internet and computer privacy concerns
What traces are left on my computer when I visit a website?
There are several methods that your computer and web browser (Internet Explorer for example), can utilize on your computer to make it easier for you to find the web pages that you've already visited. These methods include cookies, bookmarks or favorites, Internet history and temporary Internet files or "cached" files. Although they are all intended to make your life easier, they also leave traces on your computer of what web pages you have visited.
How can I find the traces that are left on my computer after I visit a website?
For each method, cookies, bookmarks or favorites, temporary Internet files or cached files, there is a different way to find them on your computer. See the individual questions below.
What is a computer cookie?
A cookie is a tiny text file stored on your computer by a web server that enables the server to recognize your computer when you return to a site. By identifying you when you return, the server attempts to personalize what you see based on what you've looked at before on that site. For example, if you visit a site which requires you to type in a password to enter, a cookie will automatically take you to the "sign-in" page on which you've signed in before.
How do websites use computer cookies?
When you visit a website, the web server places tiny bits of code from the site on your computer for future reference. Most cookies are intended to improve your Internet browsing experience by tracking what you have looked at last and attempting to customize the advertising content on the next site you view. Cookies can tell that site what you have looked at in the past and eliminate what it deems "uninteresting" to you and inserting content that may or may not be more relevant to your viewing patterns.
Another common function of cookies is to reduce the time it takes to get to a site you visit often. For example, several popular web based email services such as Hotmail and Yahoo Mail require you to complete a logon and password form to enter the site. A cookie can remember your logon or your password or both so that your e-mail account will open faster or even automatically.
However, cookies can also provide information about your computer to others. By collecting certain information and sharing it with other sites, it can relay information such as your computer's operating system, browser and never your computer's IP address.
How do I find web cookies on my computer?
In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and click Tools - Internet Options - General - Temporary Internet Files - Settings then View Files. You will see a list of your cookies. There are also cookie viewing programs available on the Internet by download which make the cookies easier to read and understand.
How do I delete computer cookies?
Open Internet Explorer and click Tools. On the tools menu, select Internet Options - General tab. Under the Browsing History section, click Delete. In the next window, you will have the choice of deleting temporary Internet files, cookies, Internet history, form data or passwords. Click Delete Cookies. This will erase your web cookies.
What are bookmarks or favorites?
When you visit a website often, you will probably want access to it very quickly, rather than typing the address in the address bar or running a search every time. Internet Explorer uses Favorites and Netscape uses bookmarks, as a way to store those websites so you can get to them faster by one click of the mouse. You, as a user, select which sites to store by manually adding them to your Favorites or Bookmarks menu.
What is Internet history?
Internet history is simply a list of website addresses, known as URLs, that your computer has visited in the past.
How do I find my Internet history?
For Internet Explorer 6.x, open Explorer and click Tools - Internet Options - Settings and then View Files. You can also select the icon that looks like a clock with a green arrow around it.
How do I delete a history file?
Open Internet Explorer and click Tools. On the tools menu, select Internet Options - General tab. Under the Browsing History section, click Delete. In the next window, you will have the choice of deleting temporary Internet files, cookies, Internet history, form data or passwords. Click Delete History. This will erase your Internet history.
What are temporary Internet files?
When you visit a website for the first time, your web server copies or downloads the website files to your computer. This allows your web browser to open the site much faster the next time you visit it, since your computer already has a list of stored files. The web browser opens the downloaded stored files instead of browsing for them online. This includes all images from the website.
How do I find temporary Internet files on my computer?
In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and click Internet Options - General. Under Browsing History, click Settings then View Files. You will see a list of your temporary Internet files. You can also do a search on your computer for all pictures making sure you search Hidden files. You will see all the pictures that have been stored from the various websites that you have visited.
How do I delete a temporary Internet file?
Open Internet Explorer and click Tools. On the tools menu, select Internet Options - General tab. Under the Browsing History section, click Delete. In the next window, you will have the choice of deleting temporary Internet files, cookies, Internet history, form data or passwords. Click Delete Files. This will erase your temporary Internet files.
What is the definition of cache files?
Cached files is another term for temporary Internet files because these files are being stored in your computer's cached area for quick retrieval.
How do I find cached files on my computer?
In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and click Internet Options - General. Under Browsing History, click Settings then View Files. You will see a list of your cached files.
How do I delete cached files?
Open Internet Explorer and click Tools. On the tools menu, select Internet Options - General tab. Under the Browsing History section, click Delete. In the next window, you will have the choice of deleting temporary Internet files, cookies, Internet history, form data or passwords. Click Delete Files. This will erase your cached files.
What is the index.dat file?
Like Internet history, web cookies and temporary Internet files, the index.dat file keeps track of where you've been on the Internet. It acts as an index of every single site your browser has ever been to. Since index.dat files are written for all visited websites, they contain information from your Internet history, web cookies and cached files. Although they are intended to make your life easier by speeding up your browser's capabilities, index.dat files remain on your computer even after you have deleted your Internet history, web cookies and cached files. They are stored in hidden files and are very difficult to find and even more difficult to delete. Since they are almost impossible to completely erase, they have long been a controversial topic in the realm of Internet privacy.
How do I find the Index.dat file on my computer?
In Internet Explorer, go to the Tools menu and click Internet Options - General. Under Browsing History, click Settings then View Files. You will a list of your cached files or temporary Internet files. On the toolbar of the Temporary Internet Files screen click the Folders icon to display a split screen. On the left side, Temporary Internet Files should already be highlighted. Directly above it, click on Temp. Somewhere under the Temp file, you should see separate folders for Cookies, History and Temporary Internet Files. Clicking on the Cookies folder should reveal the index.dat file on the screen to the right. Clicking on the History and the Temporary Internet Files folders will each reveal a subfolder which contains the respective index.dat file. You can also do a Search on your computer for Index.dat.
How do I delete Internet search engine history?
It will depend on which Internet search engine you are using. Each should have a method to delete this information or not to store it. Generally there is an option in the Internet search engine toolbar. You may need to right click on the toolbar to find the Delete option.
How do I clear the address bar?
The addresses in the address bar are also known as Internet history. To clear the address bar, open Internet Explorer and click Tools. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options - General tab. Under the Browsing History section, click Delete. In the next window, you will have the choice of deleting temporary Internet files, web cookies, Internet history, Form data and passwords. Click Delete History...This will erase your Internet history and your address bar.
What are Proxy Servers?
A Proxy Server acts as a go between for a local network and the Internet. When a Proxy Server is utilized, the network's IP address is concealed and the proxy server's IP address is viewed instead. A Proxy Server can also provide data encryption of the information being passed across the Internet.
What is my IP Address and what can it tell people about me?
Your IP address, or Internet Protocol address, is a group of numbers unique to your computer. Every computer that accesses the Internet has one which is assigned by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Based on your IP address, your Internet Service Provider or the Internet Search Engines can track what sites you visit on the Internet.
Why should I use Anonymous Proxy Servers?
Any web resource you access can gather personal information about you through your unique IP address - your ID in the Internet. Your Internet Service Provider or the Internet Search Engines can track what sites you visit on the Internet.
You might become a target for many marketers and advertising agencies who, having information about your interests and knowing your IP address as well as your e-mail, will be able to send you spam and junk e-mails.
A web site can automatically exploit security holes in your system using free hacking programs. Some programs may just hang your machine, making you reboot it, but other, more powerful ones, can get access to the content of your hard drive or RAM. Everything a web site may need for that is only your IP address and some information about your operating system.
Using an anonymous proxy server you protect your personal IP address and any information about you.
