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View Full Version : Can the history you have deleted be seen by a computer expert


Rachel8997
Jun 20, 2010, 08:39 AM
I know how to delete the computer history but I was wondering if I can be seen by a computer exert Even if he was looking really deap into everything he could find?

Curlyben
Jun 20, 2010, 08:44 AM
Yep, but really depends on just how good they are.

ScottGem
Jun 20, 2010, 08:45 AM
Why would this concern you?

InfoJunkie4Life
Jun 21, 2010, 10:33 AM
If you look into computer forensics, you will find that data is hidden in many places on the drive. The first thing you learn is that just because it is deleted doesn't mean its gone. The info is deleted from the Master File Table, but the data on the disk is still there until new data overwrites it.

On top of this, the data is written to memory, which means it may have remnants on the hard drive due to the paging file. Also, I'm not sure how much data the prefetch/superfetch system gathers from the browser. Some sites plant flash cookies within system directories, and activeX controls leave traces in the registry.

There is data being spewed all over your system just by using the internet. It is very hard to get rid of all of the traces, and even if you did, the servers you visited probably have some sort of inbound record keeping that will keep your IP on file for a couple of years. They can prove you visited certain content even if they don't have the computer you did it on.

Good Luck.

NeedKarma
Jun 21, 2010, 10:40 AM
Yep, but really depends on just how good they are.And it also depends on how good the deleter is. ;)

Rachel8997
Jun 21, 2010, 11:21 AM
And it also depends on how good the deleter is. ;)

Do you know how to delete things really well?

NeedKarma
Jun 21, 2010, 11:43 AM
Do you know how to delete things really well?Yep, I do tech support on the side. You can try installing Ccleaner and using the cleaner feature.

InfoJunkie4Life
Jun 21, 2010, 12:02 PM
I would recommend deleting all traces using the browser's delete settings. Search the system directory for flash based cookies. Empty your prefetch folder. Use a tool to wipe the pagefile.sys and the hiberfil.sys. Then empty the recycling bin, and do a free space wipe. Do a hard reboot to clear the memory and start using it like nothing ever happened...

InfoJunkie4Life
Jun 21, 2010, 12:03 PM
I think there's even a tool out there to clear all of the tags associated with the files on the disk so that you can't even tell when they were last accessed.

ScottGem
Jun 21, 2010, 01:37 PM
I still wonder why this concerns you. If you are getting rid of your PC, take out the hard drive and take a hammer to it. Otherwise, someone trying to get info would have to have access to your PC.

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 08:48 AM
I think there's even a tool out there to clear all of the tags associated with the files on the disk so that you can't even tell when they were last accessed.

Yeah Im kind of a 13 year old girl.! Can you please say that all again in a way I can understand it and do it?? :-D

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 08:50 AM
I still wonder why this concerns you. If you are getting rid of your PC, take out the hard drive and take a hammer to it. Otherwise, someone trying to get info would have to have access to your PC.

No Im not getting rid of my PC.! Its very personal things I don't want a computer excpert to see :-{

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 08:51 AM
Yep, I do tech support on the side. You can try installing Ccleaner and using the cleaner feature.

Ow do I do that?

NeedKarma
Jun 22, 2010, 09:14 AM
Here's the direct download link: http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup232.exe

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 09:19 AM
Here's the direct download link: http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup232.exe

Thank you so much!! You are a life saver!! :D Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 09:21 AM
Here's the direct download link: http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup232.exe

Ok so that's done.! Now can it bee seen by a computer expert even if he's like the best in the world:confused:

NeedKarma
Jun 22, 2010, 09:30 AM
Ok so thats done.!!! Can it bee seen by a computer expert even if hes like the best in the world:confused:Probably. If you're that worried then stop doing the stuff that is worrying you.

ScottGem
Jun 22, 2010, 09:30 AM
No Im not getting rid of my PC.!!!! Its jst very personal things I dont want a computer excpert to see :-{

See but that's my point. How do you think a computer expert is going to have access to your PC? Why do you think any stranger would be interested in the personal things of a 13 yr old? You are being paranoid about this so stop worrying. Unless you were involved in some crime that would put your PC in the hands of a computer forensics expert, no one is going to see anything.

If you try playing around with these tools without knowing what you are doing, you could damage something that will make your PC inoperable.

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 09:36 AM
See but that's my point. How do you think a computer expert is going to have access to your PC? Why do you think any stranger would be interested in the personal things of a 13 yr old? You are being paranoid about this so stop worrying. Unless you were involved in some crime that would put your PC in the hands of a computer forensics expert, no one is going to see anything.

If you try playing around with these tools without knowing what you are doing, you could damage something that will make your PC inoperable.

Well My brothers friend is a computer expert. And my laptop is a family one but its still mine and my dad wants to get it checked out because its slowed down a lot. And he's coming soon and I don't want him to see anything and tell my parents.!

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 09:37 AM
Probably. If you're that worried then stop doing the stuff that is worrying you.

I have. S he will or won't be able to see it??

ScottGem
Jun 22, 2010, 09:48 AM
Ok, now it makes sense. However, your brother's friend is probably not that level of expert. We are talking like the people who work for the police, FBI, NSA etc. Not someone who fixes PCs.

If you delete any files you want to keep private and then run CCleaner, your privates should be safe from him.

NeedKarma
Jun 22, 2010, 09:49 AM
I have. S he will or wont be able to see it???Once all the temp files, history, cookies and index.dat are gone it would take someone with quite a bit of time at the computer to drag up any files related to web activity. Might want to turn off System Restore too.

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 10:01 AM
Ok, now it makes sense. However, your brother's friend is probably not that level of expert. We are talking like the people who work for the police, FBI, NSA etc. Not someone who fixes PCs.

If you delete any files you want to keep private and then run CCleaner, your privates should be safe from him.

Ok thank you everyone who has helped me for showing my private files.! You are all life savers.! Im going to run it now and see what happens

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 10:02 AM
Once all the temp files, history, cookies and index.dat are gone it would take someone with quite a bit of time at the computer to drag up any files related to web activity. Might want to turn off System Restore too.

Sorry What Do I Do?

Unknown008
Jun 22, 2010, 10:09 AM
You can delete cookies, history and cache from 'Tools' dropdowm menu. For the others, NK will surely tell you. That's as far as I go :o

Rachel8997
Jun 22, 2010, 11:16 AM
You can delete cookies, history and cache from 'Tools' dropdowm menu. For the others, NK will surely tell you. That's as far as I go :o

Ok thank you so much everyone