The Internet Archive

Tip of the Day: Archive.org for Appliance Manuals

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A close-up of a Corgi's paw pressing a bright red Delete key. Behind the keyboard, colorful threads fan out to small icons: a server rack, a cloud, an archive box, a friend's laptop, a magnifying glass. Each icon still holds a tiny copy of the same document.

How Do You Delete Things from the Internet?

We say the internet is forever. We also say that once you delete something, it’s gone. Both are true, and usually at the worst possible moment. I’ll describe why deleting rarely removes every copy, why you still can’t get those copies back, and two simple habits that protect you.