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Brent's Place
Information for a Better Life
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How to Securely Erase Private Data
Disclaimer: These instructions are in no way a guide for thorough erasing of all your private data stored on digital media. For that, please consult an expert.
And they're only intended for honest, law-abiding people who want to keep their very sensitive data on their nonjob-related home computers safe and private. If you were to attempt to use these instructions on a job-related home or office computer, you could be breaking the law.
If you intend to do so, I would much rather you go elsewhere, but if you must continue reading this page and applying these instructions, be aware that you do so at your own risk.
WARNING: Using a secure eraser / wiper / shredder makes your data virtually unrecoverable, in other words, very difficult or prohibitively expensive to recover, so be sure to back up your data before using it, and be careful to erase only the files you no longer want or need.
Note: The following instructions are hidden from sighted visitors and keyword searches with Javascript. If you prefer viewing them without having to click on the links to show them, or want to do a keyword search, or print this page, either disable Javascript in your browser, or view the instructions without Javascript. | skip
- Alternative Versions Without Javascript:
- How to Erase Private Data on a Cell Phone or PDA
- How to Erase Private Data on a CD
- How to Securely Erase Just Private Data on a Hard Drive
- How to Completely and Securely Erase a Hard Drive
- Privacy | skip
- Threats You Can Prevent Or End | skip
- Expert Scares World With VoIP Hacking Proof (shows how easy it would be for criminals to eavesdrop on VoIP-based phone calls)
- Beware the CyberLover [Bot] That Steals Personal Data in Chat Rooms and Social Networks with Social Engineering
- Watch Out for Online Ads That Watch You (new ads capture your click patterns to create more detailed profiles than traditional browser cookies do)
- Subpoenas Can Unlock Your Privacy
- Internet Explorer 7 Is Still Not Safe Enough
- The Danger of Too Much File Sharing
- Wireless Keyboards That Blab
- Problems of Personalized Search
- Privacy and Desktop Search: A Closer Look
- Google Copies Your Hard Drive - Government Smiles in Anticipation (as do attorneys, other litigants and data thieves)
- Google Phone Listings Violate Privacy
- Americans Deserve Privacy: Feds Eliminate Private .US Domain Registration
- Other Privacy and Security Threats You Can Prevent or End
- Hide This Section
- Threats You Need to Write Your Government Officials About | skip
- Your Privacy? It's Toast
- Privacy in Peril: With identity thieves targeting big consumer databases, your data isn't just up for sale. It could be up for grabs.
- Top Ten Privacy Stories of 2005
- Mass Surveillance
- Hide This Section
- Resources | skip
- The Public Voice
- Privacy International
- Electronic Privacy Information Center
- OpenNet Initiative: Documenting Internet Content Filtering Worldwide
- Protect Your Right to Privacy: Support the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
- Privacy Watch: Few things are more valuable than your personal data. PC World Senior Associate Editor Andrew Brandt shows you how to protect it.
- Hide This Section
- Hide This Section
- Threats You Can Prevent Or End | skip
- Online History Viewing and Monitoring Software | skip
- Concerned or worried your spouse or child might be viewing pornography or that your child might be making information that can identify him or her available to predators? Here are some articles and software programs that'll allow you to view and monitor their online history.
- Help for Parents
- How to Confront Your Child Who Has Looked At Pornography (for Christian parents)
- Computer History Viewer (free)
- IE Cache & History Viewer (free)
- Monitoring Software
- ParentsOnPatrol (formerly ChatChecker - free and commercial)
- Learn More About ParentsOnPatrol
- WARNING: chat conversations are stored on their web site's server)
- Spector Pro (award-winning monitoring software - free to try)
- Parent! Seriously consider moving your preteen or earliteen from MySpace or another Web hangout to imbee. Here's why.
- What you need to do to keep your child safe at MySpace.com and other Web hangouts.
- Content Filters / Porn Blockers, Reviews and Safety Sites
- Hide This Section
- Concerned or worried your spouse or child might be viewing pornography or that your child might be making information that can identify him or her available to predators? Here are some articles and software programs that'll allow you to view and monitor their online history.
- Help for Sex and Pornography Addiction | skip
- Addicted to sex or pornography and want to get help to quit so you won't have a reason to visit this page anymore, among other reasons? Check out the following sites.
- For Anyone Addicted to or Impacted by Sex or Pornography: skip
- ''Porn Addiction? 10 Reasons for Quitting'' by Tess Marshall
- Just Harmless Fun? How Pornography Affects People
- How Pornography Harms Children
- Other Resources on the Harms of Pornography
- CovenantEyes.com (accountability for anyone addicted to pornography or gambling)
- X3watch.com (accountability software for help with online integrity)
- CyberSexualAddiction.com
- VictimsOfPornography.org
- Help for Porn Addicts and Victims
- Thoughts from the Heart of a Former Pornography Addict's Wife
- The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH)
- Other Pornography Addiction Support Sites
- For Christians Addicted to or Impacted by Sex or Pornography: skip
- Focus on the Family's Information and Resources on Children and Pornography
- #1 Christian Porn Support Site (if you have a content filter, visit X3church.com instead - for Christians addicted to sex or porn - requires Flash Player)
- PureOnline.com - 30 Days to Purity
- KickPorn.com (a free 6 Day Kick Porn E-Course e-book, articles, $10 reports, discussion forum, blog, support and resources for those who believe in God)
- Porn-Free.org
- BlazingGrace.org
- ProdigalsOnline.org (for men, women, families, pastors and counselors)
- Book: ''Pornography Trap: Setting Pastors and Laypersons Free from Sexual Addiction''
- For Christian Men skip
- For Christian Women skip
- PartnersForPurity.com (for Christian women impacted by pornography)
- NewLifePartners.org (for Christian women impacted by pornography)
- WomensSexualAddiction.com (for women struggling with a sex or porn addiction)
- Ex-Dancers.com (for women caught up in the adult entertainment industry as dancers, prostitutes, etc.)
- Other Porn Addiction Resources
- Hide This Section
- Erasing Private Data on a Cell Phone | skip
- SMS text messages and MMS multimedia messages sent from and received by a cell phone are normally stored in your phone's inbox, but check with your phone's manual to make sure. Then follow the instructions for your phone to erase your private data before donating or throwing it away.
- How to erase private data on your cell phone before selling, recycling or throwing it away.
- Donate Your Cell Phone(s) or Start a Donation Program
- Easy [and Secure] Ways to Recycle Old PCs and Cell Phones
- Handheld Security and Privacy Guides
- Handheld Security Software
- Secure, Encrypted SMS (Short Message Service)
- Wireless Web Puts Personal Data at Risk
- Serious Flaws in Bluetooth Security Lead to Disclosure of Personal Data Through Several Types of Attacks
- Cell Phones Get Chatty With Hackers
- An Oscar Surprise: Vulnerable Phones
- Hide This Section
- How to erase private data on your PDA before selling, donating, recycling or throwing it away. | skip
- To erase all the data on your PDA, do a hard reset.
- ''The way of performing a Hard Reset differs from device to device: it may require a simultaneous press of several buttons, deactivation or removal of the main battery. Check your user manual for details.'' - PDAGold.com
- WARNING: Doing a hard reset will permanently erase all the data on your PDA, so if there's anything you want to save, make sure you back up your data first. skip
- A hard reset does not clear the data on a WM5 (Windows Mobile 5.0) device. Some Pocket PCs have a program installed to erase all data. Look under programs. If you don't see one, check your user manual for details. Or use the free HardReset for Pocket PC utility.
- ''Remote wipe is a new feature that enables administrators to erase sensitive data from a lost or stolen Pocket PC. This feature is enabled via a Web-based interface, which is restricted to Exchange Administrators by default. Other individuals (like help desk professionals) can be added as necessary.''
- ''After the remote wipe has been completed, the administrator will receive acknowledgement that [the] device has been wiped. Administrators can also set the Pocket PC to erase its memory when the PIN has been incorrectly entered a certain number of times.'' - Article by Dan Hanttula at PocketPCMag.com skip
- The PalmOne LifeDrive mobile manager (based on PalmOS) and Sharp Zaurus SL-C3000 and SL-C3100 (based on GNU/Linux) PDAs now store data on a hard drive instead of flash memory. (Zaurus SL series devices are no longer sold by Sharp in the U.S. or Europe - only in Japan, but they're still popular.) skip
- Without LifeDrive Update 2.0, ''any form of hard-reset [on a PalmOne LifeDrive] will erase the entire contents of the hard drive [- including PalmOS], without exception. When you issue the command for a hard reset, you're given two options: a fast erase that takes 5 minutes, and a 'secure erase' that takes 30 minutes.''
- But with LifeDrive Update 2.0, you have three hard reset options. The new option only erases Program Memory.
- ''Given that the Lifedrive has government-use security certification, a secure erase presumably entails zeroing out all the data on the drive so that it can't be restored or recovered. Either way, you can't simply reset the device and expect to have your files waiting when it boots.'' - Adama D. Brown's Review of PalmOne LifeDrive at BargainPDA.com
- After erasing your LifeDrive with secure erase, you'll have to reinstall PalmOS and restore your files. skip
- Hide This Section
- How to erase all songs and photos on an iPod before selling it. | skip
- Shred: If you plan on selling your iPod, but don't want to consider the likelihood of someone listening to your music and viewing your photos, use the Shred tool to permanently delete your iPod's media files and libraries.
- This function can be easily replicated by using Apple's Disk Utility to re-format your iPod's hard drive with one of the the ''Secure Erase'' options and the latest iPod Software Updater to restore your iPod's software.
- RIAA Says Selling Music-Filled IPods Is Infringement
- Wipe Your iPod Before Selling it, RIAA Warns (some iPods have hard drives, others flash memory)
- Use Restore to Erase All the Songs and Files on Your iPod
- iPod Restore Video Tutorial (requires QuickTime plugin)
- Hide This Section
- How to erase private data on a CD or DVD. | skip
- Looking for a CD or DVD eraser? Check your CD or DVD recording software for an erasing feature.
- ''Will Eraser erase CD-RW's and CD-R's [and DVD-RW's and DVD-R's]? You can use Eraser on a CD-RW [or DVD-RW], however you only need to use one pass, as only magnetic media needs multiple passes. You can't use Eraser on CD-R [or DVD-R], as they write protect themselves after the first write. The only way to secure a CD-R [or DVD-R] is to destroy it and then melt down the pieces. If you see a CD-R [or DVD-R] that has been 'erased / deleted,' more likely th[a]n not, just the file directory on the CD [or DVD] was changed, and the data still remains on the CD [or DVD].'' - Heidi Computers Ltd.
- How to erase or blank a CD-RW or DVD-RW disk in:
- Windows XP
- OS X with Disc Utility (requires admin access)
- Mac OS X with Disk Copy (requires admin access)
- Mac OS X with Third Party Software (commercial and free)
- GNU/Linux / KDE with K3b
- GNU/Linux / Gnome with Nautilus
- Other Gnome Apps That May Erase / Blank CD-RW and DVD-RW Disks
- GNU/Linux, Mac OS X or BSD with cdrecord at the Terminal or Shell Prompt (search for ''blank=type'')
- GNU/Linux, Mac OS X or BSD with cdrdao at the Terminal or Shell Prompt (search for ''blank blanks a CD-RW'')
- Mac OS X with drutil at the Terminal or Shell Prompt to erase several CD-RW or DVD-RW discs
- The GNU/Linux Terminal - A Beginner's Bash
- Shell Prompt Basics
- Hide This Section
- Erasing private data on a Flash Memory Card or USB Drive | skip
- WARNING: Data deleted on USB keys, or pen or thumb drives, and other flash memory devices are easily recoverable.
- ''USB flash memory is not magnetic (so multiple passes won't help). Multiple overwriting passes are designed for magnetic media, and they would produce nothing but excessive wear on a memory card, since flash memory has a limited write/erase lifetime.'' -
- Erasing USB Key Drives and Other Flash Memory Devices
- Data Remanence in Semiconductor Devices (static and dynamic RAM, CMOS, EEPROM and flash memory)
- Quick Overview Slides of Followup to Data Remanence Paper
- Followup to Data Remanence Paper
- Hide This Section
- How to securely erase private data without erasing your whole hard drive. | skip
- If you have sensitive data on your hard drive and are serious about keeping it private, I strongly recommend reading the following four sections and completing all the steps that apply.
- Removing Data Securely | skip
- Your sensitive data isn't as private as you might think. Read the following articles to learn more.
- WARNING: Deleting files does NOT permanently remove them. Nor does formatting your hard drive or reinstalling Windows. They're still recoverable with sophisticated forensic data recovery methods. Learn why.
- WARNING: Windows and some software programs save a history of pretty much everything you do in them, including copies of files you have viewed. And most web surfing history / tracks removers merely delete private files.
- Question: Does formatting the hard drive or reinstalling Windows remove the index.dat files or other private data?
- Answer: If by ''remove'' you mean securely, no, it doesn't, because even if you format the hard drive first, those files can still be recovered by data recovery software or experts.
- To make that as improbable as possible, erase your private data with 3 to 7 passes on a modern, high-density hard drive*, or 35 passes on an old hard drive.
- *Erasing expert Peter Gutmann made it clear in an epilogue to his paper that 35 passes don't make data any less recoverable than several passes on modern, high-density hard drives.
- Note: If antimalware or antispyware and antiadware don't remove a stubborn program that keeps causing problems, and you don't want to switch to Mac OS or GNU/Linux to avoid such problems, formatting your hard drive will remove the troublemaking program.
- But for next time, since formatting also removes Windows and all your software, I recommend creating an image of your new, clean, configured Windows installation with one of these disk imagers to avoid going through the trouble of reinstalling and reconfiguring Windows and all your software.
- To make files as unrecoverable as possible*, you need erasing software (also called a wiper or shredder) that overwrites the files several times with special alternating patterns of random data, using a complex algorithm.
- *Unless you physically destroy your hard drive's disks, experts can recover some, if not all, of your erased files if they want to badly enough:
- ''Data overwritten once or twice may be recovered by subtracting what is expected to be read from a storage location from what is actually read.''
- ''Data which is overwritten an arbitrarily large number of times can still be recovered provided that the new data isn't written to the same location as the original data (for magnetic media), or that the recovery attempt is carried out fairly soon after the new data was written (for RAM).''
- ''For this reason it is effectively impossible to sanitise storage locations by simple overwriting them, no matter how many overwrite passes are made or what data patterns are written.''
- ''However by using the relatively simple methods presented in this paper the task of an attacker can be made significantly more difficult, if not prohibitively expensive.'' - Peter Gutmann
- CAUTION: Erasing your data isn't the key to ultimate security.
- ''When overwriting data, you are simply trying to fix a security leak that already has happened. The best way to deal with this is to prevent the data from getting written to the disk in the first place - use strong encryption.''
- ''E4M and PGP can get you started, but cannot help you with Windows-related security holes. If you must use Windows, use NT/2000[/XP].'' - Heidi Computers Ltd.
- Otherwise, for the best security, always use GNU/Linux or Mac OS X (based on FreeBSD) or better yet, OpenBSD on an ext2 partition.
- Because of their journaling nature, the other file systems (ext3, ReiserFS, XFS, JFS, etc.), while providing better file integrity and stability, collect significant amounts of data about your activities. To learn more, read ''Data Security for GNU/Linux Power Users.''
- A Review of Data Erasing and Encryption Methods
- Hide This Section
- Easier and More Secure Alternatives to Using Windows and Eraser | skip
- WARNING: If a hardware or software key logger is installed on your computer, storing private data on your hard drive leaves them vulnerable to viewing or theft, even if encrypted, and the following options will be unable to keep them sufficiently secure and private.
- I strongly recommend always using one of these secure encryption key fillers and one of these secure web form fillers to prevent key loggers from stealing your encryption keys, passwords and Web form data.
- I also strongly recommend moving your private documents, browsing history, e-mail and chat conversations to an encrypted removable medium, securely erasing the private data on your hard drive and switching to portable software.
- Because of Windows' activity tracking and logging, and the overwhelming onslaught of spyware being targeted at Windows, Internet Explorer and Outlook / Outlook Express, if you have sensitive data you need to keep private, it's a lot safer to choose one of the following options.
- And if you choose the safest or next safest option, using alternative browser and e-mail programs, antivirus and antispyware software and security updates isn't necessary. skip
- The Safest Option
- Use a Windows, Mac OS or GNU/Linux Live CD, DVD or USB on a read-only CD-R, DVD-R or USB drive with write protection switched on (recommended by banks for online banking) with mobile software and private data on an encrypted removable medium.
- The Next Safest Option
- Use a virtual alternative operating system in a secured alternative operating system, save your data in encrypted form on an ext2 partition or removable medium from the time you start using your new computer, hard drive or removable medium, and use erasing / wiping / shredding software to securely erase sensitive data.
- Another Option
- Uninstall Windows and install GNU/Linux or get a Mac (based on FreeBSD) or better yet, OpenBSD (recommended for experienced Unix users only), save your data in encrypted form on an ext2 partition or removable medium from the time you start using your new computer, hard drive or removable medium, and use erasing / wiping / shredding software to securely erase sensitive data.
- Security Guides for Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and BSD skip
- How to Make Your Operating System and Sensitive Data Sufficiently Secure
- Ways to Encrypt Your Data
- How to Encrypt Files in Mac OS X
- Encrypting Your Home Folder in Mac OS X with FileVault
- Increase GNU/Linux security by encrypting /home.
- Learn how to encrypt your hard drive in GNU/Linux. (some GNU/Linux experience required - based on Linux 2.4; latest is 2.6)
- To learn about OpenBSD, get the book ''Absolute OpenBSD.''
- How to Move, Erase and Protect Private Data in Camino and Safari skip
- How To Clear Cache, Cookies, URL History and AutoComplete Data in Camino (not secure)
- Keeping Your Information Safe in Camino
- Moving Safari's Cache (to move Safari's cookie file, follow these instructions for this location: ~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist)
- How to Clear Data in Safari (not secure) skip
- How To Clear Cache, Cookies, URL History, Search and AutoFill Data in Safari (WARNING: ''Reset Safari'' deletes all keychain entries as well - Camino's ''Reset Camino'' does not)
- A Script to Reset Safari Without Deleting Usernames and Passwords in Keychain
- How To Clear Cache and Cookies in Safari (not secure)
- How To Clear URL History in Safari (not secure)
- How To Clear Recent Searches in Safari (not secure)
- How to Disable AutoComplete in Safari: Enable Private Browsing
- How to Protect Data in Safari skip
- How To Disable AutoFill Data in Safari
- Safari with Private Browsing Enabled (comes with Mac OS X - disables saving of browsing history)
- Portable Safari (WARNING: saving your personal data in Keychain defeats the purpose of using Portable Safari)
- Shiira with Private Browsing Enabled (similar to Safari)
- Data Erasers in Mac OS X skip
- Disk Utility (has 3 erasing options: Zero Out Data - not secure, 7-Pass Erase - sufficient for modern hard drives and 35-Pass Erase - designed for old hard drives and according to Peter Gutmann no more secure than 7 passes on modern hard drives)
- Permanent Eraser for OS X 10.0.x - 10.2.x and Secure Empty Trash in Mac OS X 10.3 or Later (erases files with seven overwrites using the DOD standard or 35 with Gutmann)
- FileVault's ''secure erase'' skip
- Data Erasers for Mac OS and BSD skip
- Mac Washer X (for Mac OS X) and Mac Washer (for - discontinued by Webroot, but available elsewhere)
- NetShred X (for Mac OS X)
- NetShred (for Mac OS 9 and 8)
- ShredIt X (for Mac OS X)
- ShredIt (for Mac OS 9 and 8)
- AutoScrubber (for Mac OS X)
- SuperScrubber (for Mac G3 - G5)
- SecretShredder
- Internet Cleanup
- Burn
- Wipe
- Free Data Erasers for GNU/Linux skip
- If you want to keep using Windows, it's a lot easier to use IE Privacy Keeper (free) or one of the following free or commercial privacy software to securely erase your desktop and Internet history and other private files than to do it with Heidi Computers Ltd.'s Eraser. skip
- Free Data Erasers for Windows skip
- IE Privacy Keeper (my second choice, free, easy to use, erases Internet history, meets DOD standards, can schedule to erase at startup or shutdown)
- Eraser (free - meets DOD and Gutmann standards - requires familiarity with Windows' folder directory) skip
- Eraser Plugin for...
- BartPE or better yet, for...
- Ultimate Boot CD for Windows
- Privacy Cleaner (DOD and NSA - erases Internet history - supports Windows, including Vista - can schedule to erase at startup or shutdown and claims to be able to erase index.dat files...how? at shutdown?...but can't erase free space or autocomplete data)
- CleanCache (Gutmann and DOD - requires .Net)
- CyberShredder (NSA and 2 other methods - drag and drop only)
- Free Internet Eraser (DOD and NSA - free version can erase or schedule to erase at startup or shutdown, but can't erase free disk space, autocomplete data, swap or page file or index.dat files, and doesn't include a file shredder for personal files, or support for plug-ins - commercial version supports over 200 free, pre-configured plug-ins that clean tracks of popular applications)
- PGP Wipe (part of PGP Tools in PGP since PGP 6.0 - modified Gutmann doesn't work in Windows 95 or 98)
- Simple File Shredder (no standards, but supposedly a secure algorithm with random data)
- SuperShredder (Gutmann and NISPOM (DOD) - browse and select location or drag and drop)
- Zilla Data Nuker (DOD - browse and select location or drag and drop - can schedule to erase at startup or shutdown)
- Commercial Data Erasers for Windows skip
- XP Privacy Pro (DoD, NSA and Guttman - claim of awards appears to be untrue - can remove individual restore points - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, XP, 2003 and Vista)
- Privacy Guardian (DOD - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, XP, 2003 and Vista)
- PurgeIE Pro (DOD - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, XP, 2003 and Vista)
- Privacy Expert Suite (8 methods, including DOD and Gutmann - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, XP and 2003 - PC Magazine Editor's Choice, May 2005)
- Window Washer (DOD - easy to use - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, and XP - PC Magazine Editor's Choice, May 2005)
- Cyberscrub (award-winning eraser - DOD - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, and XP)
- SecureClean (DOD, easy to use - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, and XP - compliant with privacy acts)
- Max PC Privacy (DOD - supports Windows 98, 2000, Me and XP)
- Winclear (DOD, Gutmann - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, XP and 2003)
- East-Tec Eraser (DOD, Gutmann - supports Windows 98, NT, 2000, Me, XP and 2003)
- Here's what I recommend doing in Windows Vista or XP Professional to set up Heidi Computers Ltd.'s Eraser to securely erase your private data, and how to go about doing that every time after you finish working or playing on your computer:
- Hide This Section
- Crucial Steps You Need To Take Before Typical After-Work Erasing With Eraser | skip
- CAUTION: Reading the following steps carelessly could cause you to disable your system and / or lose data you want to keep. So be sure to read them carefully.
- Secure Windows and Your Data | skip
- WARNING:
- Using Windows Vista with User Account Control (UAC) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) disabled, and without a CPU (the main computer chip) that supports DEP and virtualization, leaves your operating system vulnerable to corruption and control and your data to theft by malware and web sites set up for such purposes.
- If you use Windows 95, 98, Me or XP, your hard drive most likely has malware (viruses, trojan horses or trojans, worms, rootkits, key loggers and spyware) and adware on it - including cookies and PIEs (persistent identification elements) - that are collecting data about your computing habits with (some adware) or without (malware and some adware) your permission.
- Windows XP's default settings were configured for ease of use and connectivity, not security, and Service Pack 2 only changes a few of those settings, unfortunately, so even with SP2 installed, Windows XP is still very unsecure and vulnerable to attack.
- If you use Windows Me or XP, using your default account, which unfortunately is your administrator account, for everyday use, especially going online, leaves your private data vulnerable to those determined to view them.
- If your sensitive data - e-mail, Temporary Internet Files, Most Recently Used lists, etc. - aren't encrypted, they're accessible to prying eyes.
- More and more sensitive, private, personal data and money are being stolen or conned / defrauded out of people and businesses for personal or business gain from or through their laptop or notebook computers, cell phones, PDAs and other handheld devices and wireless keyboards and networks.
- If you want your computer and data to be sufficiently secure, first either:
- use a GNU/Linux Live CD or DVD on a read-only CD-R or DVD-R with your private data on an encrypted removable medium such as a USB drive (most secure option);
- use a virtual operating system in a secured operating system;
- install and use an alternative operating system (alternative to Windows) and secure it;
- use Windows on a USB drive - a ''PC on a stick'' - with MojoPac (commercial - creates a standalone Windows installation that runs from a USB flash drive or iPod - requires a Windows XP CD and administrative access) or...
- reconfigure the default settings of Windows' files, folders, registry, software and services.
- Then encrypt your operating system (if you're not using a GNU/Linux Live CD or DVD or a virtual operating system in a secured operating system) and data, remove all malware and adware, switch to a wired or USB wireless keyboard if yours isn't either one, and secure your laptop and / or wireless router / firewall, cell phone, PDA or other handheld device, if it's possible and you have one.
- How to Make Windows and Your Data Sufficiently Secure
- Hide This Step
- WARNING:
- Encrypt Windows or Move Private Data to Read-Only or Encrypted Removable Media | skip
- WARNING: Storing private data on your hard drive leaves them vulnerable to viewing or theft, even if encrypted, if a key logger is installed on your PC.
- I strongly recommend moving your private documents, browsing history, e-mail and chat conversations to an encrypted removable medium, switching to portable software and checking for hardware and software key loggers before entering your encryption key.
- Note: If you use Internet Explorer and want to keep its cache for faster web page viewing, I recommend either moving your Temporary Internet Files folder to a separate encrypted partition on your hard drive (fairly secure) or removable medium (more secure) created and sized only for that folder...
- ...or better yet, switching to a portable, alternative browser to minimize privacy risks, significantly reduce defragmentation of your system files and help keep Windows from committing errors or slowing down.
- If you don't need the cache, disable it. (I recommend doing that even if you're going to switch to a more private and secure browser, to maximize your privacy.)
- WARNING: Failing to securely erase your private data after copying or moving them to a removable medium, leaves them accessible to those willing and able to recover them from their original location.
- So after moving them, make sure you either delete the original data and then erase the free or empty space on your hard drive, or erase the original files with Eraser or one of these other free secure-erasing software.
- Lock it Easy (free - manages flash partitions and encrypts data)
- How to Move All of Your Valuable Data from Windows to a New Partition
- Outlook and Outlook Express: skip
- How to Change the Mail and News Folders' Default Locations in Outlook Express (IMPORTANT: If you change the location of the mail store to either a mapped drive or a removable drive, this action is not supported by Microsoft. In this case, use the procedure described in this article at your own risk.
- How to Change the Default Locations of Outlook Express's Mail and the News Folders with a Registry Hack
- How to Move Your Outlook Mail, Contacts and Settings to Another Location
- Lexar 256MB, 512MB and 1GB JumpDrive Traveler USB Flash Drive (private browsing and portable and synchronized Outlook Express e-mail)
- Lexar 128MB JumpDrive Traveler USB Flash Drive
- Note: Lexar's JumpDrive Traveler has been discontinued and not replaced.
- Software that create portable Outlook and / or Outlook Express e-mail: skip
- EssentialPIM (free and commercial - imports, exports and synchronizes Outlook)
- P.I. Protector Mobility Suite (commercial)
- (all Carry it Easy software are commercial and require administrative access)
- Carry it Easy (commercial - portable Outlook Express only - U3 edition available for U3 smart drives)
- Carry it Easy +Plus (commercial - creates portable Outlook and Outlook Express e-mail - U3 edition available for U3 smart drives)
- How to Move Your Thunderbird Profile (includes your e-mail)
- How to Move Your Thunderbird E-Mail Folder (if you only want to move your e-mail, not the whole profile folder)
- How to Move Your Temporary Internet Files Folder (Cache) in Internet Explorer
- A Guide to Temporary Internet Files (includes how much disk space you should use for cache)
- How to Mostly Disable Internet Explorer's Cache (it's not possible to completely disable Internet Explorer's cache)
- How to Move Your Firefox Profile (includes cache, cookies, form history, bookmarks and preferences)
- Specify Where to Store the Cache in Firefox (if you only want to move the cache, not the whole profile folder)
- Moving Opera's Wand and History Files, Cache and Mail Folders to Other Locations: skip
- How to Change Their Paths in the opera6.ini File (never edit while Opera is running)
- How to Change Their Paths in the opera:config page
- Where to Change Paths:
- In User Prefs:
- Cache Directory4
- Opera Directory (profile folder, includes Direct History File - typed-in URLs - and Global History File)
- Wand Storage File
- In Mail:
- Mail Root Directory
- Hide This Step
- Switch to Safer Hardware and Software | skip
- To minimize the risks to your privacy, I recommend switching to safer, alternative browser and e-mail programs with your browsing history and e-mail on an encrypted, removable medium or better yet, portable versions stored on an encrypted, removable medium that leave your sensitive data significantly more private and secure than Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Outlook do, which is especially important when using a laptop / notebook, PDA, smartphone or public computer.
- And use one one or more of these or the following software and web-based services for anonymous searches or Web surfing, to prevent profiling and the resulting risk of misuse or theft of your private data.
- Then, use one of the two options I recommend for virtually worry-free computing and sufficiently secure, private browsing.
- Or at least use antimalware and antiadware to help keep your data private. And download updates for them often.
- Note: As I said in section 2, using those software programs and updates isn't necessary if you choose one of the options I recommend.
- Switch to Safer Hardware and Software skip
- Data Encryption Guides, Articles, Sofware and Services (including how to run TrueCrypt in Traveller Mode)
- Encrypted USB Drives and Hard Drives (including U3 Smart Drives with pre-loaded portable software)
- Security on a Stick: How to Be Anonymous Online with Portable Applications on a USB Key
- GNU/Linux Live CDs, DVDs and USBs Configured for Privacy
- How to Combine Encryption and Mobility (a guide to securing a portable browser, mail-client and instant messenger with Private Disk Light)
- RoboForm2Go (formerly Pass2Go) (stores personal form and login data on an encrypted USB key or dongle, a secure thumb drive - defeats phishing sites and key loggers)
- Alternative E-Mail Programs:
- Alternative Browsers and Extensions with Private Browsing: skip
- Surf it Easy (commercial)
- P.I. Protector Mobility Suite (commercial)
- Portable Privacy Machine (based on QEMU emulator - includes Firefox, PrivacyBar, NoScript Extension, Thunderbird, Enigmail GPG and a persistent home directory)
- Portable Linux Virtual Machines (a review of Portable Privacy Machine)
- The latest version of Firefox or better yet Portable Firefox running in Sandboxie with its cache on an encrypted removable medium and with NoScript, CookieSafe, Adblock Plus, Adblock Updater and either Stealther or PrivacyBar extensions for private browsing, or xB Browser (formerly Torpark), FoxTor or OperaTor for anonymous browsing. skip
- Safe And Secure Surfing With Firefox (how to change the default settings for cookies and Javascript, change the default Clear Private Data rules, clear private data - not secure - and install the Adblock Plus, Adblock Filterset.G Updater, NoScript, FlashBlock, CookieSafe, RefControl and User Agent Switcher extensions)
- Sandboxie (version 2.64 does not support Windows Vista - only the newer beta versions support Vista)
- Security Extensions for Firefox
- CookieSafe Extension for Firefox
- Adblock Plus Extension for Firefox
- Adblock Filterset.G Updater Extension for Firefox (automatically updates G's filter list in Adblock)
- Stealther Extension for Firefox (disables browsing history)
- Tor Anonymizer skip
- Tor's Anonymity skip
- Why privacy makes the Internet safer. How anonymity hides the bad guys!
- Best Free Utility for 2006: TorPark - So Says Support Alert's Ian ''Gizmo'' Richards
- Wikipedia's Information and Resources on Tor (The Onion Router), the Anonymity Network
- Anonymity: Browse the Internet Anonymously with Tor
- Is Torpark really anonymous?
- Myth of Online Anonymity - What New Methods of Digital Forensics Can Reveal
- Tor's Security skip
- Tor Products skip
- Tor (The Onion Router)
- Portable Tor
- OperaTor (a free combination of Opera web browser, Tor anonymity network and Privoxy content filter)
- xB Browser (formerly Torpark) (a free, fully configured combination of Portable Firefox and Tor anonymizer for Windows - GNU/Linux and Mac OS versions being developed)
- FoxTor Extension for Firefox and Vidalia (a free combination of FoxTor extension for Firefox web browser, Tor anonymity network and Privoxy content filter)
- PrivacyBar Extension for Firefox (a complete set of privacy and security tools with Easy Access)
- Firefox Portable
- Portable Firefox with PrivacyBar
- Tor's Anonymity skip
- Portable Opera@USB
- NoTrax (commercial, from the makers of Eraser - securely erases browsing history after each session)
- NetCaptor with Secure Cleanup Enabled (commercial, Internet Explorer-based - secure clean up feature - one pass, three-DOD and 35-Gutmann)
- USB Applications skip
- Carry Your Life on a Thumb Drive (or iPod)
- Software for U3 Smart Drives (the new U3 platform lets you run applications on any PC without leaving data on the host machine) skip
- Quickly Install the Best Open Source Apps with WinLibre and MacLibre
- Privacy in a Very Small Package (privacy software for USB drives)
- The Ultimate USB Key (a collection of recommended portable programs)
- PortableApps Suite (a collection of portable apps, or applications)
- Portable Apps for Mac OS X
- LinuxForTravelers.com - Secure Computing on the Road
- USBapps.com
- EverythingUSB.com's USB Apps & Platform Newbie Guide & News
- Wikipedia's List of Applications for a USB Drive
- Portable USB Drive Utilities
- A Directory Of Programs Designed For USB Drives
- Dmitri Popov's List of Portable Windows Apps
- Other Sites with Portable Apps
- Hide This Step
- Encrypt Restore Points or Erase Them, Then Disable System Restore | skip
- System Restore and now also Shadow Copy, or Previous Versions, in Windows Vista occasionally take snapshots of your system at different times and save not only them, but also copies of your private files, as Restore Points in hidden folders which are located on each partition and hard drive.
- C:\System Volume Information\ in Windows Vista and XP
- C:\_Restore\ in Windows Me
- WARNING: Leaving System Restore enabled saves viruses and other malware your antivirus software has gotten rid of, which will reinfect your system when taken back to an infected Restore Point.
- It also saves system files corrupted by some other cause, which when restored, may mess up or disable your system.
- And it leaves your private data accessible to prying eyes by allowing others to easily restore and view them, including all the files you've deleted and even the ones you've securely erased.
- You could just erase the Restore Points without disabling System Restore, but that would leave your private data vulnerable if Windows were to create any more Restore Points between erasing sessions.
- I strongly recommend saving an image of your clean-installed Windows partition instead, with one of these disk imagers. skip
- Microsoft Adds ''Previous Versions''
- Previous Versions: Windows Vista's New Backup Feature
- Features Explained: Shadow Copy
- Using Shadow Copy to Restore Previous Versions of a File
- Windows Vista's ''Previous Versions'' Feature
- Previous Versions of Files: Frequently Asked Questions
- Windows Vista Backup and Restore Made Easy and Secure
- Selected Scenarios for Maintaining Data Integrity with Windows Vista
- To erase your Restore Points and turn off System Restore:
- Print these instructions, which aren't hidden with Javascript, and if you have Windows XP, the instructions on how to access System Volume Information folders.
- Download Eraser or the Eraser plugin. (for security, you should be doing this in a Limited User account) skip
- Free Download Accelerators
- Heidi Computers Ltd.'s Eraser (free - meets DOD and Gutmann standards)
- Eraser Plugin for...
- BartPE or better yet, for...
- Ultimate Boot CD for Windows
- Drive Eraser plugin
- (other free erasers / wipers / shredders that claim to meet or exceed Gutmann, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and / or National Security Agency (NSA) standards)
- Log into your admin account (for security, you should be reading this in a Limited User account), close all running programs and services and install Eraser or the Eraser plugin. skip
- SmartClose (free - closes all running programs and services, except protected services - can also restart them with a system snapshot)
- Installing Eraser on a USB Flash Drive?
- Running Eraser from a USB Drive
- If you have Windows XP, make the hidden System Volume Information folders visible and give yourself permission to access them.
- Choose one of the following options:
- If you have Windows Me or XP, either load it in Safe Mode (press the F5 button repeatedly when starting or restarting your computer) and log in to your Administrator account (when I tried this method, two files were left that can't be erased)...
- ...or set the BIOS to boot from your CD drive (here's how), then put BartPE or better yet Ultimate Boot CD for Windows with the Eraser or Drive Eraser plugin in your CD drive and restart.
- If you have both Windows 95, 98 or Me and XP installed on FAT partitions, install Eraser in your nonXP Windows.
- Click on each _Restore (Windows Me) or System Volume Information (Windows XP) folder to view its contents.
- Press Ctrl and A to select all the contents.
- Right-click on them, select Erase and click OK to erase them.
- Other Options
- If you're not afraid of using the command line, try one of these options.
- To set up for one of them, start or restart your computer, set your BIOS to boot from the floppy drive first, or if you don't have a floppy drive, your CD drive, and save your BIOS settings.
- How to Change the Boot Order of Your Drives
- Now choose one of the following options to get you to the command prompt.
- Put a SimplyMEPIS (my favorite GNU/Linux distro) or Knoppix Live CD or DVD in your CD or DVD drive or a Live USB in your USB port, restart your computer and after the Live distro loads, use Wipe to erase your restore points.
- I'm not sure whose Wipe program SimplyMEPIS and Knoppix come with, so here are the instructions for both, just in case the instructions for one of them don't work.
- If you have Windows Me, put your emergency recovery disk in your floppy drive and restart your computer.
- If you have Windows XP, put your Windows XP CD in your CD drive, or if your CD doesn't have the Recovery Console, either put a Setup boot disk in your floppy drive, or if you don't have a floppy drive, put BartPE with the EZBoot plugin or better yet Ultimate Boot CD for Windows in your CD drive. Restart and press any key when indicated, to load Windows Setup. Then press R for the Repair option to load the Recovery Console / command prompt. skip
- View the Startup Menu and Recovery Console
- How To Install the EZBoot Plugin for BartPE
- Add the Recovery Console to Your Boot Menu
- Making BartPE, isolinux and Windows Recovery Console Co-exist
- How To Make a Customizable Emergency CD
- Making A Slipstreamed Windows XP CD
- If you have Windows XP Pro on an NTFS partition, put BartPE or better yet Ultimate Boot CD for Windows with the Command Line Utilities Plugin or Ed Jablonowski's easier-to-make-and-use version of NTFS4DOS in your floppy drive or CD drive, and restart your computer.
- Now complete the following steps to securely erase your restore points from the command line.
- Caution: Eraser Launcher (eraserl.exe) does not ask for a confirmation before erasing your data.
- At the command prompt (a:\> or c:\>), navigate to the folder Eraser is in using the cd FOLDER NAME command.
- a. I type e: and press Enter or Return (I have Eraser on a different partition than the one Windows is on);
- b. I type cd eraser and press Enter or Return to open the Eraser folder;
- If Eraser is installed in the Program Files folder on your computer...
- a. type cd program files or if that doesn't work, cd progra~1
- (always the first 6 letters of the folder's name plus the tilde or squiggly line and the number 1 when a folder name consists of two words)
- b. Press Enter or Return to open the Program Files folder.
- c. Then type cd eraser (or whatever name you gave Eraser's folder) and press Enter or Return to open the Eraser folder.
- Now enter the following command for each partition or hard disk drive:
- For example:
- eraserl -folder "c:\system volume information" -subfolders -keepfolder -method DoD
- (eraserl is not a typing error - make sure you include the l - DoD is 7 passes, DoD_E is 3 passes - for a list of available parameters, type eraserl at the command prompt and press enter)
- If you're familiar with and prefer typing MS-DOS's abreviated names for folders with names that contain spaces between two or more words, use the eraserd command instead.
- eraserd -folder c:\system~1 -subfolders -keepfolder -passes 7
- (eraserd is not a typing error - make sure you include the d - for a list of available parameters, type eraserd at the command prompt and press enter)
- Finally, turn off, or disable, System Restore.
- Disabling or Enabling Windows Me System Restore
- In Windows Me, be sure to also click Start > Run, enter msconfig, select the Startup tab and disable *statemgr from loading. Then restart your computer.
- Disabling or Enabling Windows XP System Restore
- At the command prompt (a:\> or c:\>), navigate to the folder Eraser is in using the cd FOLDER NAME command.
- Hide This Step
- Encrypt WIN386.swp or pagefile.sys or Erase It, Then Disable Virtual Memory | skip
- WARNING: The virtual memory file (called a swap file - WIN386.swp - in Windows 95, 98 and Me, and a page or paging file - pagefile.sys - in Windows 2000 and XP) can contain sensitive private data, such as passswords, etc.
- To protect that data, either encrypt your swap or page file with CryptoSwap Guerilla (not recommended! least secure - Microsoft recommends never encrypting individual files), or by encrypting your Windows partition (more secure) or better yet, your whole hard disk drive (even more secure), or, if you have 1GB of RAM (Random Access Memory) or more, securely erase it, then disable virtual memory (most secure).
- How to Encrypt Your Partitions or Whole Hard Disk Drive
- Note: If you don't use Photoshop, Adobe, 3D games, or other memory-intensive programs, 512MB of RAM may be enough to prevent popup warnings and crashes, but I strongly recommend at least 1GB to be safe.
- The swap or page file is inaccessible while Windows is running, but it can be deleted at shutdown (Windows 2000 and XP) or reboot / restart (Windows 95, 98 and Me) or it can be deleted or securely erased from either the DOS or command prompt, BartPE or better yet Ultimate Boot CD for Windows with the Eraser plugin or Drive Eraser plugin, or a GNU/Linux Live CD or DVD.
- WARNING: ''There are applications that claim to overwrite swap file contents while Windows is running. They are usually trying to accomplish this by allocating huge amounts of memory and hoping that the operating system will write it to the disk (overwriting previous data).''
- ''Doing this may even prove to decrease security instead of increasing it - instead of flushing the memory allocated by the overwriting program to the swap file, Windows may as well decide to save the memory allocated by some other application to the disk, possibly causing sensitive data that otherwise would have remained in the memory to end up on your drive.''
- ''And even if the user is real lucky and everything goes as planned, the data currently allocated in the swap file still cannot (and will not) be accessed.'' - Heidi Computers Ltd.
- WARNING: You can set Windows 2000 and XP to clear (delete or zero out) the page file at shutdown or reboot / restart, but this does not securely erase it.
- Note: Setting Windows to clear the page file at shutdown or reboot / restart will cause Windows XP to take longer to shut down; long enough that you may think shutdown has hung. It'll also clear the hibernation file at shutdown, when hibernation is disabled on a portable computer.
- To set it in Eraser, start Eraser, or if it's already running, make sure its window is selected by clicking on its border. Then press Ctrl and P to show the general settings. Now click on the box next to ''Enable clearing of page file (swap) at shutdown'' to put a check in it, and select OK.
- To set it in XP-AntiSpy (not recommended), start XP-AntiSpy, and under ''Miscellaneous Settings,'' check ''Clear pagefile at shutdown.''
- To securely erase the page file at shutdown or reboot / restart, click on Scheduler in Eraser and create a task for it. When creating the task, select the Schedule tab in Task Properties, and select Reboot (the last option on the list).
- skip
- Clear or Erase the Swap or Page File
- Clear the Swap File in Windows 95 or 98 (not secure)
- Clear the page file (not secure) in Local Security Policy or with a registry tweak.
- If I have a Windows XP machine that has lots of memory, can I improve performance by removing the page file?
- How to disable the page file in Windows XP (simple steps) ExtremeTech's Recommendations
- Hide This Step
- Encrypt hiberfil.sys or Erase It, Then Disable Hibernation Mode | skip
- WARNING: On an unencrypted Windows partition, putting your computer on hibernation mode, a temporary shutdown feature in Windows that's a deeper version of sleep than standby mode, is a security risk, even if you encrypt private files, because it saves all the contents of your PC's memory, which might contain plaintext of encrypted files, onto your hard drive, which are then easily accessible to prying eyes.
- So if you must put your computer on hibernation mode, be sure to encrypt your Windows partition (least secure) or your whole hard drive (fairly secure).
- Otherwise, find hiberfil.sys, a hidden system file on each partition that Windows saves your data in before going into hibernation mode. Right-click on it and select Erase. Eraser will then securely erase the hibernation file. Then disable hibernation.
- How to Disable Hibernation Mode in Windows XP
- Click Start, click Run, type cmd and then click OK.
- At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press Enter:
- powercfg /h or powercfg /hibernate
- Hide This Step
- Encrypt Registry or Erase, Then Disable AutoComplete in Internet Explorer and / or Alternative Browser (includes usernames, passwords, form entries, searches and visited web site addresses in drop down lists) skip
- WARNING: Setting your browser, especially Internet Explorer, to save your usernames, passwords, web addresses and form entries, leaves them vulnerable to those determined to view them.
- WARNING: Saving passwords to e-mail, medical, banking and other commercial sites in your browser's password manager leaves not only your passwords vulnerable to theft, but also your money and private data. skip
- CIS Finds Flaws in Firefox v2 Password Manager (reported to also affect Internet Explorer, Safari and Opera browsers)
- Password Management Concerns with IE and Firefox
- Internet Explorer's AutoComplete data is stored in Windows' registry files, without which Windows can't function. So if you've saved private data in Internet Explorer, you have two options. You can delete their registry keys, but that leaves your private data available for easy recovery and viewing. I recommend the safer option.
- ''If you need to wipe (not just delete) registry keys, I only know of one way to do it: Have autoexec.bat wipe your entire system.dat & user.dat files on start-up, and replace them from known clean backups. (Remember to update the backups when you install or remove applications!)'' - Steve K
- Enter RegBack1 and RegBack2, ''two sets of batch files, one with the file-wiper Scorch.com (fast) and another set with Eraserd.exe (slower...but more efficient) both of which will back up your registry to a folder;...''
- ''...and then upon a reboot of the computer, they run DOS commands from the Autoexec.bat at startup to erase the contents of your static swap-file, wipe the old registry files, and restore a clean registry to the system from previously sanitised files in their registry backup folder. They clean up your system before Windows even loads.''
- ''This gets rid of extraneous reg keys from temporary software installations, nullif[ie]s pesky run commands from trojans and virii, and eliminate[s] web-surfing tracks and all other information relating to your usage of the computer; everything that was logged into the registry since the last time the files [were] run.''
- ''In addition, Regback2 will destroy all the cookies, history lists and 'index.dat' files in the Windows dir[ectory]; or any other self-replicating files you may find that log your personal usage statistics.'' - The SCD Team
- Encrypt your Windows partition (fairly secure) or your whole hard drive (more secure), or delete your AutoComplete data with Internet Explorer, an alternative browser or one of the following free software and your MRU (most recently used) lists for Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer and third-party applications with Spybot, Ad-Aware or MRU-Blaster.
- Back up your sanitized registry.
- Erase your swap or page file (Windows recreates it on startup) and system.dat and user.dat files and restore your sanitized registry with RegBack1 or RegBack2 (I recommend RegBack2).
- Disable AutoComplete in Internet Explorer, or if you use an alternative browser, its private data-saving features. And save your usernames and passwords in RoboForm or RoboForm2Go (formerly Pass2Go) (free), a very convenient and secure username and password manager with automatic form entry and antiphishing / antikeylogger technology. Your private data are saved in strongly encrypted files.
- If you use Mac OS X, extend Keychain's abilities with 1Passwd. (limited free and full commercial password manager and autofill extension for Safari, Camino, Firefox, Flock, OmniWeb 5.5, DEVONagent 2.0 and NetNewsWire browsers - based on Mac OS X Keychain - better than Keychain, RoboForm and Safari's AutoFill - the only Mac password manager with antiphishing / antikeylogger technology)
- Switch to one of these alternative browsers that leave your sensitive data significantly more secure and private than Internet Explorer does.
-
- How To Clear (Delete) Your Browser's Private Data and Disable AutoComplete in Internet Explorer and Other Browsers (clearing AutoComplete data without erasing after sanitized backup not recommended - data can be easily recovered with available software)
- Free AutoComplete Cleaners
- How to Back Up Windows' Registry and Your Settings
- How to Back Up Your Data
- RegBack1 with Scorch.com and RegBack2 with Eraserd.ex
- Secure Windows and Your Data | skip
- CAUTION: Reading the following steps carelessly could cause you to disable your system and / or lose data you want to keep. So be sure to read them carefully.
- Removing Data Securely | skip
- If you have sensitive data on your hard drive and are serious about keeping it private, I strongly recommend reading the following four sections and completing all the steps that apply.