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Protect Your Privacy!
Whenever you use your PC, you are leaving traces behind of what you are doing. On the one hand, it can help you – to keep your matters in order. On the other hand – it can help an intruder to find out more about you than you ever wish.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your privacy. Deleting files or hiding them in obscure directories won't always do the trick. Some of the most privacy leaks you'll encounter are described below; for help in removing some of these tracks see our cleanup page.
Autocomplete URLs: Another browser feature remembers the sites that you type into the address bar. Like browser history, this can help to keep track of where you've been. Unlike browser history, these are addresses that you specifically typed into the address bar, so there is little doubt that you meant to go to these sites. It provides intruders with valuable information.
Browsing history:
Each time you visit a web site, the browser keeps record of the pages you visit so that you can easily get back to them later. You can changes the settings on how far back that history goes. Use our Privacy Scan and see you what's currently in your browser history.
Cookies: Cookies provide a "memory" so that you can interact with a web site from page to page. In some cases, it is possible for sites to use cookies to track your computer across multiple web sites.
Deleted files: When you delete a file directly (not moving it to the Recycle Bin), or when you empty the Recycle Bin, most of the file name and file data are actually still on the drive. It may be a long time before the space used for the deleted file is re-used by a new file; the algorithm used by Windows for creating new files almost guarantees that the space will not be used immediately.
Form entries: Browsers often have an option to remember the data you have entered into forms. If someone else is using the computer, they may be able to use the data that is remembered to automatically access web sites using your logins or get personal information. You should protect your information with a master password or turn off form auto-filling to prevent the data from being recorded.
Internet cache: To speed up web surfing, browsers keep a copy of the files you retrieve while browsing the Internet. This includes web pages, images, Flash animations, and even large files like videos.
Recently-used file lists: Many programs keep a list of files that you have recently opened while using that program; it's a feature of Microsoft Office applications for example. Windows itself keeps a list of recently used documents for all applications on the Start Menu under Documents. Some of these can be disabled if you prefer not to see or show them.
Last-Used directories: Sometimes a program won't keep a specific list of files, but instead remembers the last directory where you opened or saved a file. The next time someone opens up the application or tries to save a file, they view a directory containing your files. For example, WinZip offers this feature; it can be turned off.
Recycle Bin: Sometimes it's easy to forget that deleting a file in Windows doesn't completely delete it. When you highlight a file and hit the Delete key, it actually goes into the Recycle Bin.
Temporary files: As programs run, they sometimes create working files that they leave behind. These working files may include many different types of sensitive information. If you are editing your resume, for example, one of the temporary files may be a complete copy of your resume.
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