Busted- but how

[Stridlighter]

Ok, I won't lie, I got busted for looking at porn. I know,my fault, not looking is the best defense. But I thought I covered my tracks. I erased the history file, temporary internet file, cookies, and right click-properties-start-customize-clear. How did they retieve what I thought was erased?

[moltar]

time machine?

[bateman_ap]

If you are talking at work they would be logging every site you visit via the firewall. Most of them can also send notification to your friendly BOFH telling him exactly who has been naughty and who has been nice.

Wiping history etc is only really good enougth to stop your wife snooping around...

[Purple Martin]

Was it all still in the recycle bin?

More likely, you're on a corporate (or school) network. When you connect to the internet, you do so through the network. The network automatically logs all sites that all users visit, and from time to time the system administrator looks through the logs and reports any improper internet use to the relevant person - at which point you get sacked (or detention).

If you want to surf porn without getting busted you need to buy your own computer and pay for your own phone line and connection. If you use someone else's they can usually find out.

[pendanticist]

Welcone to WebmasterWorld Stridlighter :)

You didn't mention. Were you at home or work?

[2oddSox]

I once oversaw the demise of a bloke simply because he forgot to empty the recycle bin.

Otherwise, as bateman says, website visits are most certainly logged and monitored server-side.

[HughMungus]

Was it all still in the recycle bin?

Stop. You're killing me.

[zorde]

The most common way is to look at the proxy cache. all images are in there and probably with the namd of the person who downloaded them. I have heard of programs that act as a BIG BROTHER that sys admins use to scan proxy's for images/video that contain say >50% color in the skin color range, then creates a nice summary report identifying the user. Ofcourse it is very easy for any admin to search the proxy log for URLS with certain sex related keywords.

If you dont go through a proxy there is always your index.dat (ie) file which contains a history of all the sites you've ever been to. You need a special tool to clear it. just search for one on google

[Stridlighter]

If the proxy cache and index.dat keep track of all images seen does this mean it keeps track of all incomming-outgoing emails too?

[mattur]

It's possible for sysadmins to track and monitor everything going in/out of their network, including emails.

Why do you ask...? ;)