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Simple methods to hide files in windows
I'm sure most of you reading this article want to know how to hide porn on your hard drive, well none of these methods really hide porn, they just discretely stash it somewhere that your computer illiterate spouse or kids wont find it. If you want more reliable and secure methods to hide your pornography and evidence go to our File Hiding and Evidence Removal sections.
Choosing a location for your porn repository
Most of this is common sense but you have to find a place to stash you porn that someone wont stumble upon. Usually you want to put it in some subdirectory of the Windows folder, since most windows users don't explore around there. C:\Windows\system32 is a nice directory to stash it in because it has a lot of other inconspicuous subdirectories. Just go to anyone of the folders inside C:\Windows\system32 and create a couple of other folders just to create some more confusion. Its a good idea not to make any folders with obvious names linked to adult related material. Choose one, and stash your porn there. Now that takes care of the repository, but what about links and shortcuts to the files in that directory. ie: start>documents and recent documents in programs like Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. Well we'll cover that a little later on in this article.
Hidden folders
ALT+255 Method
For those who are using early version of windows (95/98) there's the ALT+255 dos bug, which allows you to make a folder that cant be deleted or accessed. You need to use ms-dos for this to work, what you do is first make a directory and put all your porn there and when ready to hide it, go into dos and rename the folder like so: "rename <dir> ALT+255<new dir>"
The trick isn't to type "ALT+255" but to hold the ALT key and while its being held hit type in "255" then let go. That should just insert a space and then all you have to do is to type in the new directory name. Once your ready to access your stash again just go back to ms-dos and rename the directory back again: "rename ALT+255<dir> <new dir>"
Hidden Files and Folders
For those who are using a newer version of windows (ME/2000/XP) the ALT+255 bug wont work so there's not much we can do without a program. But for minimal protection you can always find the directory in which your porn is stashed in, right click the directory and go to properties. Once the Properties check the "Hidden" attribute then go to OK. The next step is to turn off "Show hidden Files and folders". Go to the File menu and into "Tools>Folder Options..." once a new window pop ups go to the "View" tab look for the "Hidden files and folders" option. To hide your directory make sure it is set to "Do not show hidden files and folders" and once you want to view your stash again set it to "Show hidden files and folders".
Also if you're on the older version of windows you can combine both techniques after using the method to find a discrete porn repository, just for some extra privacy.
Erasing your evidence and tracks
This is section is essential to hiding your pornography because your tracks can reveal any hidden folders where porn might be. You can have your porn stash in an elaborate directory tree where no one can find but if its in your recent documents your wife still might stumble upon it.
IE History
Most people already remove their IE history thinking there traces are only left in the history, which is not the case. Your history is scattered about all over the hard drive in numerous places, the easiest way to quickly remove your tracks is simply to get a evidence removal program. At any rate you still need to remove your IE history, for those who don't know how you can do that by going to "Tools>Internet Options..." in IE's file menu then clicking the "Delete Cookies" and "Delete Files" buttons. You can also click the "Clear History" button although its might suspicious when someone goes to look at the history and its totally empty.
Address bar typed url's
If you don't want to just totally clear the address bar when you delete your IE history, you're going to need to use regedit. First go to run and type "regedit" and hit enter. Secondly you're going to need to locate "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Typed Url's". Now you can selectively delete each item you don't want to be seen in the address bar, simple as that.
Start>Run dialog
When you clear your history in IE the run dialog will usually be flushed out, but if opt to be inconspicuous you'll want to selectively delete this also. Again you need to open up regedit, Then find the keys in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\RunMRU
" and begin deleting the registry keys you don't want to show up.
AutoComplete
I haven't found any simple method to selectively delete AutoComplete submissions, but if you want to to clear it completely all you have to do is go to"Tools>Internet Options..." then to the "Content" tab and click the "AutoComplete" button and go to"Clear Forms"
Windows Media recent files
If you've ever viewed movies that you don't want others to find in Windows Media Player it is wise to make sure they aren't in the Recent Files list. Well once again, you're going to need to open up regedit for this one and get delete keys in "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\ Player\RecentFileList".
Nice and easy. My Recent Documents
The new version of windows comes with this function which can be a pain if you're trying to hide your porn. You can simply go to"C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Recent" and delete them (of course replace <user> with the current user you use). To disable this from ever bothering you again you need to right click the start button and choose "Properties", click the "Customize" button and go to the "Advanced" tab. Once in the Advanced Tab around the bottom under the "Start menu items:" list you should see the "Recent documents" section, uncheck "List my most recently opened documents" hit "Ok" and you're set.
I hope you benefit from this article, but remember even if you do all this you're still very vulnerable to anyone who has a basic understanding of windows. Taking these precautions every time you view porn is quite annoying and there are all kinds of other applications that keep "recent files" lists that you don't have protection against. Personally i would invest a little in an evidence removal program, a lot of them have scheduling options to make it that much easier. Any who good luck in your porn hiding endeavors.
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