Dear computer savvy gents

To hide my  tracks on my shared computer I use the 'In Private browsing' capability of my Explorer browser. I just thought if there were any other methods of concealment that fellow hobbieists would share, we might increase the membership of TER thereby enhancing the information available.

My old method was to erase history, cookies, etc. so often my wife always wondered where everything went. I would just shrug my shoulders and act dumb (not hard for me to do). Maybe this is even a dumb post but at least it's not my first.

Thanks for any help.

good to get this type of info.  For those of us not real tech savvy, these tips are of assistance as we continue to monitor TER and other forums, all of which is meant to enhance the hobby experience.

At first I was unable to copy and paste when I was in "In private browsing" making it impossible to complete a review. Then I figured out that I had to use ctrl+c to copy and ctrl+v to paste. Maybe elementary for some but an accomplishment for me.

Here is what I use for this issue.

First for computer beginners/novices this may not be the easiet solution to implement. I have been using this for a while now. It is a program called Sandbox and you can find out there easily. Just go to http://www.sandboxie.com. you can download a 30 day trial version and see if you can make it work -== it does work!! then buy it!! It is well worth the price of $40 US to get it.

This app also serves as a way to protect the "good" side of your computer from Viruses, spyware and the like which are sadly very prevelant on websites in the "adult" world

I use this program to test new applications before installing them on my windows desktop system. I run my web browser inside this little application application and whatever or wherever I go is completely gone when I close sandbox - It is a "virtual/hidden system" on my computer and the nothing is left behind on my normal system - no tracking - no cookies - no nothing!!! There are plenty of applications for deleting your internet tracks out there but you have to remember to use them and that's always the problem - the big head forgets!! LOL!!!

Hope this helps a little - just my own experiences in this world

If you buy a USB flash drive, you can use Truecrypr to create an encrypted file on it and run Firefox Portable from it.

Just download Truecrypt and follow the instructions to set it up in traveler mode,  Copy the files to the USB drive, then run Truecrypt and create an encrypted archive.  Mount the archive and copy Firefox Portable to it.  This way you can keep bookmarks, history, downloaded files, etc.

You can create a file that automatically will bring up the password prompt for the archive when you plug in the USB drive, just search google for autorun flash drive or something similar.

I also use Firefox portable, although in addition to that I engage the Tor onion router as further means to hide my tracks. This works very well for me and I highly recommend.

A second hobby hard drive that you swap out with your normal drive is a safe alternative.

I generally have the admin profile at log in and if anyone else uses the computer I make them log in as a guest, the log in is password protected.

Here is what one can do:

set up a terminal server at a remote location, such as the office. Protect that server with strong password and enable whole disk encryption (use technologies such as TPM or PGP)

remotely log on to that server and surf the web in a remote session. No browser records are ever on your home computer because you never even used the browser.

Be sure to use moderm server operating systems (2003 or 2008) so the password cannot be cracked easily. in the event that the computer is physically taken, the data on the hard drive cannot be access because it is encrypted.

I use a removable drive bay so in a panic situation i can quickly eject the hard drive and carry it with me.

another solution is to run a virtual machine inside the operating system. If you have a powerful enough computer, you can run a virtual windows inside windows. if anything happens, just destroy the virtual machine with one keystroke. Give no one else access to the virtual machine and you will be safe.

Here are your weak links.... Keylogging, your ip/dns requests and your e-mail.  If you use a shared computer, the only way around this is to load a build a container dedicated to privacy. The true crypt USB option with A TOR package is the most secure with an email service that offers an encrypted hosting environment that has clear policy on civil subpoenas. A secure livecd option is another option.

If you are trying to keep a secret from someone close to you, you need to think out a clear exit strategy as well. Technology is the weakest link these days and one of the most unforgiving.  More than one angry housemate, confidant, wife, friend, etc has been downfall of many. What is the worst that can happen if your secrets were known and who would it hurt?

If you are not worried about key logging, then a sandboxie solution with true crypt and a private dns or tor browser is good.  Remember tor can be dangerous so do your research. And of course, do inadvertently use these technologies for nefarious things. My assumption is that your are looking out for your privacy, not breaking the law.

Use Google Chrome for your browser (http://www.google.com/chrome). Open an Incognito window, which doesn't store history or anything.

I don't need to clean my tracks cause I don't even use the same browser.

I installed the opera browser to my computer. Then got rid of all the shortcuts except one, which I buried in a folder. I even keep bookmarks etc. Even better I replaced the red O Opera shortcut icon for a generic one, then renamed the shortcut from Opera to Fax Install.

The effect, I open the out of the way folder, click my Fax Install icon and I'm browsing like nobodies business. Also with Opera, if you "hastily close your browser", when you eventually reopen it again it will return all your pages and tabs like you left them. What a fricken time saver!

Make sure you delete the shortcut in the Start Menu too.

This is one of many ways I keep the hobby from mixing with home.