Everything you do on your computer leaves bits of evidence all over your hard drive. Deleted files are not deleted - they are merely marked in the file allocation table as unprotected, freeing up the space to be overwritten when future files are written to the drive.

If you were ever investigated and your computer siezed, or if your SO ever became suspicious and examined your computer well enough, you may be providing them with damning evidence.

The only *foolproof* way to eliminate all accumulated traces of hobby related activity on your computer is to reformat the hard drive(s) and start over.

Short of that, you can

remove any references in terms of cookies, stored passwords, form auto fill and history from your browser

remove any references to emails and addresses from your email program

delete  any saved attachments or emails or incriminating documents

Run a byte level randomizing hard drive cleaner on your computer to eliminate "deleted" files....

This might get you by an SO or other nosy person with access to your computer but may not be adequate with LE.....

I leave the remedial choices up to you....

My suggestion for going forward is this:

Obtain TWO 32 gb encrypted / hardware password protected USB 2.0 flash drives. I recommend this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N7C51G

Install a fresh copy of another browser program (I prefer Opera) on the flash drive.

Install a fresh copy of an email program on the flash drive as well, or use a web based email service like Gmail.....

store any documents or attachments related to your hobby activities on the thumb drive. Always use the browser and or email program on the thumb drive for hobby related activities.

set a strong password on the thumb drive

periodically back up the first thumb drive to the second one. Be sure to use a strong password on the second drive as well, preferably the same password I'd think.....

keep them in a safe and relatively hidden place when not in use.

This will almost certainly keep an amateur from finding evidence of your hobby related activities on your computer. And may get you by an LE investigation as well, as long as your thumb drives are not found or cannot be proven to belong to you.....

Reference the final scene is Terminator II.

(It helps if you live next door to a steel mill.)

I'll just blow the fucker up...Boom...All gone!

Why is it I'm getting such a kick out of everyone's posts lately? And, no, I'm not on drugs. They're either really fun (like this one --thanks Hungary) or they're so hateful and ridiculous you can't help but laugh.

Hugs,
Ciara

Well, you should not use a company computer or internet connection unless you own the company.  Execs have been fired over this.  If you must hobby from work use a personal devise & a 3G connection as well as free e-mail.

At home, never access questionable sites or private e-mail if anyone else is in the house...  set computer to erase tracks or use a other browser.  The new IE8 has an "in private" screen.  Then delete everything again, for security reasons.  A "windows washer" program...  "for increased security"...  get rid of spyware...  will keep family members from stumbling on activities.

A suspicious spouse may need help but a computer expert, PI, LE, will have no trouble unless you've run Washer after each use.  

A provider's computer might be scrutinized.  
A hobbists may be subject to Homeland Security  customs searches.  (Experienced hobbists and business people with company secrets, clean their hard drives, download over the internet at their destination, clean again before returning through customs.)
Normally a client's computer is not targeted by LE...  but not secure from family.  

Electronics can screw you!  
Many use a hobby phone (turned off when not in use.)
Private free e-mail with no association to civie life.
Do not use credit card for gas, snacks, gas, anything somewhere you shuld not be!  Pay cask if you must!
While not the primary evidence, EZ Pass has confirmed a client's travels where he claimed he wasn't...  in divorce court.  

Don't do anything dumb...  
Happy Hobbying,
skb

for the very simple fact that you will have no warning about seizure. no chance to prepare. incompetant investigation aside. there will be traces of activity

this gent is basically correct when he says
"The only *foolproof* way to eliminate all accumulated traces of hobby related activity on your computer is to reformat the hard drive(s) and start over." but to be foolproof you have to do more.

even with reformating, all previous data can be forensically retrieved -- with this exception: you use easily found software to 'scrub' the entire hard drive to dod standards.
this means there are three layers if data written over the top of every bit.
then you reformat. that takes a while.

(not interested in arguing the matter. this is what i do for a living. now. not 6 months or 6 years ago.)

there is actually more spy tech that can be used but it is uncommon in le cuz they got the element of surprise in gettin' your stuff

what about so? if they are as tech savvy as you -or more - you have no chance in hiding.

In addition to all the computer cleaning, which I take care of religiously, I had to clear the recent history in the GPS (used it to get to her incall), then have it search for the places I would be expected to have gone over the weekend so even if she looked there all would appear normal.

Also, in addition to installing the washer programs on your computer, consider installing the same ones on hers.  After all, if your computer needs "increased security" surely hers does as well!

that you are obviously doing something right. When you can find the bright side of any situation, even the ridiculous, something good will come of it. In this case, it's simply laughter.

really LE will seldom have reason to access a hobbiest's computer.  Either they catch the hobbiest soliciting or they don't.  

A pimp?  Sure.  
An Agency?  Sure.
Illegal money transfers?  Sure.  

The real computer risk is family members or company tech guys or company policies.  
skb