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Clearing history on laptop?
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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In case my works laptop has to be returned for service, I'd like to know how I can delete 100% of history (don't want them knowing I'm on here lol) from hard drive. Any suggestions?  |
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"In case my works laptop has to be returned for service, I'd like to know how I can delete 100% of history (don't want them knowing I'm on here lol) from hard drive. Any suggestions? "
click on tools then then saftey then click on delete browsing history .  |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Thanks for the reply. That procedure unfortunately doesn't delete from the hard drive - only the visible history is deleted that way. CCleaner has been suggested but not sure if that deletes all traces from hard drive. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Best not using works laptop even 100% deleted Internet history can be recovered from laptops hd by works IT
I am sure even if a complete reinstall is done traces still remain |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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There's no way of deleti
G it completely from the hard drive anyone in IT can recover it as my ex found out when he tried deleting and hiding shit from me |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Best not using works laptop even 100% deleted Internet history can be recovered from laptops hd by works IT
I am sure even if a complete reinstall is done traces still remain "
Never EVER use a works PC for anything you wouldn't want people to see.
Depending on how good the IT are at doing their jobs, it is possible to recovery history even after it has been removed, although this is done on a forensic level if they are digging that deep there's a reason.
Use ccleaner and it should be enough for average Joe
When your done with ccleaner remove/ uninstall we don;t want any more incriminating evidence
As for the son "borrowing it" IT will look at it as you are responsible for the laptop and data held on it (they will consider the data of more value than the laptop).
My advice if questioned on the web activity admit to it ONLY after you are presented with proof (they'll have lots if they do)  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Download a free program called ccleaner. Filehippo.com has it. Wipes all history, cookies and all the files that your computer saves in the hard drive that deleting browser history doesn't reach. I do mine once a week. Amazing what stuff gets wiped that you don't need . Still use the delete history link as well though as ccleaner only deletes the stuff the aforementioned doesn't.
Hope this helps
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Thanks to all who have answered. Ccleaner it is - and failing that the accidental spillage is sounding just about the best thing. Good point about the data. Just shows what can happen when wanting to check site mail when away on business trip lol. Thanks again. J |
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Private browsing on FireFox, then use ccleaner from periform. After running the cleaner go to tools and run the drive wipe on free space only with advanced or complex overwrite.
Do not do the accidental spill in case the it dept. then try a data recovery exercise.
If still paranoid you could try to get the machine infected with a virus. IT may then choose to wipe the machine and rebuild rather than attempt to clean it.
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surely the it dept would be suspicious if the drive turns up showing empty and then do a recovery on it and alls there to see. short of smashing a hard drive with a powerful magnet you cant delete it fully and there are those that know how to recover it in my opinion your best bet buy a new hard drive and put work related stuff iver to it |
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"It's not easy deleting the history, I thought I had done a great job, till my daughter used it(yes it was hers) and now she calls it my hobby,  "
Use private browsing mode that way it is automatic. |
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Agree with postings above but depending on how security aware your employer is, you might find that you don't have admin rights to instal software. Also remember that some firms place it tracing software either on their servers or laptops - so they can snoop. Lesson learned hard way. If you must use a works machine, you could use a usb pen mounted virtual system - many linux systems can operate from a pen drive - just make your laptop boot from usb 1st - that way you are going no where near your hard drive. But even then you might need admin rights to change boot sequence or might face awkward questions if IT see the sequence has been altered. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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I've just completed the advanced wipe on ccleaner and wont be using the laptop again for my wee hobby (ps - I only used it when I was in hotels staying away overnight - off duty - but that wouldn't mean anything to the work) lol... honest!! |
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By *stonishCouple
over a year ago
edinburgh |
i reinstalled windows 7 on wifes computer (was getting slow) a month later she asked if i had saved all her photos (oops) so downloaded recuva a free program got every photo back and thousands of images that had been looked at on the internet. so if you want to know if there deleted try recuva but do a deep scan can put your mind at rest |
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"Agree with postings above but depending on how security aware your employer is, you might find that you don't have admin rights to instal software. Also remember that some firms place it tracing software either on their servers or laptops - so they can snoop. Lesson learned hard way. If you must use a works machine, you could use a usb pen mounted virtual system - many linux systems can operate from a pen drive - just make your laptop boot from usb 1st - that way you are going no where near your hard drive. But even then you might need admin rights to change boot sequence or might face awkward questions if IT see the sequence has been altered."
I find (the free) ubuntu flavor of Linux easy to use. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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yeah, not worth the risk playing with work comps! I used to at work and then got into trouble over something else. I was scared of challenging things in case they pulled up the IT records! |
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By *rallvalCouple
over a year ago
Dunfermline |
If you need to browse anonymously then get hold of a live linux image and put it on a USB stick. You can boot off the stick and completely bypass the hard drive. It leaves no traces at all as everything is held in memory and vanishes when the machine is switched off.
I carry a live linux USB stick around with me most places as I can pop it into most PCs and use it. This includes some pay internet computers
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Download a free program called ccleaner. Filehippo.com has it. Wipes all history, cookies and all the files that your computer saves in the hard drive that deleting browser history doesn't reach. I do mine once a week. Amazing what stuff gets wiped that you don't need . Still use the delete history link as well though as ccleaner only deletes the stuff the aforementioned doesn't.
Hope this helps
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Just downloaded cc cleaner and ran the program. What a diference to my lappy speed and has dumped all the rubbish.
cheers
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"If you need to browse anonymously then get hold of a live linux image and put it on a USB stick. You can boot off the stick and completely bypass the hard drive. It leaves no traces at all as everything is held in memory and vanishes when the machine is switched off.
I carry a live linux USB stick around with me most places as I can pop it into most PCs and use it. This includes some pay internet computers
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I tried to PM you but you've blocked males. Could you explain a wee bit more about running Linux from a memory stick? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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You can try software called, HISTORYKILL,
I've used it for a few years.
It overwrites the history as many times as you decide in the setup.
It costs, but they do sometimes have free trials.
When this first came out in the 90's, the american security services tried to get it banned. |
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Please note, when you delete anything from the hard,drive, it is not removed, the data is still there, the only thing that happens when you delete a file is the space it occupied on the hard disk is marked as free space, but the file is still there until it is overwritten and even then that data can be "lifted to see what's underneath". To overcome this you need to overwrite the data many many times. Even using format or fdisk will not get rid.
If you want more info/advice, pm me. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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True. Deleting does not remove it from the hard drive.
Historykill overwrites the data numerous times to makes it unrecoverable.
Thats why the spooks tried to ban it |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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try a free programme called " CRAP CLEANER" Its good for clearing out history, cookies, etc. However always remember that despite every effort there is always something left that a half decent computer geek or forensic guy can find! Hope this is of use....R. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I think there's quite a range of programmes, many of them free, which claim to clear all the naughty stuff off your hard drive. And of course, also secure stuff like bank account details etc.
But the simple fact is that none of them do what we really want, which is simply to remove, forever, stuff we wouldn't want others seeing.
There is one solution though, and that's to take your hard drive out and smash it to smithereens with a hammer. And with the cost of basic and standard hard drives, it's probably not that expensive an option! As long as you have a copy of Windows to re-install it!
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If it's good enough the US dept of defence, then its good enough for me.
The other option is to use whole drive encryption, that way the only way to get,at it is with a pair of pliers and a blow torch on theperson who holds the keys! |
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By *oznrayCouple
over a year ago
helensburgh |
there is also a little programe called window washer, it can be set to delete and over write, deleteing as people have said will not get ride of anything however overwriting does, the industry standard of wiping a hard drive is 7 times which window washer does, hope you get it sorted, only prob i see you haveing is do you have adnin rights to instal a prog to clean it? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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A friend once spilled Irn Bru all over his keyboard and when he called to tell his insurance company to see where he could take it to see about getting it repaired, they said he probably shouldn't bother as Irn Bru seems to be one of the stickiest, most damaging liquids you can pour on a keyboard.
They just bought him a new laptop. |
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"A friend once spilled Irn Bru all over his keyboard and when he called to tell his insurance company to see where he could take it to see about getting it repaired, they said he probably shouldn't bother as Irn Bru seems to be one of the stickiest, most damaging liquids you can pour on a keyboard.
They just bought him a new laptop."
Yeah it's not good, but the real killer is any kind of citrus juice, the acid content in orangejuice for example eats into the pcb's at an alarming rate |
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By *rallvalCouple
over a year ago
Dunfermline |
" I tried to PM you but you've blocked males. Could you explain a wee bit more about running Linux from a memory stick?"
Sorry got some recent hassle from single guys demanding meets with fem despite us saying no single guys and then being a little abusive when we said no. Blocked single men, a little unfair on the good guys but we had to draw the line somewhere.
You can download a program called "Unetbootin" and run it. Choose a linux 'distro' from the list and choose the USB stick then let it download and install to the stick.
Failing that you can download a disk image and burn it to a CD.
Booting off the disk/stick effectively bypasses the hard drive.
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