My h was alone in the house yesterday. I don't know how to block his access to the computer, and I think he may have been snooping. Reason: I deleted all my temp internet files for this site, the only way I know how to keep him from knowing what I'm up to, and also the history. Then I went to a few other sites.<P>When I got home there was MB on the temp files and no record of my visits to the other sites. Also the history only went to hotmail. So I know he mucked around with the computer.<P>I also know that the first time he was here alone he was accessing a hotmail address, and forgot to put our hotmail address back on auto. So he obviously didn't want me to fiddle around and see what he's been up to. I know he has visited porn sites in the past. What can I do? Please tell me in simple language as I'm not computer literate!<P>Thanks,<P>Nina

Nina,<P>My ex did this too. OK...first things first. When you are finished ont eh computer, go to Tools then Internet Options then under Temporary Internet files *delete* all. Under that there is a section for History. Delete all the files there also.<P>Next...go to your desktop. Click on "My Computer". Under there go to *Windows*. In Windows go to *Temporary Internet Files* (these are files that are NOT erased from your Tools menu when you are on the internet). When you are in C: Windows: Temporary Internet Files, highlight all the files in there with your mouse. (to do that, highlight the first one, hold down the *shift* key and then with your mouse, still holding down the shift key, highlight the LAST item that is in that file. Let GO of the shift key, and press the RIGHT mous button. There will be a little pop-up menu that appears. Press DELETE. This will delete the temporary internet files that have *cookies* placed on your machine.<P>K...next step. To double check where you have been through all of this, move your mouse to the bottom of the desktop, where your START button is at the bottom left-hand corner and the time is at the bottom right-hand corner. in between (the large grey area), RIGHT click with your mouse. The menu that pops up has *properties* listed. Click on that. Then go to *Start Menu Programs*. There you will see *Documents Menu* press *clear*. This portion clears the computer. Now I will tell you what to do to find out where your husband has been the next time you log onto the computer. Each time you leave the computer you will have to follow the above instructions to clear your tracks.<P>When you come BACK to the computer and you want to see what has been accessed in your absence -> click on the START button at the bottom, then My Documents. To expand My Documents will show you where on the computer he has been (in files etc.). To check WHERE on the internet he has been, go back to your c drive: windows: temporary internet files and you will be able to access EVERY site he has been on.<P>There are also programs out there that will show you every keystroke that is typed on your computer in your absence. <P>*sigh*.... sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. It's learning how to handle the fire without getting burnt.

Thanks Elan!<P>I know about deleting history and temp internet files, but the other stuff will be really useful!<P>I don't know how he called up what I'd done, though, since I had deleted those files, and then where did my other site files go? I HAD deleted from history (ALL) and from Temp internet files. They were NOT there when I shut down. And he didn't go to MB because the times in properties were when I was here not him.<P>So there must be a way for you to retrieve deleted files...is that right?

Deleted files are in the Recycle Bin. Which can also be cleared. If Norton Utilities are on your computer, the recycle bin may have additional protections. There are programs that write ones and zeros over "deleted" files to make sure they really are deleted. Nonetheless, extremely high-tech methods (in labs only) can retrieve files that have been overwritten four or five times or more (they just look <I>only</I> at signals coming from the disk that are at a certain intensity [say the intensity of something that has been overwritten four times], and ignore everything else). <P>Right now the feds are trying to nail Nicky Scarfo, Jr. ... they had a search warrant, and they did <I>something</I> to find out his PGP key so they could decrypt records of his mob dealings. The feds don't want to say what they did. The constitution says differently. In this case or another, the feds will have to tell in order to successfully prosecute. So they need to decide whether this is the hill they want to die on, or wait for a bigger case. <P>Speculation is tht they either placed a keystroke recording program on his PC, put a keystroke transmitter in his keyboard, or sat outside his house with a parabolic antenna and used some advanced hardware to recreate the information shown on his monitor screen (unless a computer meets T.E.M.P.E.S.T. standards [meaning it's three-letter-agency grade in terms of its radio frequency emissions], this is pretty trivial to do). <P>In the future, mobsters are cautioned to use notebook computers they keep with them at all times, and removable hard drives only.

Thanks for the reply. I looked in recycle bin, and there are no temporary internet files there. Is there some other way he could have retrieved my records?

Could it be possible that he was coming to MB for help?

Nina:<P>I have another thought about Hotmail. Perhaps he has a secret hotmail e-mail address and was checking his mail? My H does, I found it by snooping in our computer at home. He also has a secret AOL Instant Message Buddy name I found. Nothing you can do, if this is so. You can also get a program to run, that passwrod protects your computer so that you can't get acess to any of the hard drive unless you have it. I will find out more for you and get you the info ASAP. Wouldn't he be suprised to find he can't get in at all!<P>Michelle

...you may not want to see all that you find though. Be prepared for that if you are going to do some snooping. My ex already filed for divorce when I started my snooping. I don't think I would have been prepared for what I found had I have known *how* to snoop before then.<P>My question would be -- why are you snooping? What are you afraid of? What are YOU trying to hide? And like I asked before -- is it possible that HE was accessing MB for help for himself? (sorry I don't know the circumstances that brought you here).<P>As for finding out about his hotmail...and this will probably open up a whole new can of worms.... are couples supposed to tell eachother EVERYTHING?

EWS - he did have one previously, I found it by accident when he forgot to remove his password stull, and when I accessed email, his stuff came up...porn sites.<P>I know he must have kept it going because as I tried to explain before, the first time he was here alone, he must have accessed it, because this time he DID delete his "new" password and user name, but forgot to put ours back in. So when I tried to access hotmail, I had to fill it all in...unless the computer can somehow remove the info all by itself!<P>Elan, my position is that I am almost certain he left with an affair in the wings, and I know he has been hiding stuff from ne. He won't talk to me about the relationship. HE has been snooping on me, not the other way around. I just want to know how he did it, so I can safeguard myself. AND the reason I don't want him to know I'm at MB yet is because he may see that as a LB in itself, because he doesn't WANT to get back together. So I am Plan A'ing without his knowledge.<P>I doubt very much that he would come here...he doesn't think he needs help.<P>Thanks for replies. Any more useful info would be appreciated!

Hey Nina,<P>Just saw this..sorry I didn't respond earlier. I understand where you are coming from. That's how I found out about my husbands numerous affairs (without protection I might add). I have pages and pages of his internet chats about how he was planning on leaving me etc....but that's another story! ha ha! Like I said though...you have to be prepared for what you find. Realize that you *may* find something that you least expect, or you may even find nothing. Make sure you are well aware of what each will do to you and this relationship you have with your husband ok?<P>Anyways...there ARE programs out there for free that will allow you to observe the keystrokes that take place on a computer...INCLUDING passwords that are typed into Hotmail accounts.<P>All it takes is some browsing on the internet and a good buddy (grin) that will help you hide the program on your computer so he won't find it.

Ok, here is what you can do to prevent him accessing your computer. First you need to load into your system bios, you do this by rebooting your system, and while still in the first stages of booting hit the <Del> key(some motherboards have require a different key, but usually it will state it towards the top or bottom of your screen as you boot up). In the bios options there will be an option for a password, set this and save and exit. The second thing to do would be to set up your windows screensaver on a password as well.. Both of them combined will keep anyone from accessing your computer while its running(as long as the screensaver is up, I suggest setting the saver check time to a minute or so) And it will keep them from working around your screensaver password by just rebooting your computer and not allowing the screensaver to pop up.<P>Now these are not failsafe, anyone with even just a small amount of knowledge on how system bios and motherboards work know that they can reset the bios by simply pulling the battery supply out for a minute. But this requires opening up the case so that would deter if the person doesn't have much time.<P>If you want me to explain this again just let me know, I'll be happy to walk you step by step.

Boy this has been helpful to me as well. I have a question. I put a password on my system so that I can access my stuff and other members of my family can access their stuff. However, I noticed that my existing Microsoft Outlook Express files show up on both screens. How can I block access to my existing email files from others? I am the main identity.

I don't know if you can block the email files. (can you? let me know)<P>What I did was opened up a hotmail account for those who would be writing me things that I didn't, absolutely want anyone else to see during the crud of my divorce.

Well actually there is a way to seperate Outlook Express by user but that requires Windows NT or 2000. There may be some other mail programs that will allow you to do that with Windows 95/98/ME, I would suggest trying <A HREF="http://download.cnet.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://download.cnet.com/</A> they have a program for just about everything. <P>As far as your password, one thing to make sure is that your not relying on the User Name and Password Windows asks you as windows begins to load. That is not really any protection, all that does is distinguish between users for such things as desktop settings and preferrences. An easy way to check if your using this is to just load up windows and when it asks for your user name and password just hit cancel. If windows loads up normally from there then that is the "desktop preferrences password" I was speaking of.<P>Formerly FDH-WS<P><BR>PS <BR>There might be a way to seperate Outlook Express by email accounts in Win 95/98/Me, I'll have to look into it. I'm kinda a learn as you go type of guy, and haven't yet had to address that issue. I'll play around with the prefrences and see what I come up with.<p>[This message has been edited by Forsaken (edited August 16, 2001).]

Here is one option, delete all of your account info in Outlook Express and then set them all up again, but this time leave out the password, and when it asks you for the password make sure the "remember password" option is unchecked. Its a bit of an inconvenience and it will only keep them from seeing any new messages, so any messages you have already downloaded will still be free game.

Thanks Forsaken!<P>Based on what you have told me, I only have the password protection in place for the desktop settings. <P>So, it does look like the only way to keep my emails private is to delete them. I'm a packrat so I hate getting rid of my stuff. It's like a history of my life. But, I may just have to do just that.<P>If you do find out a way to store emails and keep them private, please let me know.<P>Thanks!

I've got it.. Ok under the file menu in Outlook Express there is two options called, "switch identities" and "identities" .. Select "identities" and it will run you though setting up your own personal outlook box with a password protect. You can set one up for everyone in the household if you wish. Just remember that once you set up the identities and the have the accounts going to the identities you want, remove the accounts from the main identity that you do not want anyone to be able to access. All you have to do now is to make sure you switch idents back to the main ident before leaving your computer each time you check your personal mail.<P>P.S. This is with Outlook Express 5, I'm not sure if earlier versions had this option so you might want to hit up the microsoft site and download OE 5.<p>[This message has been edited by Forsaken (edited August 17, 2001).]

Thanks Forsaken!<P>I will give that a try tonight!<P>

Thanks Forsaken!<P>I will give that a try tonight!<P>

Hi there,<P>Amazing where some threads will go...<P>Do you recall I asked if it was possible to delete files and then retrieve them. Someone suggested Recover4all. I didn't download it, because they said it retrieved deleted emails...but the info in the site didn't mention that.<P>Now, I don't really want to snoop, I know enough to keep me sad for a while yet, I just want to know how he could have done it? My temporary internet files don't go to recycle, so he didn't get them from there. And I think he wanted me to know he snooped because he deleted a few sites I had been to THAT morning.<P>Thanks for all the help.