Microsoft's Really Hidden Files:  A New Look At Forensics. (v2.5b)
By The Riddler
October 14, 2001  (v2.0 finished May 16, 2001; v1.0 finished June 11, 2000)

Written with Windows 9x in mind, but not limited to.

DISCLAIMER:

I will not be liable for any damage or lost information, whether due to
reader's error, or any other reason.

SUMMARY:

There are folders on your computer that Microsoft has tried hard to keep
secret.  Within these folders you will find two major things:  Microsoft
Internet Explorer has been logging all of the sites you have ever visited --
even after you've cleared your history, and Microsoft's Outlook Express has
been logging all of your e-mail correspondence -- even after you've erased
them from your Deleted Items bin.  (This also includes all incoming and
outgoing file attachments.)  And believe me, that's not even the half of it.

When I say these files are hidden well, I really mean it.  If you don't have
any knowledge of DOS then don't plan on finding these files on your own.  I
say this because these files/folders won't be displayed in Windows Explorer at
all -- only DOS.  (Even after you have enabled Windows Explorer to "view all
files.")  And to top it off, the only way to find them in DOS is if you knew
the exact location of them.  Basically, what I'm saying is if you didn't know
the files existed then the chances of you running across them is slim to
slimmer.

It's interesting to note that Microsoft does not explain this behavior
adequately at all.  Just try searching on microsoft.com.

FORWARD:

I know there are some people out there that are already aware of some 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 Microsoft's products and
how to take control of their privacy again.  This tutorial was written by me,
so if you see a mistake somewhere then it is my mistake, and I apologize.

Thanks for reading.

INDEX:

1) DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS
2) WHY YOU SHOULD ERASE THESE FILES
3) HOW TO ERASE THE FILES ASAP
   3.1) If You Own Microsoft Internet Explorer
   3.2) Clearing Your Registry
   3.3) If You Own Outlook Express
   3.4) Slack files
   3.5) Keeping Microsoft's Products
4) STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE THROUGH YOUR HIDDEN FILES (For the savvy.)
5) A LOOK AT OUTLOOK
6) HOW MICROSOFT DOES IT
7) +S MEANS [S]ECRET NOT [S]YSTEM.
8) THE TRUTH ABOUT FIND FAST
   8.1) Removing Find Fast
9) CONTACT INFORMATION AND PGP BLOCKS
   9.1) Recommended reading
10) SPECIAL THANKS
11) REFERENCES

Coming Soon: