leaving tracks on your computer

[islandman4567]

I read on another thread that microsoft IE still leaves bits of info on your computer after you've cleared your history . anyone know if this is true ?

I'm sure a lot of others have the same concerns . Unless you're the only one using a certain computer , I'm sure you want to be as discreet as possible .

I clear the history , delete the cookies , and clear the temp internet files . is there anything I've forgotten?


I'm sure everyone's seen those internet washer programs that pop up any time you surf the porn sites . They try to make it look like official microsoft warnings .

I always thought these things were scams , trying to play on your fear and ignorance of the computer.

 

[islandman4567]

I know the post wasn't a review , but I thought it might get a faster response over here . If the mods feel that they gotta move it to the lounge , fine.

 

[ed_lepps]

The answer is yes. If all your worried about is your wife or g/f finding your history, you should be ok. BUT...if you are using your work computer, or other computer where some savy IT type might have access, you should get yourself some privacy software. I use SurfSecret (do a search for surfsecret and you'll find it...or just look under the yahoo category of privacy software). It allows you to clean your computer and to shred any downloaded files multiple times. No one, short of the FBI, will be able to see where you've been.

 

[xarir]

If all your worried about is your wife or g/f finding your history, you should be ok.
...
No one, short of the FBI, will be able to see where you've been.

What if your wife works for the FBI?

</Asshat>

 

[Musketeer]

Yikes!

Ooh, then you are in deep s**t!!!!

 

[grizzledvet]

When I delete the cookies, I checked the trash bin and it says there are so many protected files there, but I believe what I deleted could be brought back or restored. If I clear the trash bin, it should only be getting rid of the trash no? I just don't want to get rid of something important. Anyone?

 

[calloway]

grizzledvet...just deleting cookies or any files into the trash bin could come back to haunt you. I personally like Window Washer... free trial through www.webroot.com. (Don't forget to remove the period) It "bleaches" any file up to 7 times before discarding. I have also found "Spy Sweeper" from the same site very useful in removing spyware that usually track your every move on the web.

 

[zzap]

Yes I recommend Window Washer too. Most people think if they clear the history, cookies, cache they are ok. Not true at all... really it's all still there and can be recover from the hard drive with the right tools. Nothing is ever deleted from a hard drive, it's just removed from the file directory... freeing up the space and later something may write over that area in the hard drive but it may take years! Your sex pics still exist on the hard drive even after deleting them. Windows Washer can be set to write garbage back to the hard drive to truly destroy any and all files you want gone.

 

[stoonman]

The answer is yes. If all your worried about is your wife or g/f finding your history, you should be ok. BUT...if you are using your work computer, or other computer where some savy IT type might have access, you should get yourself some privacy software. I use SurfSecret (do a search for surfsecret and you'll find it...or just look under the yahoo category of privacy software). It allows you to clean your computer and to shred any downloaded files multiple times. No one, short of the FBI, will be able to see where you've been.

Of course, if you are at work its all but certain that there is a gateway/firewall. This will either record where everybody goes, or at the very least have the ability to record where an indevidual of interest has been.

Simply put, don't do anything at your office, that you don't want them to know about, because they will find out if they want to.

 

[drlove]

Nothing is ever deleted from a hard drive, it's just removed from the file directory...

If you have nothing better to do, and don't mind going through the trouble, you can do a full system recovery with your recovery disk. This reformats and completely erases your hard drive, esp. useful if you have sensitive financial info on your computer, and were interested in buying a new one and selling your old one.

 

[algonquinguide]

Stoonman has it right.. I used to work for a computer company and if your using your work's network going through their server they can capture everything that passes through the server so doesn't matter what you do on your terminal if your using the companies network then your screwed for your privacy. Then again if your looking for escorts at work then I would suspect that your already screwed if an I.T. is looking.

Simply deleting the Cookies, Cache, and Files leaves the Index.dat file on your Hard drive this is a record of ever site you have visited.. Deleted files can be recovered and if your running Window Washer or like program that will just send up signals that you have something to hide. Run your privacy program from a removable drive and take it with you or uninstall it after each use..

or better yet just don't surf at work if you wish to not get caught if you have an IT department.

 

[hardlicks]

after every session I delete all cookies, temporary files , AND history, yet I cannot seem to eliminate my handle OR posting topics from memory banks. When I go to a website that requires a password, harlicks is always listed there. In the subject field previous headings are listed. The only way I can seem to erase them is to use the delete key for every single line. What a pain. Can anyone help?

 

[Remo]

hardlicks,

You likely have a feature turned on in Windows that recalls passwords. I remember the first time I entered one after installing it asked if I wanted windows to keep track of passwords. I said no.

I think you can turn that option off somehow but I don't recall exactly where it is. Try rooting around in the internet options. Just don't change anything unless you are sure of it.

 

[Toad]

Get tweak UI

If you are using a windows OS get the free MS app TweakUI. This is available on the Microsoft site just do a search for it. It has a paranoid tab that will delete all this kind of evidence for you.

 

[algonquinguide]

to stop MSIE from plugging in your user name and password into forms do the following.

Tools > Internet Options > Content > Auto Complete

From this screen you can tell MSIE what to complete and what not to complete.

Hope that helps

 

[zzap]

Of course, if you are at work its all but certain that there is a gateway/firewall. This will either record where everybody goes, or at the very least have the ability to record where an indevidual of interest has been.

Simply put, don't do anything at your office, that you don't want them to know about, because they will find out if they want to.

Not if you connect to an external proxy server by way of SSL connection. Everything from your browser that’s passing through the gateway/firewall/ router will be encrypted by the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) connection to the proxy. The proxy is what really then goes out on the net to fetch what you want. The server you connect to, say a porn site even doesn’t know who you are... they see the IP number of the proxy server. The only thing the IT guys at work will log is your connecting to https://anonymizer.com
Your computer at work will not auto cache anything when on an SSL connection. This is a good thing too.