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Everybody does a little bit of surfing at work - and those that say they don’t are lying. That said, I hope I don’t have to tell you how not-smart it was to visit “adult content” sites on your work computer. Do I?

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on the hard drive. These give a unique identifier that is pertinent to a particular website to each computer that visits a site. First party cookies keep your IP address and a list of pages that you have visited within the website. You can make sure that you delete first party cookies by opening your browser’s Advanced Privacy Setup and under First Party Cookies choose Prompt. This will show you when first party cookies have been detected.

Deleting Cookies

Deleting your cookies and Internet history is a good way to cover your tracks, but it is not foolproof. If your employer has an idea that you are misusing company computers, they can install a program like Track4Win, which will give them Internet data even if you have deleted the history and cookies. Not only that, but every time you delete this information, little bits and pieces of it are left behind - pieces that can be put back together to give them a history of what you have visited even long after you have deleted the evidence. It is totally legal for your employer to “spy” on you this way and the law will back them up every time. Do I have you panicking now?

Actually, you can probably relax. Unless they are specifically looking for this information, it is unlikely that your tech department will accidentally stumble upon your Internet history. Because you have deleted the cookies and history, it won’t come up when they are fixing the malware problem. Traces of websites that you visit may still be present - You can use Filetonic’s Privacy Controls Scan to see what remains viewable on your PC. The full featured version of Privacy Controls will shred all Web tracks. There is a difference between deleting information and ‘shredding’ it. Disc and data shredding programs like Privacy Controls and Data Shredder will recover and put together information that you have deleted and ‘shred’ it so that it can’t be viewed. This requires a software purchase, and of course, your employer might be interested about why you have installed this on their computer, if you can do it at all.

While you can probably breathe easy about your past Internet activity at work, your only guarantee that you won’t get caught is to stop visiting questionable Internet sites from your work computer.

Privacy Controls Deletes all references to Web Activity so that even sophisticated Forensic Recovery software cant unearth the truth!

Very Few Tools actually get rid of “ALL” the Evidence - Privacy Controls does.

Download and Try Privacy Controls

What would your Surfing History Reveal about you?

You may not have anything to hide but your Internet tracks will reveal what you’ve been doing online - do you really want others to see where you’ve been?

If you could see my Web browsing history, you’d jump to all sorts of conclusions about me. For example, among my recent searches are:

• Underground poker rooms
• Staph infections
• Adult dancing lessons

So, am I a tap-dancing, staph-infected, poker player looking for a high stakes game of cards?

Not at all but you might think by looking at my Web browsing history. Do you know what else you would find by looking at my history? You’d find my preferred financial institutions where I do my online banking. What would your PC reveal?

My Bank Account Numbers and My Bank Account Passwords

If I happen to have account information and passwords stored for convenience, you’d be able to go into my accounts!

How many people have casual access to your computer? Can you be absolutely sure that no one’s curious and snooping?

Automated Spyware tools collecting ALL your Private info

Not only can anyone who has access to your computer poke around into your Web history, you should also be concerned with spyware doing the same. Spyware can search your computer’s log files and send sensitive information to organized criminal rings.

Casual Browsing of Adult Content

Another reason to cover your Internet tracks involves sparing your loved ones from finding out that you’ve been looking at adult content. According to WordTracker’s long term report on Web searches, the number one search term is “sex.” For those who are looking, it’s probably not a bad idea to clear out the history, especially if children have access to the computer.

What if he knew, that you want out?

People in abusive relationships are also advised to cover up their Internet tracks. For example, if your partner regularly monitors your phone calls or computer usage, you can bet he’s looking at your Web history. Most domestic violence agencies recommend using a public computer such as one at the local library when conducting Internet searches that may upset or provoke the abuser if discovered. For example, what might an abusive spouse do upon discovering a search for “Escaping from bad marriage” or “How to file for divorce”?     

Clearing Web tracks involves clearing the Web history files and cookies. However, this isn’t always enough, especially if the other party is computer savvy. Tools such as keyloggers and computer monitoring systems are readily available to stealthily record all of your keystrokes or provide screenshots of your computer activity. In addition, hidden system files, known as index.dat files, contain a complete record of all websites visited - even after clearing the history.

ParetoLogic Privacy Controls is Thorough

Specially designed software programs are available for completely covering your Internet tracks. For example, ParetoLogic Privacy Controls is an easy to use tool that will automatically and “completely” clean your Internet tracks.

Use the Privacy Controls “Secure Shred” Feature before PC Disposal

One final note about computer privacy, and I can’t stress this enough, you can’t be sure who’s looking at your computer’s history. Even the most upstanding of citizens should be concerned about what their hard disk reveals. Did you know that re-formatting a hard disk doesn’t really erase data? How many computers have you “recycled” over the years? Where is that data now? Even if you don’t feel the need to cover your Web tracks now, it’s important to remember to completely shred your hard drive when the time comes to dispose of your PC.