Computer Help

[randolph]

I think computer privacy is important for many of us.
I was under the impression that clearing cookies and internet sites in the browser was sufficient. That is not the case, a file called index.dat outside of Windows, in DOS, keeps track of all your internet activity and cannot be easily deleted. There are programs on the internet that can clear these files.
I have installed a recommended free program from www.pctools.com called "privacy guardian" that is supposed to clean all internet records from your computer.

Also, I keep all images downloaded from the internet on a flash card.

Another thing, Windows media player does not clear all files from the "open" menu. It is necessary to go to: (start, properties,customize,clear) in the classic start menu to remove media records.

Better to be safe than sorry. :yes:

[ila]

Thanks, Randolph.

[Tread]

I usually delete index.dat files with CCleaner, but never looked what is written in it or where they are. I use firefox as well, but could only find the index.dat files from internet explorer, windows media player and other Microsoft programs and services.
Did you know where it is? Or does firefox not have it?

Edit:
I don't have to reboot after deleting, is there a way to read the index.dat files, cause I'm not sure if they are deleted.

[SusanMichelle]

Use a program called Windows Washer. it does a full clean of you internet history, recycle bin, internet chache's. It is an excellent peice of kit.

[sesame]

You can stop media player from keeping records of your media files.
Open Windows media player, click Tools--> Options --> Privacy.
Now untick the box that says,
save file and URL history in the player

You can do a better job of controlling the software by reconfiguring the registry hive using regedit. Regedit can be opened by simply typing regedit in Run. Warning: You can really mess up Windows if you Tweak something you shouldn't.

But other than that, you can have fun by hacking your windows operating system. Hacking here is like customising Windows, its nothing malicious.

[sesame]

I think computer privacy is important...
...Also, I keep all images downloaded from the internet on a flash card.

... ... ...Better to be safe than sorry. :yes:
Fine, thats okay with internet privacy. (like Foreign Policy ;))

Now then, what about Homeland Security? :D

I mean how do you protect your files from falling into wrong hands?

I store them into folders, convert those folders into mini Drives disguised as pdf files(whatever extension I give them). And then store them as data DVDs.

To absolutely protect them (with the mini drive trick), I use a free software called TrueCrypt. Its very helpful and allows large files. Mine are usually 600 MB each. It's password protection is very strong.

[Marine_N41_432]

I've often worried about hidden data and evidence left on my hard drive, but never got any definitive pointers about how to achieve total elimination.

Will save a link to this page and do a bit of experimentation later.

Thanks again.

Sesame - How do you actually ' hack ' your own Windows system ? I run Windows 2000 Professional.

Thanks and :respect:

[sesame]

Its like rearranging small things according to my needs.
My PC should work and feel like my unique taste, not just any other PC.
Have you ever seen a custom made bike or car? Its exactly like that.

Windows allows us certain degree of customisation and leaves room for advanced users to Tweak things here and there. I am not destroying the Op sys to shreds, just redecorating it. Example: Some softwares keep tack of our activities by default. I hack into it's registry and change the default itself. Problem solved!

In fact all open source softwares expect us to change things. (Windows is not open source, by the way) Bill Gates is a very protective man!:p

[crossingoceans]

Does this works on windows 7 too? Also, private browsing mode on forefox 3.5 may help too.

[randolph]

You can stop media player from keeping records of your media files.
Open Windows media player, click Tools--> Options --> Privacy.
Now untick the box that says,
save file and URL history in the player

You can do a better job of controlling the software by reconfiguring the registry hive using regedit. Regedit can be opened by simply typing regedit in Run. Warning: You can really mess up Windows if you Tweak something you shouldn't.

But other than that, you can have fun by hacking your windows operating system. Hacking here is like customising Windows, its nothing malicious.

Clicking the (tools-options-privacy) does not completely clear media files from Windows media Player. To check it out, click (files-open and click on the down arrow where you can enter a media file). A list of previously run files will appear. To clear these files it is necessary to go to (start-property's-classic start menu-customize-clear).
This removes recently accessed documents, programs,and Web sites.
At least that how it works on my computer.

[blah blah blah]

thats why no one gets on my computer at all. even though, i'm sure my information isn't completely safe online. good thing i dont have anything i care about on here

[sesame]

Clicking the (tools-options-privacy) does not completely clear media files from Windows media Player. To check it out, click (files-open and click on the down arrow where you can enter a media file). A list of previously run files will appear. To clear these files it is necessary to go to (start-property's-classic start menu-customize-clear).
This removes recently accessed documents, programs,and Web sites.
At least that how it works on my computer.

Thank you, Randolph. I didnt know that.:respect:

[randolph]

A couple of ways files can be password protected on the hard drive.

First, use the "Microsoft One note" program. Groups of images, passwords, text and links to websites can be password protected.

Another was is with "Open Office" from Sun micro. Individual files can be password protected.

I don,t know how good the protection is in these programs. Probably could be hacked by a hacker but not likely by a girlfriend or wife.

[Adis]

There's something else you can do. Get a separate partition with another operating system (such as linux) and do all your 'private' stuff on there and keep it password protected. There are loads of easy to understand tutorials for this.

That way you don't have to go digging through the endless maze of directories for files and records that might have been left by some software - not to mention spyware that records what you do on the internet without you knowing about it.

Also you don't have to worry about remembering to do delete cache/cookies/tempfiles etc.

[sesame]

Is this software helpful for ASM programming? Please check it out.

http://www.sharewareconnection.com/titles/assembler.htm

[johndowe]

Hi there.

I'll check it soon, i'm in the UFO thread, you should look at my Wonder Woman thread.

JohnDowe.

[CreativeMind]

LOL you must all be living a wild, secret life compared to me!

I clean things out normally...I obviously do checks for viruses and spyware and that sort of thing...and I make it a point to clean out cookies and history just for good ol' fashioned maintenance reasons. But as for hiding and burying and renaming files, I'm not doing anything illegal, so why bother going to TOO much trouble?

Besides, I figure the worst that will happen is someone will accidentally see something and say "Oh my! You've got some porn saved on your computer!" -- at which point I'll laugh and say, "Yeah, just like 99.999% of everyone else in the world!" :p

But these are good tips for many to know (or to at least consider), so it was a great thread to have started. :respect:

[randolph]

LOL you must all be living a wild, secret life compared to me!

I clean things out normally...I obviously do checks for viruses and spyware and that sort of thing...and I make it a point to clean out cookies and history just for good ol' fashioned maintenance reasons. But as for hiding and burying and renaming files, I'm not doing anything illegal, so why bother going to TOO much trouble?

Besides, I figure the worst that will happen is someone will accidentally see something and say "Oh my! You've got some porn saved on your computer!" -- at which point I'll laugh and say, "Yeah, just like 99.999% of everyone else in the world!" :p

But these are good tips for many to know (or to at least consider), so it was a great thread to have started. :respect:

Hey Creative, haven't seen much of you lately, good to have you back.
I don't have anything "illegal" either but if my old lady saw all of these tranny pictures she might take away my computer and make me wear her panties. sob sob. :lol:;)

[NCC-1701]

haha, i dont need this stuff :D i have my own personal laptop, that one one else uses. I even have this site bookmarked as 'TLF' XD

[johndowe]

Hi there.

The best way to ptotect yourself from unwanted pregnancies and STD's is abstenance.

Adapt this rule to computers, and you got the best protection against detection of internet porn material and site exploration, and most internet cafes don't care where on the internet you go as long as it's legal and it doesn't adversly affect their computers, some also include good visual privacy.

johnDowe.

[johndowe]

Hi there.

At the moment it seems not to be avaliable, i'll check later mayby it will be posted then.

JohnDowe.

[SluttyShemaleAnna]

That is not the case, a file called index.dat outside of Windows, in DOS,

You do know the DOS no longer exists in NT based windows? So NT, 2000, XP, Vista and 7 do not run on DOS. DOS in fact cannot even run on a NTFS file system.

If you really don't want to get busted then the most important thing is to not use Internet Explorer! IE totally blows chunks.

Also, don't use Windows media player or anything else with a media libary, use something like Media Player Classic, which also happens to be a fuck lot more advanced.

[sesame]

You do know the DOS no longer exists in NT based windows? So NT, 2000, XP, Vista and 7 do not run on DOS. DOS in fact cannot even run on a NTFS file system.
Whats that? Just type "command" in "Start"--> "Run" and press enter. And you will see the DOS window. You can run Dos in FAT32.

[Steve.Dark]

Okay, I bought a new comp about 2 weeks ago, I tried to install my Creative cam and it seems to not work right.. During the install I get some weird message it it doesn't work... I;m running windows 7 atm

[johndowe]

You do know the DOS no longer exists in NT based windows? So NT, 2000, XP, Vista and 7 do not run on DOS. DOS in fact cannot even run on a NTFS file system.

If you really don't want to get busted then the most important thing is to not use Internet Explorer! IE totally blows chunks.

Also, don't use Windows media player or anything else with a media libary, use something like Media Player Classic, which also happens to be a fuck lot more advanced.

Whats that? Just type "command" in "Start"--> "Run" and press enter. And you will see the DOS window. You can run Dos in FAT32.

Hi there.

To clarify the DOS thing.

DOS was an operating system, all versions of win up to and including win98 worked under dos, so the CPU loaded DOS and then loaded win.

Now with XP and NTFS systems, windows is it's own complete operating system and it does have a command interpreter that runs DOS commands but it works under WIN, so it is only partially DOS, and it will do MOST of what DOS did, but not all.

JohnDowe.

[johndowe]

Okay, I bought a new comp about 2 weeks ago, I tried to install my Creative cam and it seems to not work right.. During the install I get some weird message it it doesn't work... I;m running windows 7 atm

Hi there.

If you don't know, i'm a cpu tech.

To make your cam work you need new win7 drivers and software, to get them you go to the cam's manufacturer's site and d/l the needed software, if it is a Creative cam you go to www.creative.com and click support or driver downloads, and using your cams model # you get the proper software and install it, if it is avaliable, otherwise you WILL have to get generic cam software and most of them aren't very good.

JohnDowe.