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Referring to the "controling users" remarks, anyone with the titled problem can easily download freeware (try ZDNet) which will clean out cookies. I regularly purge my disk this way. You get the option to keep any you want, as well.
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I take out cookies on a weekly basis, with HJ and others saved.
Do you bother deleting the index.dat file found in the cookies folder? This is a very sinister file that logs every internet page you have visited since the PC was turned on, it can't be read or deleted by normal methods.
It is a huge privacy issue becaues a small program on a floppy can enable others to sit at your PC and print out browsing habits from day one.
It is also said that others could hack into this file on-line with the same result.
If anyone hasn't seen this go to C/Windows/Cookies/index.dat. Right click and select Properties to see how large it has become. On a well used Internet PC it will be huge after a year or so.
David
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So how do you clean out your pc then?
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Do you mean the index.dat file Andy?
David
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Your Index.dat file can be read and cleaned with freeware called "spider" available at the followig URL.
www.fsm.nl/ward/
It certainly does give a sense of "big brother watching"
A friend of mine who is in "intelligence" won't use a PIII chip, because it is designed to store and give user information to appropriately equipped websites.
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You can clean the Index.dat file manually by opening it in notepad and simply deleting all the contents except "Client UrlCache MMF Ver 5.2" or similar on the first line. Then just close notepad and save the file with the same name, overwriting the old one. I've not had problems doing this. If you're bothered, try taking a look in your user profile in "User.da0" Now that's a scary one, and no mistake. It records more or less everything you ever type on a browser, and can in theory be read remotely.
Chris
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If you have Windows ME, this cannot be edited (as it is in use by Windows, and a DOS boot is not an option).
And Spider does not work either, however unless you are doing anything dodgy, you shouldn't have anything to fear.
Myfyr
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Didn't want to disagree with Chris but I thought this was locked by my Windows 98SE as well. Think the file is "in-use" as Windows boots so cannot be edited/deleted.
I use the briliant "Windows Washer" for regular clearing out of this and other files.
I'm only concerned with the privacy issue rather than anything in the file as such. It will show who we bank with and all the associations we belong to as well as all the various forums we use.
But bear in mind this does come from someone who refuses all Store Loyalty Cards because I don't want a database of my shopping habits thankyou.
David
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I stand corrected. Still using Win95 on the office PC here because of virus resilience, fixability and general stability - the PC equivalent of a non-electronic diesel. I suppose there will come a time when I *have* to upgrade, but I'm hanging on as long as possible.
Cheers
Chris
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David
Despite using Win 95, I can't edit the Index.Dat file. System says it's 'in use'.
Found and ran Spider, which gave a list of cookies (loads for the HJ website), but forgive my ignorance, what do I do now? Info with spider says it identifies hidden files, but gives no clue what to do with them. Can I just delete all the files it identifies?
regards
john
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Ah, thats why Spider wouldn't work then!
Another ME 'thing'
David
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David,
I used to use Spider but found it a bit prone to locking up the PC on re-boot after cleaning the file.
Still keep it as a index.dat viewer if ever needed.
Try out Windows Washer if you feel the need for such a utility, I've found it effective and stable for over a year.
David
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Cookies and how to deal with them are another matter (A can of worms perhaps not best suited to this site). I was suggesting a way for Martin to keep tabs on those users who attempt to post under different names. (Assuming that they don't delete the cookies in the meantime.
Personally I got bored of worring about these things a long while ago(cookies). I just let the buggers build up now. I've bitten the bullet and ordered an ADSL line from BT so we will see how I feel when I have a 24:7 connection. Guess I better put my Information Security hat on an go build me a firewall!
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You can download a very good free firewall from www.zonealarm.com/zap26_za_grid.html
It is a fairly secure wall, with easy usable features.
I would definitely recommend having one, especially if u are on a perm connection. Otherwise you are at the mercy of being used as a porn site (they dump dirty pictures on your comp and link your ip to their sites) or being used for a DoS (Denial of Service). If you dont know what that is have a look at grc.com
Regards
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I've used the zonealarm utility for dial up connections for a while now and it seems to be a good utility for such purposes. Requires little configuration and works well which is what you want for home use. I though now might be the time to build a dedicated firewall. Probably a little over the top but fun anyway!
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Zonealarm continually indicates that my PC is under survelliance, who is watching Micky (eek)?
Not too much seagull here I hope
M
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No Cruiser outside down the road????
David
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But David, I thought you dealt with the Cruiser with the muck spreader (or is there more than one Cruiser? I think we should be told!)
HH
M
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No I didn't deal with it, it just crept off. That's the thing....it could be anywhere.
David
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There is indeed a rather ugly vehicle parked over the road, I shall investigate, if I don't return in 15 mins you can the assume the worst has happened.................. kindly summon assistance from your fellow muck spreaders (why oh why oh why didn't you deter the Cruiser Bruisers when you had the chance?),
HH
Micky the Seagull
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I had thought of you as an edgy renagade type really, more likely to be in the Cruiser than observed by it.
Now I'm worried you could be "coterie" after all.
Oh yes, that ugly car...bet it's only a Multipla.
David
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Just looked at the Cookies folder in Windows. Has 442 cookies. The index file is 128Kb and the whole folder 201Kb after 11 months. Advantage of cookies is that I can go onto a website without signing in - saves me time.
So far I have not experienced any problems leaving them there!
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