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Is there any possible way to recover past MSN conversations using the hard drive or something else? I haven’t saved my MSN conversations, since I never clicked that option on MSN but someone told me it is possible to get those conversations later using a special program or the hard drive or something like that. Is this true? I have a cleaner device that I run every time I finish my session in the computer, but they insist it’s possible to see all the history even if at first sight it won’t appear.

While the easiest way to retrieve MSN conversations is to have enabled the save conversation feature, it is possible to go about the task of recovering MSN conversations. It’s important for you to understand that this possibility also depends on the amount of use the computer has gone through since the conversations were first created.

Recovering MSN Conversations: Software

If you are interested in using a software program to retrieve your MSN conversations, you might be interested in dexrex. This program is free to use and is noted for instant messaging conversation retrievals. I haven’t used it myself, but it does claim to be able to retrieve chat texts from numerous programs. To use this program, you will need to download and install a file that will retrieve your conversations for you. Plus, you need to install Java on your computer in order for dexrex to function. This particular application also allows you to save your conversations online in a special dexrex account that you create.

Recovering MSN Conversations: Alternative Solution

One other possibility you have is to ask the individual with whom you were having the conversations whether or not he enabled the MSN feature to archive conversations. If he did so, then he should have a log of all of the conversations you had with him through MSN. Simply ask him to share this data with you. This can be done with each individual with whom you shared conversations on MSN.

Recovering MSN Conversations: Privacy Issues

If you are worried about your past MSN conversations being retrieved against your wishes, then you are entering the world of privacy issues and the special steps that sometimes need to be taken to secure your privacy. It is true that a great deal of information can be retrieved from a computer using a data recovery program. The extent of the retrieval depends up on how much use the computer has received and whether or not the specific data in question has been overwritten by new data. To destroy evidence of personal data that you no longer wish anyone to be able to access from your computer, you should invest in a reliable program such as Paretologic Privacy Controls that will destroy the information. In fact, this tool has a free scanner that you can use to see exactly what type of information your computer is willing to reveal.

I bought this Gateway 9300 used. How do I remove the last owner’s files safely? The computer has over 52,000 of them.

Used Computers and Data

It’s too bad that the computer’s original owner didn’t take care of this task before selling it to you. I don’t know about you, but I sure wouldn’t want someone else to have access to all of my files! Even if selling my computer to a trusted friend, I’d clean it up because you don’t know where the computer might end up once the friend is done with it.

Not only is privacy a concern, as you’ve found out, so is space. Why should you have to deal with a hard drive that’s jampacked with someone else’s files? Cleaning up the computer is definitely in order.

Computer Cleanup Choices

You have several choices available to you ranging from manually deleting files and using the Disk Cleanup wizard to completely reinstalling the operating system.

Manual File Deletion

While 52,000 files seem like a lot, you don’t necessarily have to delete each file individually. Depending on how the previous owner organized his files, it may be a simple matter of deleting a few folders. For example, let’s suppose that the previous owner created the following sub-folders in the My Documents folder:

• Work
• Financial
• Taxes
• Artwork

Let’s also suppose that each sub-folder has a series of sub-folders such as Clients, Invoices, and Marketing Campaign sub-folders in the Work sub-folder. You wouldn’t need to go in and delete each file individually. Rather, you’d simply delete the entire Work sub-folder and everything within it would also be deleted.

Using the Disk Cleanup Wizard

Once you’ve manually deleted the previous owner’s personal files, use the Disk Cleanup wizard to further cleanup the hard drive. Go to Start> Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup. Here you’ll be able to delete downloaded program files, temporary Internet files, offline Web pages, Recycle Bin files, temporary files, log files, and more. Surprisingly, these files add up to significant amounts of disk space.

Once deleted, click the More Options tab and choose the option for removing unwanted programs. Remove any program that you do not want on your computer including games, tax software, toolbars, and so on.   

Reinstall the Operating System

If you have the original recovery CDs for the computer, you can bypass all of the proceeding steps and instead reset the computer to its factory condition. Reinstalling the operating system is fairly easy so long as you have the original recovery CDs and the computer has not been significantly upgraded. Using the recovery CD wipes the hard drive and puts the computer’s hard drive back to its factory condition. (Technically the data is still recoverable, but for your purposes, this is okay.) After using the recovery CD, you will need to update Windows and install a good antivirus/antispyware application.

Related Article:

http://filetonic.com/blog/2009/05/11/cleaning-up-a-used-pc/

Hi…here’s my situation. I have been using a work computer (used by a few employees) for recreational use during our downtime but it seems to have gotten a Trojan virus and now will not start up at all….prior to its non start up I had deleted all of the cookies, temp Internet files and history on a daily basis after I surfed the web (mostly poker sites, some adult sites, eBay and Craigslist) each and every time…So now they are removing the tower to get fixed…..My question is this: if I have deleted all of the cookies, etc. will the computer tech be able to detect the sites that were visited, see the pics I looked at, etc? It’s not a high profile job nor was I told not to use the Web but I’m just curious because of some of the content of the web sites I visited may be of poor taste.

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.

A Look at ParetoLogic Privacy Controls

Overview

Your computer contains detailed records of the Internet search phrases you use as well as the websites that you visit. It doesn’t matter if you use an internet eraser of some kind.. the evidence is still there for all who know where to look.

Anyone who can access your PC can easily find out what you’ve been doing online.

Relax, Paretologic Privacy Controls is one of the few, if not the only tool, to permanently destroy “all traces” of web activity. I dont know of any other software that goes this deep into your system to erase every last crumb of web-surfing evidence.

ParetoLogic Privacy Controls is a tool that goes beyond clearing the browser’s cache and puts you back in control of your privacy.

Download     How to Download »    Video Presentation

Features

ParetoLogic Privacy Controls is filled with features that protect your information from prying eyes. Among the many features found in this software are:

• Stealth operation - Not sure you want others to know that you’re using privacy software? The stealthy operation of Privacy Controls is a discreet way to protect your privacy.
• Permanent erasure of web activities - Cookies, Web sites visited lists, and sensitive information entered are obliterated forever with Privacy Controls.
• Secure deletion that exceeds the standards set forth by the U.S. Government
• Instant Messaging- related file removal
• Desktop search removal - Your desktop searches are your business. Let Privacy Controls remove your search phrases.
• Recently opened history removal - Many applications maintain a list of recently opened files including Microsoft Word, Adobe Flash Player, and many others. While convenient, these lists are also revealing. Privacy Controls removes these lists so others can’t see what files you’ve recently been working with.
• Easy user interface - Privacy Controls is much like the other ParetoLogic products in that it is incredibly easy to install and use.

Benefits

Computer privacy issues concern all of us, not just those with secrets to hide. Everyone who uses a computer that is accessible by others is at risk of revealing information that they’d rather remain private. While you may trust your family members or coworkers not to snoop around on your PC, they aren’t the only ones accessing your computer; in fact, spyware could very well be snooping on your computer right now.

With ParetoLogic Privacy Controls, your privacy is secured. No one else can come along and see what you’ve been searching for or what Web sites you’ve been visiting. Your credit card information won’t be automatically revealed. Your passwords are safe.

You’ll be able to rest easy knowing that your boss won’t be able to see that you recently opened a file named “myresume.doc” and that you’ll be able to tell your husband that you’re pregnant in person rather than having him find out after he sees that you’ve been visiting baby registry Web sites. In addition, you’ll be sure that your deleted files are permanently deleted and will not fall into the wrong hands. For example, when recycling your computer, be sure to shred your data so that unscrupulous PC recyclers cannot use data recovery tools in an attempt at stealing your identity.

How it works

Privacy Controls puts you back in charge of your privacy, easily and unobtrusively. After installing the software, run a privacy scan to see exactly what your computer currently reveals. From there, you can select the level of privacy that works best for you as well as delete compromising data.

Recommendations

Privacy Controls is a tool that effectively protects your sensitive information from others both now and in the future. Try the free Privacy Controls scan to see just how easily your computer will reveal your personal information to anyone who wants to find it. Once you see the results, you’ll likely be convinced that you need to control your privacy and this product is an excellent way to do so.

FeedbackDo you have experience with  Paretologic Privacy Controls? Please share your comments below …   

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.