clean up and lock
down
Even if snoops can't view
your documents directly, they can get an idea of what you've
been doing by scanning your list of recently used files
in Microsoft Word or Excel's File menu.
This temporary menu lists
even files you've recently deleted, so it's best to turn
off the option. In Word or Excel, select "Tools, Options,"
then "General." Uncheck the box labelled "Recently
Used File List."
Next cover the tracks of
your current documents. Pop up the Start menu and select
"Documents." It shows a list of the last 15 or
so files you had open--making it too easy for someone to
browse through your work or personal files without even
searching your hard drive.
To hide your work, clear
the menu by clicking on the Start menu's "Settings"
folder, then selecting Taskbar. Choose the "Start Menu
Programs" tab, then click on the "Clear"
button at the bottom of the tab.
Clean out your temp files.
Microsoft Word and other apps usually save temporary copies
of your work in progress to guard against system crashes.
Many apps also save text you've deleted, moved, or copied--even
if you haven't saved the file you're working on.
Get rid of those snippets
by routinely deleting the temporary files that each app
saves in the WINDOWSTEMP folder. Also make sure to delete
all the files within its subdirectories, such as those labelled
FAX and WORDXX. Many of the files have extensions such as
TMP, but they are actually complete versions of DOC, HTML,
or even image files.
Lock important files by using
a password-protect for critical files. It's easy in Word
and Excel. Choose "File, Save As," then select
"Options." In the password box, type in a password;
the best passwords aren't real words or dates. Use a combination
of letters, numbers, and punctuation for a password that's
hard to guess. You'll have to type in your password each
time you open and save the document.
caught in your own
web
Enter websites without being
followed. Navigator and Internet Explorer keep a record
of every Web address you type into your browser. Take a
look: Enter a URL in the location window below the toolbar;
the browsers record the URL in their drop-down menus until
other entries replace it. Here's a way to visit a site undetected:
In either browser, press Ctrl-O to bring up a dialog box,
then type the URL into it.
Your browser is the next
area to safeguard. Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator
keep lists of all the places you've been, including the
specific pages you've visited, searches you've done, and
data you've entered.
To view your Web history
in Navigator, press Ctrl-H; in Explorer, choose "View,
Explorer Bar, History." To delete Navigator's history
items, highlight the desired items and press the "Del"
key, or delete them all at once by choosing "Select
All" on the Edit menu, then press the "Del"
key.
Internet Explorer stores
your Web history in weekly folders or by website. You can
delete individual URLs, but the quickest way is to delete
entire folders. To clear out your whole history, select
"Internet Options" from the Edit menu, choose
the "General" tab, and click on the "Clear
History" button.
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