in 'clear browsing data on exit' setting if available, use incognito mode for every session without exception, and avoid logging into sensitive accounts entirely.
Should I use a password manager on a shared computer?
No. Never save passwords on shared browsers, and don't use browser-based password autofill. Use a standalone password manager app on your phone to look up credentials — or memorise them for accounts you use frequently.
Can other users see files I downloaded in incognito mode?
Yes. Files downloaded during incognito sessions are saved to the file system normally and remain after the incognito window is closed. The download history entry in the browser is deleted, but the file itself persists. Always delete downloaded files manually if using a shared machine.
Is there a risk someone can recover data after Broom clears it?
Standard browser data clearing overwrites the file system records but doesn't perform a secure multi-pass wipe. For most shared computer scenarios (family PCs, public libraries), this level of protection is sufficient. For high-security requirements, use a dedicated private machine.
