How to remove all traces of downloaded images. Please reply urgently.

[fjames]

Hi,
I have a hypothetical question I would like to ask please.
If My best friend has downloaded some pornographic images from the net
whilst working at night and the comptuer he downloaded them to was shared
(ie, used by people during the day), and if hypothetically my best freind
wanted to remove every single possible trace of this pornographic material
(nothing illegal) just pornographic matieral (hypothetically speaking), then
how would my best freind go about it.

Me and my best freind are having a discussion about this, say for example we
worked in an office that consisted mainly of women who had a policy against
it, and we could loose our jobs for example if we were caught. (Hypothetical
situation).

So is their a way to totally remove all traces of this downloaded files.
(image files only).

 

[fjames]

Hi,
I have a hypothetical question I would like to ask please.
If My best friend has downloaded some pornographic images from the net
whilst working at night and the comptuer he downloaded them to was shared
(ie, used by people during the day), and if hypothetically my best freind
wanted to remove every single possible trace of this pornographic material
(nothing illegal) just pornographic matieral (hypothetically speaking),
then how would my best freind go about it.

Me and my best freind are having a discussion about this, say for example
we worked in an office that consisted mainly of women who had a policy
against it, and we could loose our jobs for example if we were caught.
(Hypothetical situation).

So is their a way to totally remove all traces of this downloaded files.
(image files only).

PS> Assume int his hypothetical situation (We like analysing hypothetical
situations and looking at all the variables, usual lads pub chat), that we
discovered the next day that the company uses some kind of "checking
software" at regualr intervals to check through files and things, so we had
to erase all things, is this definitely possible? If so what exactly would
we need to do. So there would absolutely be nothing whatsoever on that
disc..ever, and it would be left as though nothign was ever downloaded in
the first place.

 

[Don MI]

Hi,
I have a hypothetical question I would like to ask please.
If My best friend has downloaded some pornographic images from the net
whilst working at night and the comptuer he downloaded them to was shared
(ie, used by people during the day), and if hypothetically my best freind
wanted to remove every single possible trace of this pornographic material
(nothing illegal) just pornographic matieral (hypothetically speaking),
then how would my best freind go about it.

Me and my best freind are having a discussion about this, say for example
we worked in an office that consisted mainly of women who had a policy
against it, and we could loose our jobs for example if we were caught.
(Hypothetical situation).

So is their a way to totally remove all traces of this downloaded files.
(image files only).

Likely all you need do is delete the files and then empty the recycle bin.

However, is you more than do a Google search for: Wipe Disk. There are a
number of programs that will overwrite the files to prevent easy recovery.

Don

 

[Guest]

Wipe your files (not just deleting!!). And delete history, cookies and
temporary internet files..as well as all files in the temp folder.

Additional steps:
1. Run Spybot - S&D and perform scan with all options selected, remove all.
2. Clean tracks with Microsoft AntiSpyware.

 

[kurttrail]

situations and looking at all the variables, usual lads pub chat),
that we discovered the next day that the company uses some kind of
"checking software" at regualr intervals to check through files and
things, so we had to erase all things, is this definitely possible?
If so what exactly would we need to do. So there would absolutely be
nothing whatsoever on that disc..ever, and it would be left as though
nothign was ever downloaded in the first place.

Hypothetically speaking, you're fired.

You shouldn't be using your employer's computer, and internet connection
for your own personal use, without your employer's permission. And if
you employer has a specific policy against viewing internet porn, then
you should know better to stay away for it, in the first place.

As for getting rid of the traces, you ain't getting any instruction from
me other than to do your own research to answer your "hypothetical"
questions.

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"

 

[Guest]

wipe the files, history, temporary internet files, cookies...etc.
and run spybot - s&d scan with all options selected, remove everything found.
then you may also clean tracks with ms antispyware.
maybe you should also clear the temp folder.

 

[fjames]

Hypothetically speaking, you're fired.
Thankyou

You shouldn't be using your employer's computer, and internet connection
for your own personal use, without your employer's permission. And if you
employer has a specific policy against viewing internet porn, then you
should know better to stay away for it, in the first place.

As for getting rid of the traces, you ain't getting any instruction from
me other than to do your own research to answer your "hypothetical"
questions.

Thats why I posted here as part of my Research.
Thanks for your comments.

 

[fjames]

wipe the files, history, temporary internet files, cookies...etc.
and run spybot - s&d scan with all options selected, remove everything
found.
then you may also clean tracks with ms antispyware.
maybe you should also clear the temp folder.

Hi,
Would that actually get rid of all traces? I mean would that be exactly the
same as if it was a brand knew clean instal. I mean with regard to whatever
traces were there. For example lets say we had 40 images that were not yet
deleted. So we could use a wipe thing on them...then what else could
possible be left? is their any other hidden file that would store the things
like "internet website names" some of the websites names would give away
what had been done. Eg. www.something.com could be enough to proove we had
visited some sites that would obviously show what had been going on.

 

[Guest]

that's why i said you should clear history, cookies, temporary internet files.
and maybe you should even run a spybot - s&d scan with all options selected,
and remove everything found.
additionally, you can erase tracks with ms antispyware.
or you might also want to delete all files in "%userprofile%\temp" folder!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Regardless of any deleting and wiping you do, if the office system logs
traffic, you will get caught.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Give me a minute or two with commonly available undelete and forensic tools,
and I will recover enough of the files to provide evidence that will
substantiate immediate termination of the employee.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi,
I have a hypothetical question I would like to ask please.
If My best friend has downloaded some pornographic images from the net
whilst working at night and the comptuer he downloaded them to was shared
(ie, used by people during the day), and if hypothetically my best freind
wanted to remove every single possible trace of this pornographic material
(nothing illegal) just pornographic matieral (hypothetically speaking), then
how would my best freind go about it.

Me and my best freind are having a discussion about this, say for example we
worked in an office that consisted mainly of women who had a policy against
it, and we could loose our jobs for example if we were caught. (Hypothetical
situation).

So is their a way to totally remove all traces of this downloaded files.
(image files only).

Format the hard drive, and reinstall the OS and all applications.

There are some 3rd party applications designed to help people hide
evidence of wrong-doing, but I don't know how effective they truly are.

Short of that, any reasonably capable computer technician can uncover
such illicit web-browsing in a matter of minutes.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Likely all you need do is delete the files and then empty the recycle bin.

That would be pointless. Any reasonably competent technician would
still be able to find what the user had been doing.

However, is you more than do a Google search for: Wipe Disk. There are a
number of programs that will overwrite the files to prevent easy recovery.

This would work, unless the employer uses NSA-level forensic software.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

impossible..you should just follow my advice..maybe more steps you should
take by yourself..but not formatting the hard disk or reinstalling the
OS..never!

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

The data is still easily recoverable by a competent IT person.
A format with additional measures to help insure all remnants are gone is a
better option.
But if it is necessary to positively remove all traces, replace the hard
drive and destroy the old drive.

Even then many organizations track and record surfing by employees and it
would also be necessary to do the same on the computers keeping these
records.


The necessary measures to hide unauthorized activities are often difficult
to impossible and can lead to termination.
The best solution is to use the organizations resources only as authorized
then none of this is necessary.

 

[Alan Smith]

Hi,
Would that actually get rid of all traces? I mean would that be exactly
the same as if it was a brand knew clean instal. I mean with regard to
whatever
traces were there. For example lets say we had 40 images that were not yet
deleted. So we could use a wipe thing on them...then what else could
possible be left? is their any other hidden file that would store the
things like "internet website names" some of the websites names would give
away what had been done. Eg. www.something.com could be enough to proove
we had visited some sites that would obviously show what had been going
on.

No it won't get rid of all traces.
And remember that if it is a network machine any file writes, deletions may
be monitored. But you can almost guaratee they'll have a history of backups
so will have copies of your hypothetical porn.

 

[Jim Macklin]

Depending on the LAN setup, everything may be stored and
backed-up on more than one system, if you don't want to be
caught, don't do it.

Any secure LAN will be beyond your reach.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm



| impossible..you should just follow my advice..maybe more
steps you should
| take by yourself..but not formatting the hard disk or
reinstalling the
| OS..never!
|
| "Bruce Chambers" wrote:
|
| > fjames wrote:
| > > Hi,
| > > I have a hypothetical question I would like to ask
please.
| > > If My best friend has downloaded some pornographic
images from the net
| > > whilst working at night and the comptuer he downloaded
them to was shared
| > > (ie, used by people during the day), and if
hypothetically my best freind
| > > wanted to remove every single possible trace of this
pornographic material
| > > (nothing illegal) just pornographic matieral
(hypothetically speaking), then
| > > how would my best freind go about it.
| > >
| > > Me and my best freind are having a discussion about
this, say for example we
| > > worked in an office that consisted mainly of women who
had a policy against
| > > it, and we could loose our jobs for example if we were
caught. (Hypothetical
| > > situation).
| > >
| > > So is their a way to totally remove all traces of this
downloaded files.
| > > (image files only).
| > >
| > >
| > >
| > >
| >
| >
| > Format the hard drive, and reinstall the OS and all
applications.
| >
| > There are some 3rd party applications designed to help
people hide
| > evidence of wrong-doing, but I don't know how effective
they truly are.
| >
| > Short of that, any reasonably capable computer
technician can uncover
| > such illicit web-browsing in a matter of minutes.
| >
| > --
| >
| > Bruce Chambers
| >
| > Help us help you:
| >
| >
| >
| > You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever
count on having
| > both at once. - RAH
| >

 

[V Green]

That would be pointless. Any reasonably competent technician would
still be able to find what the user had been doing.



This would work, unless the employer uses NSA-level forensic software.

But, using Wipe Disk leaves a "fingerprint" too - if I understand
its operation properly, no native OS operations write disk
sectors the way it does. Seeing a portion of the disk wiped
this way will/should trigger some hard questions from the
IT department...and then you're back where you started.

 

[HeyBub]

Hypothetically speaking, you're fired.

You shouldn't be using your employer's computer, and internet
connection for your own personal use, without your employer's
permission. And if you employer has a specific policy against
viewing internet porn, then you should know better to stay away for
it, in the first place.

Personal use prohibited? Get real. That's like saying an employee cannot use
the telephone to make a personal call. That said...

He may have a condition (for example, being male) that renders him incapable
of conforming his actions to those normally considered "desirable" by the PC
crowd. In that case, his employer must take reasonable actions under the
Workers With Disabilities Act to accomodate his handicap.

Second, unless he "shows" the pictures to the overly-sensitive types,
there's no harassment. If the easily-offended seek out the pictures, the
problem belongs to them.

Third, just like sexual harassment, he's allowed one free "grope." The law
requires a "pattern" of actions; one instance is not a pattern.

Fourth, viruses. It's almost impossible to prove the stuff wasn't
maliciously downloaded by a virus or, for that matter, another employee.

Fifth, he can claim his actions were tacitly approved by management for, if
not, management would have installed filtering software like they have, um,
somewhere I'm sure.

 

[Peter Foldes]

hypothetical answer

If your best friend is working in a office that has many people and computers then (hypothetical question) is it not most likely that there is an Administrator (possible server) that will keep a record of that certain workstation that did the downloads of those files. Give me an hour and I myself can recover all those files (hypothetical answer) even if the user deleted it.