Microsoft Hidden Files Essay example -- essays research papers

IntroductionThere ar folders on your computer that Microsoft has try hard to keepsecret. Within these folders you will find two major(ip) things Microsoft net profit Explorer has been logging every last(predicate) of the sites you look at ever visited -- nonetheless after youve cle bed your history, and Microsofts Outlook Express hasbeen logging all of your email correspondence -- even after youve carry offdthem from your Deleted Items bin. (This also includes all incoming and shell file attachments.) And believe me, thats not even the half of it.When I tell apart these files are hidden well, I really mean it. If you dont have both knowledge of DOS then dont plan on finding these files on your own. Isay this because these files/folders wont be displayed in Windows Explorer atall -- simply DOS. (Even after you have en satisfactoryd Windows Explorer to "view allfiles.") And to decease it off, the only way to find them in DOS is if you knewthe exact location of them. B asically, what Im saying is if you didnt knowthe files existed then the chances of you running across them is slim toslimmer.Its fire to note that Microsoft does not explain this behavioradequately at all. proficient try searching on microsoft.com.I know there are nigh people out there that are already aware of whatever of the things I mention. I also know that most people are not. The purpose of this tutorial is teach people what is really going on with Microsofts products andhow to take control of their privacy again. This tutorial was written by me,so if you see a mistake round(prenominal)where then it is my mistake, and I apologize. give thanks for reading.INDEX1) DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS2) WHY YOU SHOULD ERASE THESE FILES3) HOW TO ERASE THE FILES ASAP3.1) If You Own Microsoft Internet Explorer3.2) Clearing Your Registry3.3) If You Own Outlook Express3.4) sluttish files3.5) Keeping Microsofts Products4) STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE THROUGH YOUR HIDDEN FILES (For the savvy.)1. DEFIN ITIONS AND ACRONYMSWell, the best explanation I have been able to come up with is the followingI) A "really hidden" file/folder is one that cannot be seen in WindowsExplorer after enabling it to "view all files," and cannot be seen in MS-DOSafter receiving a proper directory listing from root.a) There is at to the lowest degree one loophole to enabling Windows Explorer to see ... ...de. ME users use a bootdisk.) furrow that you must(prenominal) restart to DOS because windows has locked down some of thefiles and they can only be accessed in real DOS mode.3) Type this in at promptCDWINDOWSTEMPOR1CONTENT.IE5CD %alphanumeric%(replace the "%alphanumeric%" with the first name that you only wrote down.)DIR/PThe cache files you are now looking at are directly responsible for themysterious erosion of HD space you may have been noticing. One thingparticularly interesting is the ability to view some your old e-mail if youhappen to have a hotmail account. (Oddly, Iv e only been able to retreivehotmail e-mail, and not e-mail from my other web-based e-mail accounts. Sendme your experiences with this.) To see them for yourself you must first copythem into another directory and then open them with your browser. Dont askme why this works.A note about these files These are your cache files that help stop number upyour internet browsing. It is quite normal to use this cache system, as everymajor browser does. On the other hand. It isnt normal for some cache filesto be left behined after you have instructed your browser to erase it.