“CRL Clear” or “Cache Refresh” is a term used in computing to refer to the process of clearing the cache of a web browser or a system’s Certificate Revocation List (CRL) cache.
A CRL is a list of digital certificates that have been revoked by a certification authority (CA) before their scheduled expiration date. The CRL is used to verify the authenticity of a certificate and to ensure that a revoked certificate is no longer trusted.
Clearing the CRL cache forces the system to download the latest version of the CRL from the CA’s server, ensuring that the system has the most up-to-date information on revoked certificates.
Clearing the cache of a web browser has a similar effect, as it forces the browser to download the latest version of a website or web page, rather than using a cached version that may be out of date.
In summary, clearing the CRL cache or a browser cache can help to resolve issues related to outdated information or certificates, and can improve the security and reliability of your online interactions.
Benefits Of CRL Clear
Clearing the Certificate Revocation List (CRL) cache can have several benefits, including:
- Improved Security: Clearing the CRL cache ensures that the system has the most up-to-date information on revoked certificates, improving the security of your online interactions by helping to prevent the use of revoked or fraudulent certificates.
- Resolving Issues with Outdated Information: If a certificate has been revoked but the system’s CRL cache has not been updated, the system may still trust the certificate and allow it to be used. Clearing the CRL cache can resolve these issues by ensuring that the system has the most current information on revoked certificates.
- Improved Reliability: Clearing the CRL cache can also improve the reliability of your online interactions by ensuring that the system is not relying on outdated or incorrect information about the validity of certificates.
- Resolving Connectivity Issues: In some cases, clearing the CRL cache can resolve connectivity issues related to SSL/TLS certificates. For example, if the system’s CRL cache contains outdated information about the revocation status of a certificate, it may block the connection to a secure website or web service.
How Long Does It Take To Clear My Cache?
The amount of time it takes to clear your cache depends on the size of the cache and the speed of your device. Generally, clearing the cache is a quick process that only takes a few seconds to a few minutes.
- Google Chrome: To clear the cache in Google Chrome, click the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window, select “More Tools,” and then “Clear Browsing Data.” You can choose to clear the cache, as well as other data, such as cookies and history, from the “Clear Browsing Data” dialog box.
- Mozilla Firefox: To clear the cache in Mozilla Firefox, click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the browser window, select “Options,” and then “Privacy & Security.” In the “Cookies and Site Data” section, click “Manage Data” and then “Remove All.”
- Microsoft Edge: To clear the cache in Microsoft Edge, click the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window, select “Settings,” and then “Privacy & Security.” In the “Clear Browsing Data” section, click “Choose what to clear” and then “Cached images and files.”
- Safari: To clear the cache in Safari, click the “Safari” menu in the top-left corner of the screen, select “Preferences,” and then “Advanced.” In the “Advanced” tab, check the “Show Develop menu in menu bar” checkbox. From the “Develop” menu, select “Empty Caches.”
How To Clear Local CRL
The process of clearing the local Certificate Revocation List (CRL) cache depends on the operating system and the software you’re using to manage certificates. Here are some general steps you can follow to clear the CRL cache on different operating systems:
- Windows:
- Open the “Command Prompt” as an administrator.
- Type the following command: “certutil -urlcache crl delete”.
- Press “Enter.” The local CRL cache should be cleared.
- Mac OS:
- Open the “Terminal” application.
- Type the following command: “sudo security delete-crl.”
- Press “Enter.” You may be prompted to enter your password.
- After entering your password, the local CRL cache should be cleared.
- Linux:
- Open a terminal window.
- Type the following command: “sudo rm /var/lib/ca-certificates/crl/*.”
- Press “Enter.” You may be prompted to enter your password.
- After entering your password, the local CRL cache should be cleared.
Note: The above steps may vary slightly depending on the specific version of the operating system you’re using. If you’re having trouble clearing the local CRL cache, it may be helpful to consult the documentation for your operating system or consult an IT professional.
Is It Good To Clear My Cache?
Clearing your cache can be a good thing to do for a number of reasons. Here are a few:
- Speed up your device: Over time, your cache can become cluttered and slow down your device. Clearing it can help to improve performance.
- Free up storage space: Cache files can take up a significant amount of space on your device, especially if you have been using it for a long time. Clearing your cache can free up valuable storage space.
- Fix errors and bugs: Sometimes, corrupted or outdated cache files can cause errors and bugs. Clearing your cache can help to resolve these issues.
However, it is important to note that clearing your cache will also remove any saved passwords, form data, and other information that is stored in your browser cache. So, it is a good idea to export and save this information before clearing your cache.
How Do I Refresh And Empty Cache?
The process of refreshing and emptying the cache depends on the web browser you’re using. Here are some general steps you can follow to refresh and empty the cache in some common web browsers:
- Google Chrome:
- Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select “More Tools.”
- Select “Clear Browsing Data.”
- In the “Clear Browsing Data” dialog box, select “Cached images and files” and any other data you’d like to clear.
- Click the “Clear data” button. The cache should be emptied.
- To refresh the page, click the reload icon in the address bar or press “Ctrl” + “F5” on Windows or “Cmd” + “Shift” + “R” on Mac.
- Mozilla Firefox:
- Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select “Options.”
- Select “Privacy & Security.”
- In the “Cookies and Site Data” section, click “Manage Data.”
- Click “Remove All.” The cache should be emptied.
- To refresh the page, click the reload icon in the address bar or press “Ctrl” + “F5” on Windows or “Cmd” + “Shift” + “R” on Mac.
- Microsoft Edge:
- Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window.
- Select “Settings.”
- Select “Privacy & Security.”
- In the “Clear Browsing Data” section, click “Choose what to clear.”
- Select “Cached images and files” and any other data you’d like to clear.
- Click the “Clear now” button. The cache should be emptied.
- To refresh the page, click the reload icon in the address bar or press “Ctrl” + “F5.”
- Safari:
- Click the “Safari” menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Select “Empty Cache.” The cache should be emptied.
- To refresh the page, click the reload icon in the address bar or press “Cmd” + “R.”
Note: The steps to CRL clear, refresh and empty the cache may vary slightly depending on the version of the browser you’re using.
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