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How to spy-proof my new (Dell) comp? Partitions? Proxy Server?...

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peanutty1

Member
Hi, everyone:

I'm getting a new Dell comp (with XP Pro), and there will probably be other people in my household who might want access to it. I, being the super secretive paranoid freak that I am, need to be able to keep all my files and Web surfing habits totally separate. Here are my questions:

1) If I create two separate accounts on XP Pro, can I configure it so that when the comp is turned on, it immediately goes to the "clean" account without anyone having to first log in? Then if I wanted switch to my private account, I can just hit CTRL-ALT-DELETE and log in into my other account?

2) If I created a hidden partition, would others still be able to find cookies and so forth, since everything is located on one hard drive?

3) I will be sharing a central (cable) modem with other comps in the house -- is there any way that my surfing habits can be traced to my computer? And (a stupid question) -- do cable companies keep track of that kind of info?

4) In order to protect myself from the RIAA and so forth, how do I mask myself when I'm downloading movies, mp3's, etc. on the Web? Would using a proxy server be sufficient? If so, which is the best to use?

Any other suggestions? (Also, if anyone can recommend any web sites or books I should be reading for this kind of info, I'd really appreciate it.)

Thanks for any help!
 
You can configure XP to autologon for you, but then people that don't know the password can get into your computer very easily.

How exactly are you going to go about creating this "secret" partition? If it is a logical partition, then anyone can basically see it, although they might not have access to it. If you are going to create an encrypted virtual one, you'd need some encryption programs that will cost money.

I don't think XP automatically keeps logs of exactly where your TCP/IP connections are going, but there are logs for alerts and errors in the event viewer(Administrative Tools). But firewall programs will keep track of all connections and such. The cable company won't keep track of you in specific unless they HAVE A REASON TO.

The RIAA was busting people who were using file-sharing programs by finding traces of the programs inside of downloading caches and the special download folder. If you effectively erase files with programs like the free "Eraser" one, and get rid of obvious traces, you should be safe. Be careful with DRM media, though.
 
Psych,

Thanks for the reply and info. Regarding hidden partitions, I read that "Partition Magic" makes it possible.

I actually really don't know anything about partitions...I'm just assuming that they basically make one hard drive seem like two separate ones?
 
A "partition" can either be logical/real/physical or virtual from the way I understand it. For a 'real' separate partition on the same drive, you are creating a new file system or making unallocated space for whatever.

A virtual partition, kind of like what Partition Magic has, is usually a file on a real partition that is masked to look like another partition. It would be quite difficult to actually hide a partition from a hardware point of view, but virtual ones can be hidden. I guess you could activate and deactivate the different drive letters, like A: and B:, in XP to hide it.
 
Might I suggest putting it in a metal box and welding it shut? Spy proof? yes. Usable? no. But then again, you bought your computer instead of building your own, so that was the first mistake in security. I'd use linux to keep other people out of it. Most people see linux and just scratch their heads.
 
You can actually make drives/partitions hide by editing the registry but you can view them by doing some special command. I saw it on "The Screen Savers" the other day. I searched their page but it seems their archives are down right now. Search for "hiding Drives TechTV" in google in a a day or so maybe they will be back up.
 
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