privacy in question

Hi, Upon reading some posts in another MS forum, I stumbled across a usefull
tool that can give a pc owner info on their system and maybe if wanting to
buy a used pc as well. It is called SIW (system info for windows)- I decided
to download it and its amazing of all the things it can tell you about your
pc. But, i was able to see information there (passwords of mine and other
members of my family) that made me think about my security when i use
soemone elses pc; Whether being in a library, college campus, friends house,
moms house, etc.

How can I keep my user names or passwords from implanting themselves on pc's
when I 'borrow' a pc that is not mine. SOmetimes too much information is not
that good afterall in the hands of malicious people. any ideas? ALSO, how
can I delete passwords that are stored on my pc that I dont even use anymore
that showed up on this SIW scan.

--
Thanks so very much for your help-! ! ! !

Malke
Fri Sep 14 14:21:48 PDT 2007

Marcy wrote:
> Hi, Upon reading some posts in another MS forum, I stumbled across a usefull
> tool that can give a pc owner info on their system and maybe if wanting to
> buy a used pc as well. It is called SIW (system info for windows)- I decided
> to download it and its amazing of all the things it can tell you about your
> pc. But, i was able to see information there (passwords of mine and other
> members of my family) that made me think about my security when i use
> soemone elses pc; Whether being in a library, college campus, friends house,
> moms house, etc.
>
> How can I keep my user names or passwords from implanting themselves on pc's
> when I 'borrow' a pc that is not mine. SOmetimes too much information is not
> that good afterall in the hands of malicious people. any ideas? ALSO, how
> can I delete passwords that are stored on my pc that I dont even use anymore
> that showed up on this SIW scan.
>

Consider booting the borrowed computer with a portable Linux distro like
Knoppix instead. You can also run various apps from USB key. Here's an
interesting site about portable apps:

http://portableapps.com/


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

S
Fri Sep 14 14:28:29 PDT 2007

You can borrow the owners accounts together with the PC :)

On a serious note, how you protect private information depends on the
software and srvice. You cannot easili retrieve Windows authentication
passwords, for example. But your mail client may store passwords in less
protected manner.

But in most cases you have choice as to store the password on the system or
enter it every time you use particular service. Second option is safer. Also
software like Internet Explorer gives you options to delete private
information (browsing history, add-ons, temporary Internet files); Mozilla
Firefox has convenient one-button approach to this.

Combine that with encryption, and you'l be right. But never ever "borrow"
computers from the people who you don't trust.

--
Svyatoslav Pidgorny, MS MVP - Security, MCSE
-= F1 is the key =-

* http://sl.mvps.org * http://msmvps.com/blogs/sp *

"Marcy" <RM@RMcom> wrote in message
news:eJJ7Lew9HHA.1900@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Hi, Upon reading some posts in another MS forum, I stumbled across a
> usefull tool that can give a pc owner info on their system and maybe if
> wanting to buy a used pc as well. It is called SIW (system info for
> windows)- I decided to download it and its amazing of all the things it
> can tell you about your pc. But, i was able to see information there
> (passwords of mine and other members of my family) that made me think
> about my security when i use soemone elses pc; Whether being in a library,
> college campus, friends house, moms house, etc.
>
> How can I keep my user names or passwords from implanting themselves on
> pc's when I 'borrow' a pc that is not mine. SOmetimes too much information
> is not that good afterall in the hands of malicious people. any ideas?
> ALSO, how can I delete passwords that are stored on my pc that I dont even
> use anymore that showed up on this SIW scan.
>
> --
> Thanks so very much for your help-! ! ! !
>

Marcy
Fri Sep 14 14:56:18 PDT 2007

Hi all. I was actually reading just now, about programs such as 'password
managers'-i have been playing around with a few to see what they do and I
think i am sort of understanding diff ways to protect myself. the portable
apps that u suggested, "is this like one of those PW managers? do you
recommend any? I could definetly use my USB to store any of these programs
and carry it places.
Now, one other question. How can I erase exisiting PW info on my pc (of
course after i transfer pw's to my drive/or program on my pc) that is
ALREADY on the harddrive. I use Ccleaner for junk. can i use this in an
advanced mode for PW eraser? thanks

--
Thanks so very much for your help-! ! ! !
"Malke" <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:egEwDVx9HHA.4200@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Marcy wrote:
>> Hi, Upon reading some posts in another MS forum, I stumbled across a
>> usefull tool that can give a pc owner info on their system and maybe if
>> wanting to buy a used pc as well. It is called SIW (system info for
>> windows)- I decided to download it and its amazing of all the things it
>> can tell you about your pc. But, i was able to see information there
>> (passwords of mine and other members of my family) that made me think
>> about my security when i use soemone elses pc; Whether being in a
>> library, college campus, friends house, moms house, etc.
>>
>> How can I keep my user names or passwords from implanting themselves on
>> pc's when I 'borrow' a pc that is not mine. SOmetimes too much
>> information is not that good afterall in the hands of malicious people.
>> any ideas? ALSO, how can I delete passwords that are stored on my pc that
>> I dont even use anymore that showed up on this SIW scan.
>>
>
> Consider booting the borrowed computer with a portable Linux distro like
> Knoppix instead. You can also run various apps from USB key. Here's an
> interesting site about portable apps:
>
> http://portableapps.com/
>
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User