It Guys Are Taking In My Computer

[anim0888]

I use firefox, with security settings set at high everytime I close. Can the IT guys catch me out? I've gotta hand it in next month. I watch movies only, but dont wanna lose my job.

Any advice is great. I have googled and think all is ok, but would like a real time reassurance.

Thanks peeps

[Lite Beer]

Hopefully better advise here.

[rixalex]

I watch movies only, but dont wanna lose my job.

Yeah, but what sort of movies?

[Beggar]

It is not only Firefox. They can try to undelete some files if they really want - it is easy. So use a software to wipe the disks. The Firefox folder I would delete completely as well as the Firefox profile folder. Don't forget that you might have stored passwords in Firefox. You can make a clean install of Firefox afterwards.

[bangkokrick]

Think that goes without saying mate, if he is so concerned.

Cheers, Rick

[t.s]

It is not only Firefox. They can try to undelete some files if they really want - it is easy. So use a software to wipe the disks. The Firefox folder I would delete completely as well as the Firefox profile folder. Don't forget that you might have stored passwords in Firefox. You can make a clean install of Firefox afterwards.

short of wiping your disks there is nothing you can do. though you can wipe browsing histories, cookies and clear your cache.

i would also consider investing in my own computer next time around and using the work machine for work or "innocent" browsing. that way you have no issues.

easiest solution is just to drop a new hard disk in it and keep the old one.

[britmaveric]

What sort of movies??

[sanook2me]

Buy a copy edition of your existing operating system and then enter your keycode from the microsoft sticker when prompted and put the computer back to factory settings...just like when it was first turned on.

But as you have the keycode it is not a copy edition but a legit one..

[endure]

Buy a copy edition of your existing operating system and then enter your keycode from the microsoft sticker when prompted and put the computer back to factory settings...just like when it was first turned on.

But as you have the keycode it is not a copy edition but a legit one..

"It Guys Are Taking In My Computer, Can they find any online "unsuitable websites" on my mac"

[PoorSucker]

Try this for web activities.

http://download.cnet.com/Tracks-Eraser-Pro...4-10074643.html

And this one for permanently erase files.

http://download.cnet.com/Active-Kill-Disk-...4-10073508.html

Or this one.

http://download.cnet.com/Active-Eraser/300...4-10199620.html

[Beggar]

Buy a copy edition of your existing operating system and then enter your keycode from the microsoft sticker when prompted and put the computer back to factory settings...just like when it was first turned on.

But as you have the keycode it is not a copy edition but a legit one..

This is no wipe of the C partition. And what is with data on other partitions?

Factory settings are a special OEM version of Windows with the drivers for the computer. A normal OS install will not be the same.

[britmaveric]

Just reformat the HD if you are that concerned. Then if they ask you about it just say it was working fine when you used it!

[endure]

Buy a copy edition of your existing operating system and then enter your keycode from the microsoft sticker when prompted and put the computer back to factory settings...just like when it was first turned on.

But as you have the keycode it is not a copy edition but a legit one..

This is no wipe of the C partition. And what is with data on other partitions?

Factory settings are a special OEM version of Windows with the drivers for the computer. A normal OS install will not be the same.

And what about the fact that the OP said he had a Macintosh?

[endure]

I use firefox, with security settings set at high everytime I close. Can the IT guys catch me out? I've gotta hand it in next month. I watch movies only, but dont wanna lose my job.

Any advice is great. I have googled and think all is ok, but would like a real time reassurance.

Thanks peeps

What operating system are you running on your Mac?

[Beggar]

Just reformat the HD if you are that concerned. Then if they ask you about it just say it was working fine when you used it!

You can undo a format of a HD with tools. Its easy. The only thing that helps is a wipe! But in respect of the REAL experts one wipe might not be enough.

[rixalex]

Probably no bigger red flag than presenting them with a completely "clean" computer.

[britmaveric]

Just reformat the HD if you are that concerned. Then if they ask you about it just say it was working fine when you used it!

You can undo a format of a HD with tools. Its easy. The only thing that helps is a wipe! But in respect of the REAL experts one wipe might not be enough.

Use a kill disk - writes/rewrites 5-10x. Basically sanatizes a machine good/proper and unrecoverable.

[britmaveric]

Probably no bigger red flag than presenting them with a completely "clean" computer.

Maybe, but they will most likely shrug it off and re-image it.

[Beggar]

Just reformat the HD if you are that concerned. Then if they ask you about it just say it was working fine when you used it!

You can undo a format of a HD with tools. Its easy. The only thing that helps is a wipe! But in respect of the REAL experts one wipe might not be enough.

Use a kill disk - writes/rewrites 5-10x. Basically sanatizes a machine good/proper and unrecoverable.

That is a good way to go!

[britmaveric]

BTW - using kill disk or similar product....takes a very long time so give yourself a day.

[A_Traveller]

^^ Which IIRC is a function within Mac OS' If the OP has the Mac OS disk, reboot the machine with the disk, and then select Disk Utility -> Erase In the Security options there are disk wipe selections up to 35 times overwrite.

^ 35 times can take over 24 hours, 7 times usually overnight.

HTH

Regards

[britmaveric]

That will do it!

Course OP is probably being a bit paranoid.

[ThailandLovr]

If you haven't already, I wouldn't disclose any ISP information.

[frodo]

As already stated, if you're only deleting pics, movies, documents, they can be recovered very easily.

Instead of just deleting, shred them. There are many free file shredders out there, and they are not as easy to recover, if at all, in many instances. Also use CCleaner.

If you use Firefox, there is no problem if you use the XMarks add on. It syncs and backups your bookmarks. No loss at all.

http://download.cnet.com/File-Shredder/300...4-10662831.html (Using the Guttman method)

http://www.ccleaner.com/download

[bendejo]

Oh, it's a Mac?

Just sit it next to a very strong magnet for a few minutes, then use it for a doorstop.

Macs are great for that!

[webfact]

one post deleted and a suspension was given

[ThailandLovr]

As the ultimate precaution, the OP may consider claiming the PC was stolen, or left in a taxi, then offer to pay for it. I would think the IT guys might easily discover it had been deliberately cleansed. Why would anybody do that? Sounds like he may need his private machine anyway.

[Meridian007]

easiest solution is just to drop a new hard disk in it and keep the old one.

If you're really worried, this is your best option. Even if they go snooping because of your clean install, you're fine because there is and never has been any data (on the new hd) for them to find.

But be careful if you take it to Pantip for them to change. (I assume you can't do this yourself if you don't know about data removal) If you have any "personal" videos, the boys at Pantip will be sure to find them, and possibly upload them to the net. It's best to get a friend to change the drive.

[Supernova]

I use firefox, with security settings set at high everytime I close. Can the IT guys catch me out? I've gotta hand it in next month. I watch movies only, but dont wanna lose my job.

No need to worry...

As long as you get rid of your web browsing history and the offending data, you'll be fine. I don't think the IT guys are going to tear the computer apart looking for offending material. While snooping is an easy thing to do, it can be a time-consuming process. They simply won't bother. I'm sure these IT pros have better things to do rather than waste time and resources searching for pr0n.

As an added layer of security, uninstall Firefox and manually delete all Firefox user profiles before handing it over.

[mattcodes]

Sorry to worry you but if its part of a "domain" where the same logon details can be used at any workstation in the company (i.e. BANKOFAMERICA/JSMITH), and its a big company, they may have pushed auditing software to your PC via group policy, in which case its probably already reporting back your browser history and any installed programs.

In addition if you use a VPN and split tunneling is not enabled (or forcefully disabled by VPN policy - banks sometimes do this to prevent your PC being a relay into the network via your "virtual" public network connection), all of your traffic (during the times when the VPN was active) might have been tunneled through the corporate network including http traffic, and thus through an internal proxy or gateway, in which case again this is logged.

Both the above though would show already I imagine.

IT department for majority of cases won't do any detective work on return, and they certainly won't go to a deep disk level to recover deleted files/cache unless they are suspecting you of something, so if they just gave you the pc configured as any other, i wouldnt worry, do a basic clearance of history/cookies/cache for "privacy reasons" and stop worrying.

I just read its a MAC so is less likely they'll push auditing software to your PC as different setup for deployment with macs.