I'm not an expert on personal security, but I do know that computers can tell other people a lot about you, if you let them. The best option, of course, is to not do personal stuff on work computers, or to do personal stuff via the web so that nothing is stored locally (except perhaps in the cache). However, that's a perfect world scenario; in reality, there are plenty of reasons why you might visit some websites you like while you're at work, and log in to them, or go check your webmail, or run a chat program.
So, here are the steps I'm taking to erase my existence from the office computers.
First, and most obviously, I'm removing my logins. This will delete any files I've saved (I tend to email myself files rather than save them locally, but this will catch anything I've missed), plus it will destroy my bookmarks, visited links, and Internet cache.
Since my work email contains a few exchanges that may be helpful to my boss, I am leaving those in and deleting all the other messages--both in the Sent mail and in my archive folders. I am moving the email pst files out of my login so they will be saved when I delete the login.
I have uninstalled all programs that I installed for my own use. This includes AIM, a couple of FTP programs, and the GIMP. The purpose of this is to remove any identifying information that may have been stored in those programs (not the GIMP so much, but one of the FTP programs was storing a login of mine even after I told it not to). This also cleans up the computer for the next user, who might have no idea what all those programs are for. It's a nice thing to do.
I am also deleting the Cookies, Temporary Internet Files and History on other users' accounts if I have ever used them to access my own stuff. (I really haven't done this much, because I was thinking ahead, but sometimes for the sake of time I would just leave the computer logged in as someone else while I was using it, so they could easily start work when they came in.)
Finally, I'm removing my mp3s. No one listened to them but me, anyway.
Update 2005/04/11 12:25pm! The comments on this post are nothing but a Duncan discussion. For ease of later searching, I wanted to mention that fact here in the post text.
(Nobody came in to say, "Wow, Heather, thanks for the tips!" Maybe because the tips really aren't all that amazing...)
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8 comments:
Unrelated, but...did you know Duncan is going to have a speaking part on Apr 15's show? Also that he is going to play Luke Skywalker is some (perhaps obscure) flick?
He's already had a speaking part! He said, "Yes sir!"
;D
And no, I haven't really been keeping up with his career, aside from occasionally running a search, or receiving Jessamine Journal clippings from my mom :> Thanks for the update!
I assume the Luke Skywalker thing will be a fan film...
I told him once that he looked like Luke Skywalker, and he was practically giddy. (Well, as giddy as Duncan ever got, anyway.)
Well, I didn't say it was his first. But I got the info from his DuncanWatchers letter and apparently he is super excited about it. I guess it will feature him throwing guy against a wall and such. Yes, I believe the words were "fan film." And in the letter he says something to the effect of 'playing Luke is appropo because people have been telling him he looked like Luke his whole life!' Which made me think of you automatically cuz I knew you told him that and I remember the big drawing you made too.
Check out my website, the links for his headshots and for his yahoo group are on it. My mom sends me the clippings too! How cute of our moms! If it weren't for that, I'd never have known.
Sorry, clicked on anonymous instead.
In my defense, the drawing was not of Duncan! It was of Luke, with Yoda on his back, and it was a really good drawing.
Then, like a dolt, I gave it to Duncan.
I discovered later that he'd had it laminated, so I guess he liked it.
Whoa, lamination! That's the big top! I guess he has us to thank for the ego that got him to Hollywood, eh? He OWES us! Hehehehe. (Just kidding.) But seriously, I'm sure we were good for his ego.
BTW, I'm back to blogging.
Well, since this post has turned into Duncan Central, I thought I'd link to some recent comments that appeared in my archive concerning him. So here you go.
(When I shift to WordPress, I will have it show the date as well as the time on each comment...;P I'll also install the plug-in that displays the most recent comments in the sidebar, so I won't miss any on older posts.)
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