| There is a general feeling of unease among computer | | | | per unit, but the point is, it was possible. |
| users, regarding their privacy. People are becoming | | | | You might not be overly concerned, given the fact that |
| more aware than ever that our electronic privacy is | | | | as a home or small business user, no one is likely to |
| anything but assured, and in fact, that it is at risk just | | | | spend that kind of money recovering your information, |
| about every time we switch on our computers, or log | | | | but when you consider that data recovery packages |
| on to the internet. | | | | are cheaper than ever, retailing at well under $150, it |
| Large websites like Facebook and Myspace have had | | | | becomes a little more of a concern, doesn't it? |
| fingers pointed at them regarding their advertising | | | | These tools are usually marketed to computer owners, |
| policies, and the potential to violate users' privacy. We | | | | as a means to recover accidentally lost files, but when |
| regularly hear of leaks of client information from large, | | | | you consider that internet cookies, certain malicious |
| well-known websites, where thousands, if not tens of | | | | software, and even your own IP address, can allow |
| thousands of user's private and personal information | | | | third parties access to your computer or network, they |
| has somehow been accessed or leaked to a third | | | | take on a far more sinister hue! |
| party. | | | | When you delete a file, you actually only remove a |
| There are more and more online scams, credit card | | | | section of the binary code that makes up that file, |
| fraud stories and other criminal activities targeting even | | | | rendering it invisible to your computer. However, the |
| private computer users out there, and its become | | | | truth is, it's still there, and will remain there until, at some |
| accepted that employees using a company's | | | | point in the future, your computer chooses to write |
| computer systems have no right, or expectation, of | | | | new data over it. Essentially, since the process is |
| any privacy, regardless of when, and what, they | | | | random, that file could remain, partially complete, on |
| access. (Yes, even if it is during your lunch hour, it is still | | | | your computer, for years. Scary thought. |
| their equipment!) | | | | New types of software are being developed though |
| In short, computer privacy and internet privacy is a hot | | | | that can completely erase files from your hard drive, |
| topic, and it should be! Did you know, for instance, that | | | | forever, and if you're concerned about computer |
| information from computer hard drives, buried under | | | | privacy, and internet privacy, it may be a good idea to |
| tons of rubble at the site of the world trade center | | | | look into these packages, as well as performing routine |
| blast was recovered by forensic computer experts? | | | | security tasks, such as deleting cookies, removing |
| They had been through a blast, been crushed, and of | | | | temporary internet files, and remembering to erase |
| course, bathed in dust, but the information on them | | | | history from your browser. Just bear in mind that |
| was still recovered! | | | | unless you take extra precautions, even those files |
| It was an expensive proposition, at around $35 000 | | | | may linger, unseen, on your hard drive. |