how would you snoop?

[MFT81]

Ok, Ive been trying to cover my tracks, I just went through tools, to internet options, clicked on General tab and I......

1.Cleared search history.

2.Set to zero days

3.cleared history from google search bar.

if you had my computer and want to find out what sites ive been to after all this how would you do it?

did I miss anything important to securing my search history???

if you couldnt tell im pretty dumb when it comes to computers......

[Pooks]

there are all these TEMP folders everywhere...
some of them I cant even find.

There is a TEMP folder in documents and settings, where it stores everything u've ever JUST OPEN downloaded from the internet. It stores stuff going way back..

another one, I've only seen when i run anti-virus program its also a TEMP folder but its directory is called COMPLETED...

and it has tons of stuff in there that could shade light on where you've been.
I cant find that folder at all..
I've looked for it, when i was trying to get extra hard drive space the other day.
It seems a ton of space is taken up by it, but even when i put on show hidden files it still does not appear. So i am confused about that one.

[S.P.G]

Dude, there are 1000 different programs you can use to clear your tracks.

go to downloand.com search erase or wipe internet history, go from there.

And if you want to be secure! make sure you wipe or erase NOT just delete as this will not clear your computer history completely....

To do this you need to overwrite the files with random data, you cannot completely delete anything from your hard drive any other way.

[Serotonin]

I've found that Firefox is awesome for covering your tracks. Really easy to set the browser up to save nothing and by hitting Ctrl+Shift+Delete you clear the browser history.

[kynetguy]

Ok, Ive been trying to cover my tracks, I just went through tools, to internet options, clicked on General tab and I......

1.Cleared search history.

2.Set to zero days

3.cleared history from google search bar.

if you had my computer and want to find out what sites ive been to after all this how would you do it?

did I miss anything important to securing my search history???

if you couldnt tell im pretty dumb when it comes to computers......

Given access to your PC, I could still find LOTS of info. . .

There are several programs I recomend:

1) UltraShredder - will delete individual files and folder securely by over writing the area of the disk that contained the file multiple times.

2) ClearProg or IePrivacyKeeper. Both will delete IE history that IE itself will not. Will also clear cookies, temp files, recent documents and a LOT more.

3) Disk Redactor - Clears empty space on your drive. Once you have deleted a file, it is still possible to recover the file. Disk Redactor overwrites these blank spaces making it impossible for file recovery software to recover files.

I will use #1 to get rid of files on my PC first. Then I will use one of the #2 programs wo clear out all my history. Reboot. Then finish up with #3 just to make sure.

[shrpskn]

The index.dat files are where browser activities get permanently tracked and there are no options in any browser or operating system to effectively clean these files...all this, unbeknownst to many. This is, in many cases, where LE or other "snoops" for that matter, can track a users browser activities even though an alleged suspect of whatever it is that may be traced on their computer thinks that they have everything safely covered.

Many people think they have their tracks covered when they use their "built in" browser or OS tools to clear their internet cache or browser activities...it still doesn't eliminate the info stored in your index.dat files. All them tools are is to give the average user a false sense of security, hence they may engage in activities on their computer that may come back to haunt them, all while they thought they were erasing their tracks with these built in "tools" that browsers and OS's carry.

There are many programs out there that claim to erase all previous browser activities on your computer, but don't effectively gain access to the index.dat files and clean out that stored info.

I have found the most effective tool for cleaning all computer usage tracks, from programs accessed, to keys stroked, and any internet activity to be a program called "Evidence Eliminator". If this program don't wipe the slate clean on your hard drive, nothing will.

[kynetguy]

The index.dat files are where browser activities get permanently tracked and there are no options in any browser or operating system to effectively clean these files...all this, unbeknownst to many. This is, in many cases, where LE or other "snoops" for that matter, can track a users browser activities even though an alleged suspect of whatever it is that may be traced on their computer thinks that they have everything safely covered.

Many people think they have their tracks covered when they use their "built in" browser or OS tools to clear their internet cache or browser activities...it still doesn't eliminate the info stored in your index.dat files. All them tools are is to give the average user a false sense of security, hence they may engage in activities on their computer that may come back to haunt them, all while they thought they were erasing their tracks with these built in "tools" that browsers and OS's carry.

There are many programs out there that claim to erase all previous browser activities on your computer, but don't effectively gain access to the index.dat files and clean out that stored info.

I have found the most effective tool for cleaning all computer usage tracks, from programs accessed, to keys stroked, and any internet activity to be a program called "Evidence Eliminator". If this program don't wipe the slate clean on your hard drive, nothing will.

ClearProg, a free util, that I listed above, as an option to delete index.dat on reboot. (the onlytime it can be deleted as its not locked by the OS.)

If you doubt me, try it then get another program called IEHistoryView. Which searches the index.dat file for a plethora more data than the "History" option in the browser.

And all programs mentioned can be run from a USB key without being installed on the local PC. . .to further eliminate evidence that you are eliminating evidence. ;-)

I have 12 years expirience in the computer and computer security industry for a mjor financial institution. Not only can I cover your tracks, I can cover your tracks to where not even I can find the data.

However, in my company, we have the latest firewall, internet monitoring and other tools which you cannot hide from. ;-) All these utilities are great for a home user, but usually are useless in a corporate enviroment where you are watched from many other angles.

[shrpskn]

Here's another free program that cleans out index.dat info...

http://www.systenance.com/indexdat.php

[kynetguy]

Here's another free program that cleans out index.dat info...

http://www.systenance.com/indexdat.php

Not bad. Here is the one I use that is similar.


http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/iehv.html

[shrpskn]

^^Cool...hope this thread can be of help to some people here...

Obviously, in this game, there are some things we would rather not have found on our puters, eh?

[kynetguy]

^^Cool...hope this thread can be of help to some people here...

Obviously, in this game, there are some things we would rather not have found on our puters, eh?

Amen to that.

However some ISPs are allowing monitoring devices to be put on their networks that allows NSA to look at any and all traffic entering/leaving the ISPs network. Currently this is a voluntary deal with the ISPs, but I look for it to be mandated under some stupid homeland security bullshit.

I will get more details and report back. I have a buddy who owns an ISP and he said he will not put any "big brother" devices on his network unless it is mandated by law and he has not other choice.

Chances are though, if you are on one of the big boys in the ISP industry, they already have the devices in place.

[shrpskn]

Wouldn't hiding behind an anonymous proxy server prevent your ISP from monitoring your traffic?

[Valac]

"Start"
"All Programs"
"Accessories"
"System Tools"
"Disk Cleanup"

this should get most ya temp's, cookies etc.

[dirtball_619]

if i were you bro if its serious enouph. just destroy that hard drive and buy a new one as well as another copy of your preffered operating system if theres stuff you really cant have on there for whatever reason or another.

[kynetguy]

"Start"
"All Programs"
"Accessories"
"System Tools"
"Disk Cleanup"

this should get most ya temp's, cookies etc.

Do it and give me 5 minutes on your PC and I can scare the dick off of you with what is left behind . . .

[shrpskn]

^^^ ^^^

So true...

[kynetguy]

Wouldn't hiding behind an anonymous proxy server prevent your ISP from monitoring your traffic?

I guess that would ***end on what they are actually looking at. The actual data is going to be the same. (images, text and etc) However it would just look like you were going to one site. (ie:www.myfavoriteanonproxy.com)

But at the packet level, that nude photo of my mom, is still coming to your PC. (you perv, LOL)

Now if you have an encrypted session with the proxy, then that would provide protection. But I am convinced (My personal conspiracy theory) that NSA has a master key for most every encryption publicly in use.

[shrpskn]

But at the packet level, that nude photo of my mom, is still coming to your PC. (you perv, LOL)

[shrpskn]

But I am convinced (My personal conspiracy theory) that NSA has a master key for most every encryption publicly in use.

This would not surprise me my friend...the Patriot Act about shredded any privacies that may have been left to individuals.

Since 9/11, the US government will go to any extent to prevent another attack, including invading the average individual's personal privacies....encrypted or not.

I have to agree with you.

Thank goodness I don't engage in any criminal activities on the puter.

[kynetguy]

This would not surprise me my friend...the Patriot Act about shredded any privacies that may have been left to individuals.

Since 9/11, the US government will go to any extent to prevent another attack, including invading the average individual's personal privacies....encrypted or not.

I have to agree with you.

Thank goodness I don't engage in any criminal activities on the puter.

Actually they have gone way too far with the whole Patriot Act, Homeland security. (no offense to anyone here on this next comment) But they cannot even get illegal alliens out of the country. The Mexicans (illegals) want citizenship for their illegal relatives. .. .and they will probablly get it. Its sad. . .they cannot ***ort illegals without remorse or mercy, but those of use who were born here (me) or have EARNED the right through the citizenship process can have all privacy stripped away through "homeland security."

ACK, I better shut up, I am getting pissed. You can see where I am going.

[Valac]

wasnt sayin it gets everythin, it helps slightly but.

[test_cyp]

Are you trying to cover your tracks for activity on the net or someone as your girl or roomate seeing what sites you visited?