| As scary as it might sound, your computer silently | | | | number of high quality software applications on the |
| records everything you do on it. This means every | | | | market today that will do it for you. These programs |
| keystroke you type is recorded. Every website you | | | | will: |
| visit is saved. Every photo you view is notated. | | | | - Permanently delete and overwrite data from web |
| Every email you write or read is recorded. Every | | | | browsers like Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera |
| document you open is saved. | | | | and others. The data that is removed includes the |
| Even if you delete these files, clear your recycle bin | | | | history of websites visited, the website cache, |
| and clear your web browser cookies, these files and | | | | cookies (including website login ID's and passwords) |
| data are still on your computer and can be retrieved | | | | and temporary documents associated with email |
| in just a few seconds. This information can quickly be | | | | downloads. |
| recovered or accidentally read by your employer, | | | | - Remove all traces of applications from popular |
| your children, your spouse or anyone else if you do | | | | peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing. |
| not take extra steps to ensure it is gone forever. | | | | - Permanently erase and write over data in your |
| What are these extra steps you can take to cover | | | | recycle bin. This may include documents, photos and |
| your tracks and make sure personal or sensitive data | | | | other files you do not want seen by others. |
| is not seen by someone else accessing your | | | | - Erase and wipe your hard drive of traces from |
| computer? They are simple really. You just need to | | | | instant messaging software and |
| make sure whatever files you delete, you also | | | | voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) utilities. |
| rewrite over that space on your hard drive. | | | | - Get rid of email files that you no longer want from |
| Most people do not realize it, but when you delete an | | | | popular email clients like Outlook, Outlook Express, |
| item it is not actually erased from your system. It | | | | Eudora and others. |
| just sits there, unseen until it is overwritten by new | | | | Before buying a program, you will want to make sure |
| data on your computer. There are literally hundreds | | | | that it uses the latest government and military |
| of data recovery software programs on the market | | | | deletion protocols, that it provides 24-7 customer |
| today that can recover this data - everything from | | | | support, that it has a money-back guarantee and |
| emails to photos to documents and web history - in | | | | that it has good reviews on popular software review |
| a couple of minutes. | | | | sites like CNET or Tucows. |
| To prevent this type of software from working you | | | | In closing, if you are worried that someone may |
| just need to make sure there is nothing left on your | | | | stumble upon your private data or see something |
| computer to retrieve. This means you just need to | | | | you wish he or she would not see, you may need to |
| save new data over the area on your hard drive | | | | use Internet history eraser software. It really can |
| where the deleted data was located. | | | | provide peace-of-mind of knowing that your Internet |
| This may sound difficult, and it can be if you try to | | | | searching behaviors are private to you...and no one |
| do it on your own. The good news is there are a | | | | else! |