AJS wrote:
I must admit that that little rat that pops up in the corner telling me what ISP, what browser etc I was using has really made me start wondering about the other information I have on this machine and how easy it would be for interested parties to obtain it.
The sign works by picking up information that is transferred by your computer every time you use the web – without which the web site wouldn’t work at all or as well
IP addresses are needed to make the internet work, and even knowing which browser is in use is handy for web designers to know, as different ones handle the content sent back by the server differently.
Lots of web sites and software applications do log usage and traffic for commercial purposes (to work out what is popular) but not that much personal info (it would be too much to deal with for most companies and doesn’t give them any commercial gain)
TBH the stuff on your local drive isn’t that easy to get at unless your PC has been compromised by a virus or trojan which allows such remote access.
If the cops/feds want your data they would just kick the door in and seize the actual hardware rather than try any “james bond” stuff – most malware to obtain info remotely is written by spammers/hackers looking for stuff like email addresses or electronic bank account details.
Even though authorities could use covert software in many cases the actual instance of a physical raids is deliberately also used as a tactic to deter and frighten others from using their computers to commit crime and to show people they are accountable for what they transmit online.
If you really want to keep something secret, don’t put it on any sort of networked computer.
