Question about history

[Sportsgirl]

I have a laptop and the history setting under internet options is set to "0" days. I want to check up on the Internet history on this laptop, but I think the person using it is computer smart enough to have deleted the files in the Internet options/settings section, as well. Is there any other way, if all internet history has been deleted, to check and see what sites have been visited on this laptop.

Thanks to anyone who might be able to help.

[CBMatt]

There are cookies and recently visited URL's, but neither of those will tell you much at all.  And if this person is set on not being tracked, they most likely already cleared those.  Why such a need to snoop?

[vinhboy]

depending on what OS you have, its easy to set up a keylogger.

i am guessing you are a jealous girlfriend.

[CBMatt]

That was my initial reaction.  And by the way, a keylogger is definitely not a suitable suggestion.  Although they have some practical uses, using them for spying is a big no-no and can get you in a lot of trouble.  Especially if the person on this computer knows how to run a virus scan...

[Sportsgirl]

Nope, not a jeolous girlfriend. Can I just be curious? I am technically-challenged and am trying to improve myself. Now, if you believe that one ....  

So, what's a keylogger?

[Sportsgirl]

That was my initial reaction.  And by the way, a keylogger is definitely not a suitable suggestion.  Although they have some practical uses, using them for spying is a big no-no and can get you in a lot of trouble.  Especially if the person on this computer knows how to run a virus scan...

We have a virus scan on the laptop - which is actually mine, so I don't think I can get into any trouble for trying to find out what Internet sites have been visited on it ... can I?

[CBMatt]

I don't see much harm in finding out what sites someone has been to, although I'm sure it's frowned upon in some cases.  It's a bit of a gray area.  As for a keylogger...it has several different uses, many of which are considered illegal if misused.

[Sportsgirl]

Ok, so back to the original question, but with some clarification, because I feel I can trust you guys, now.  

The laptop is mine, but there are more people in my house than just me - 5 more to be exact. I would like to know when anyone is using the laptop, what site have been visited. I have previously checked the history, and there is never anything there. I'm assuming that when I go to Internet option/settings/view files, that nothing will be there either, but I'm not home and I haven't tried that since reading about it here on this site. If that is also empty, is there any other way to find out what Interenet sites have previously been visited?

[CBMatt]

Personally, I don't feel comfortable discussing this.  Whether your intentions are good or not, there are people with access to this board who may want to use such information for ill purposes.  Like I said, it's a gray area.  I have class in two hours and I haven't slept yet, so I'm ducking out of this one for now.  There may be someone willing to answer this for you, but I'd rather avoid getting in trouble.

[Sportsgirl]

Personally, I don't feel comfortable discussing this.  Whether your intentions are good or not, there are people with access to this board who may want to use such information for ill purposes.  Like I said, it's a gray area.  I have class in two hours and I haven't slept yet, so I'm ducking out of this one for now.  There may be someone willing to answer this for you, but I'd rather avoid getting in trouble.

Ok - I respect you answer and appreciate your replies.

The above leads me to believe there is a way to do this ... if anyone is willing to help, I'd appreciate it. I have not evil intentions and I'm noticing, even though I'm new, that there are private messages here, so feel free if you're more comfortable that way. I'm serioulsy so computer illiterate that I didn't realize I was asking a sensitive question  :-/

[patio]

If this really something you need to do then you should read up on how to setup User accounts on that machine. I see no other way.
This way as owner/Admin of the machine you can control what users can and cannot do on your machine including but not limited to erasing their History...

A Good Start

[Sportsgirl]

If this really something you need to do then you should read up on how to setup User accounts on that machine. I see no other way.
This way as owner/Admin of the machine you can control what users can and cannot do on your machine including but not limited to erasing their History...

A Good Start

Thanks for the suggestion - I am reading now, but, if I set up a user account with certain priviledges, can it be altered by another, more computer-savvy, adult?

Also, what about this portion of the document I'm reading ...

Guest account

The guest account is intended for use by someone who has no user account on the computer. There is no password for the guest account, so the user can log on quickly to check e-mail or browse the Internet. A user logged on to the guest account:

[patio]

No. Not if it is setup properly...

[Sportsgirl]

What about the "guest" information? I added that to my post after you read it ... that says to me that someone can log onto my laptop as a guest and access the Internet ... yes?

[2k_dummy]

The guest account can be disabled. Search google for a program that read index.dat, it will show the sites visited but not who visited them.

[Sportsgirl]

Thanks, dummy; I'll give this a try. I appreciate your answer.

[CBMatt]

Ok - I respect you answer and appreciate your replies.

The above leads me to believe there is a way to do this ... if anyone is willing to help, I'd appreciate it. I have not evil intentions and I'm noticing, even though I'm new, that there are private messages here, so feel free if you're more comfortable that way. I'm serioulsy so computer illiterate that I didn't realize I was asking a sensitive question  :-/

It's not so much that it's a sensitive question...it's just a bit of a gray area.  Snooping/spying can be very problematic.  Maybe what you want to do is innocent, but someone else might come along and read certain information and think "Hey, I can totally use that against so-and-so!"  I think creating different user accounts is a good idea and if you follow along with the instructions, it should work just fine.

[Sportsgirl]

I definately understand what you are saying, Matt, and thanks again for your response.

Would anyone happen to know what the default setting is for the number of days something stays the Internet "history." My laptop is currently at "0," is that what it starts at, or was it manuallly changed?

Also, if I go under Internet Options/settings/view files and there is a cookie there from a Web site, are there other options for how it might have gotten there besides actually visiting that particular site?

Thanks, again, everyone for all your useful information - this technically-challenged girl has been learning a lot!

[2k_dummy]

The default setting is 9 days. It has been manually changed.

[Sportsgirl]

I definately understand what you are saying, Matt, and thanks again for your response.

Would anyone happen to know what the default setting is for the number of days something stays the Internet "history." My laptop is currently at "0," is that what it starts at, or was it manuallly changed?

Also, if I go under Internet Options/settings/view files and there is a cookie there from a Web site, are there other options for how it might have gotten there besides actually visiting that particular site?
Thanks, again, everyone for all your useful information - this technically-challenged girl has been learning a lot!

Thanks. that's what I figured about the history.

What about the question in red?

[CBMatt]

Cookies are often added by advertisements.  If you go to MySpace, you'll probably get cookies from four or five different servers when visiting a site.  However, the actual MySpace cookies, I assume, would only be added by the site itself.  Perhaps Cookie Central might be of some interest to you.

[2k_dummy]

I don't do board colors, so there is no question in red.

Yes, it is possible for a cookie from a domain different from the one visited to be set.

[Sportsgirl]

I'll check out cookie central, thanks.

Is it possible for a cookie to be in the files if you haven't accessed the Internet that day? For example, let's say there is a cookie from a Web site and it says: Last accessed 3/26 9:15 a.m.  Would the computer/Internet have had to be on at that time for it to say that?

[Rob Pomeroy]

Where does it say this - in Windows Explorer, or inside the cookie itself?

If there's a trust issue here by the way, I suspect use of the laptop may be the least of your worries.  On the other hand, if you would like simply to install some safeguards on your laptop, you have a lot of options.

Do you know what you would like to achieve, ultimately?

[txnovotny]

You can find a  free "index.dat scanner at
http://soft.em-tnt.com
Download the "index.dat scanner"
Sites visited are shown.