Microsoft Hidden Files Essay Example For Students

Microsoft Hidden Files Essay By Josh VinneyIntroduction:There are folders on your computer that Microsoft has tried hard to keepsecret. Within these folders you will find two major things: MicrosoftInternet Explorer has been logging all of the sites you have ever visited even after youve cleared your history, and Microsofts Outlook Express hasbeen logging all of your e-mail correspondence even after youve erasedthem from your Deleted Items bin. (This also includes all incoming andoutgoing file attachments.) And believe me, thats not even the half of it. When I say these files are hidden well, I really mean it. If you dont haveany knowledge of DOS then dont plan on finding these files on your own. Isay this because these files/folders wont be displayed in Windows Explorer atall only DOS. (Even after you have enabled Windows Explorer to view allfiles.) And to top it off, the only way to find them in DOS is if you knewthe exact location of them. Basically, what Im saying is if you didnt knowthe files existed then the chances of you running across them is slim toslimmer. Its interesting to note that Microsoft does not explain this behavioradequately at all. Just try searching on microsoft.com.I know there are some people out there that are already aware of some of the things I mention. I also know that most people are not. The purpose of this tutorial is teach people what is really going on with Microsofts products andhow to take control of their privacy again. This tutorial was written by me,so if you see a mistake somewhere then it is my mistake, and I apologize. Thanks for reading. INDEX:1) DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS2) WHY YOU SHOULD ERASE THESE FILES3) HOW TO ERASE THE FILES ASAP3.1) If You Own Microsoft Internet Explorer3.2) Clearing Your Registry3.3) If You Own Outlook Express3.4) Slack files3.5) Keeping Microsofts Products4) STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE THROUGH YOUR HIDDEN FILES (For the savvy.)1. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMSWell, the best definition I have been able to come up with is the following:I) A really hidden file/folder is one that cannot be seen in WindowsExplorer after enabling it to view all files, and cannot be seen in MS-DOSafter receiving a proper directory listing from root. a) There is at least one loophole to enabling Windows Explorer to see them. b) There is at least one loophole to enabling MS-DOS to see them. (Interesting to note that the Find: Files or Folders utility cannot evensearch through one of these folders. It doesnt even exist on the Browsemenu.)II) Distinguishes really hidden file/folders from just plain +hidden ones, such as your MSDOS.SYS or Sysbckup folder. III) Distinguishes from certain other intended hidden files, such as a filewith a name with high ascii characters (eg, ei). DOS = Disk Operating SystemMSIE = Microsoft Internet ExplorerTIF = Temporary Internet Files (folder)HD = Hard DriveOS = Operating System2. WHY SHOULD I ERASE THESE FILES?Just from one of these files I would be able to tell you which web sites youpreviously visited, what types of things you search for in search engines, andprobably gather your ethnicity, religion, and sexual preference. Needless tosay, one can build quite a profile on you from these files. It has thepotential to expose and humiliate putting your marriage, friendship, andcorporation at risk. Heres one good example of the forensic capabilities Ive been reading your article as I have a problem with an employee of mine. He has been using the works pc for the internet and using it to chat and lookat porn sites. He was then deleting the cookies and history in order to coverhis tracks. A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of this site andyour article. I have found it to be incredibly useful,Concerned Boss, 8/24/013. HOW TO ERASE THE FILES ASAPStep by step information on how to erase these files as soon as possible. This section is recommended for the non-savvy. Further explanation can befound in Section 4.0. Please note that following these next steps will erase all your cache files and cookies files. If you use the offline contentfeature with MSIE, it will remove this as well. It will not erase yourbookmarks. Mount Adams Essayu For you DOS buffs, theres a freeware file wiper on simtel.net that I use. (www.simtel.net/pub/dl/45631.shtml). u If you are using PGP then there is a Freespace Wipe option under PGPtools. u The latest version of Norton Utilities has a nice filewiping utility. u You might want to check out Evidence Eliminators 30 day trial. This isprobably the best program as far as your privacy goes. (www.evidence-eliminator.com)3.5. KEEPING MICROSOFTS PRODUCTSIf you insist on using Microsoft Internet Explorer then I strongly recommendthat you check out at least one of these programs: u PurgeIE (www.aandrc.com/purgeie)u Cache and Cookie Cleaner for IE (www.webroot.com/washie.htm)u Anonymizer Window Washer (www.anonymizer.com/anonwash)Other programs that claim to clear your history dont seem to work, althoughI havent run any tests in a while. And if you insist on using Outlook or Outlook Express then you should get inthe habit of compacting your mailboxes. You can do this by going to File Folder Compact All if you have OutlookExpress. orTools Options Other tab Auto Archive if you have Outlook. Make sureto set things up here. 4. STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE THROUGH YOUR HIDDEN FILESThis next section is for those of you who are more interested in learning the ins and outs of your computer. This section is intended for the savvy user. The most important files to be paying attention to are your index.dat files. These are database files that reference your history, cache and cookies. Thefirst thing you should know is that the index.dat files is that they dontexist in less you know they do. They second thing you should know about themis that some will *not* get cleared after deleting your history and cache. The result:A log of your browsing history hidden away on your computer after you thoughtyou cleared it. To view these files, follow these steps:In MSIE 5.x, you can skip this first step by opening MSIE and going to Tools Internet Options Settings View Files. Now write down the names ofyour alphanumeric folders on a peice of paper. If you cant see anyalphanumeric folder names then start with step 1 here:1) First, drop to a DOS box and type this at prompt (in all lower-case) tobring up Windows Explorer under the correct directory c:windowsexplorer /e,c:windowstempor1content.ie5You see all those alphanumeric names listed under content.ie5? (left-handside.) Thats Microsofts idea of making this project as hard as possible. Actually, these are your alphanumeric folders that was created to keep yourcache. Write these names down on a peice of paper. (They should looksomething like this: 6YQ2GSWF, QRM7KL3F, U7YHQKI4, 7YMZ516U, etc) If youclick on any of the alphanumeric folders then nothing will be displayed. Notbecause there arent any files here, but because Windows Explorer has lied toyou. If you want to view the contents of these alphanumeric folders you willhave to do so in DOS. (Actually, this is not always true. *Sometimes*Windows Explorer will display the contents of the alphanumeric folders butmostly it wont. I cant explain this.)2) Then you must restart in MS-DOS mode. (Start Shutdown Restart inMS-DOS mode. ME users use a bootdisk.)Note that you must restart to DOS because windows has locked down some of thefiles and they can only be accessed in real DOS mode. 3) Type this in at prompt:CDWINDOWSTEMPOR1CONTENT.IE5CD %alphanumeric%(replace the %alphanumeric% with the first name that you just wrote down.)DIR/PThe cache files you are now looking at are directly responsible for themysterious erosion of HD space you may have been noticing. One thingparticularly interesting is the ability to view some your old e-mail if youhappen to have a hotmail account. (Oddly, Ive only been able to retreivehotmail e-mail, and not e-mail from my other web-based e-mail accounts. Sendme your experiences with this.) To see them for yourself you must first copythem into another directory and then open them with your browser. Dont askme why this works. A note about these files: These are your cache files that help speed upyour internet browsing. It is quite normal to use this cache system, as everymajor browser does. On the other hand. It isnt normal for some cache filesto be left behined after you have instructed your browser to erase it.