Securing files in XP that may have passwords?

[Bob]

I am thinking of using TrueCrypt to create a container which will hold
(encrypt) all my files that may have a password in it. This would
include My Documents and Internet Explorer's cookies. I'm not sure
about the Temporary files for IE though. Would that contain any
passwords or hashes for any sites I visit?

I don't mind if people know my favorites and history of sites I
visited, but I do care that they can't get into them with my
passwords.

Robert

 

[Steven L Umbach]

Cookies and temporary internet files should not contain any passwords.
However if you share your computer or others have access to it is a good
idea to clean such files. There is a program called CCleaner that can do
that very well. I also use Eraser to permanently remove deleted files when
done.

http://www.ccleaner.com/ --- CCleaner
http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Eraser/eraser.html --- Eraser

However you should be aware that a malicious user that wants another user's
credentials or other info will resort to keyboard loggers to do such. They
can be software and hardware. Usually a good spyware program such as Spybot
Search and Destroy or others will find keyboard loggers but new ones pop up
all the time. The other thing to consider is that if you allow Internet
Explorer to save your logon/passwords that info can be easily recoverd as
can passwords used for email/newsgroups for Outlook Express which is why you
should use those passwords for no other purpose. --- Steve

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/pspv.html --- recover protected storeage
passwords.