What if there were a database containing what you've searched for, even embarrassing info? There is. The fact is, search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft Live Search all record and retain in their vast data banks any term that you query in addition to the date and time your query was processed, the IP address of your computer, and a cookie-based unique ID that unless you delete it enables the search engine to continue to know if requests are coming from that particular computer, even if the connection changes. Microsoft Live Search also records the type of search you conducted [image, Web, local, etc.], while Google additionally stores your browser type and language. And when you click on a link displayed on Google, that may also be recorded and associated with your computer's IP address. >>