I know this question has been posted before, so forgive my redundancy. However, I am curious if there is anything I can do to clear internet activity history (like TER posts and the like) off of my hard drive. I'm talking about the deep files, not the "recent history" that you can just delete through your regular Internet Explorer browser. I use a MS Windows XP system.
Any help is appreciated; you may post here, PM me, or e-mail me at [email protected] (obviously not my "computer" address"...lol).
-- Modified on 4/10/2004 5:54:24 PM
You didn't say what type of browser you are running but for Internet Explorer you can clear history by clicking on Tools-Internet Options-Clear History. In this General area you will also see buttons to delete your Explorer Cache and Cookies.
I'm sure somebody else will post links to freeware programs to take care of this for you but I've never found the need for them.
Just tried it and it works
Simply clearing the browser cache will prevent casual users from finding the info, but a detailed forensic examination of the drive (something many LE organizations are equipped to undertake) may still be able to recover much of the data. You will need to actually overwrite the freed data sectors on the disk in order to outfox this. On Linux (my preferred platform), the 'shred' command does this. On Windows, you'll typically need an add-on package (like Norton Utilities) to do this.
Cheers!
It's not free, but it is easy to use and works well.
if your really paranoid, you can remove your drive, open it up & take the storage filment and make it unreadable. if your unsure how to do that just take some gasoline and a lighter :P
-- Modified on 4/11/2004 12:30:38 AM
Been using this at home and office, it not only erases history, but also alters DAT files... try opening one of your DAT files with MS Wordpad or similar editing/writing program... surprise, lots of "stuff" on it right? (Index.dat is located in Windows/Termporary Internet Files Folder) This is actually a full record of every website visited along with other info you probably do not want seen.
http://smartprotector.com/eraser/
Above URL will take you to website and you can download a trial program good for 15 days... it does not erase the DAT file, but fills it up with zeros... additionally gets rid of cookies, history files from recents folders, recent Media Player files etc etc...
SG