Using a laptop without the boss knowing

[FLPilot]

Okay, I have a question that I am sure someone here might know. Say you are given a laptop from work. The laptop has cellular connectivity which blocks out websites due to it going through the main server at work. The question I have is, if I add an external hard drive, can I install a browser on it and use the laptop with my own network card to surf the net either at home or out and about where wireless connectivity is offered and not have any traces of that left on the internal hard drive? (trying to catch my breath)

[CMasten]

Originally posted by FLPilot
Okay, I have a question that I am sure someone here might know. Say you are given a laptop from work. The laptop has cellular connectivity which blocks out websites due to it going through the main server at work. The question I have is, if I add an external hard drive, can I install a browser on it and use the laptop with my own network card to surf the net either at home or out and about where wireless connectivity is offered and not have any traces of that left on the internal hard drive? (trying to catch my breath)

anything you do can be tracked, but it depends on the level of expertese of the person tracking. I would say if you use your wireless nic, connect to a WAN in your area and just blow away the history and recent web sites etc, you should be ok. If your IT group or boss is pretty tech savy they can track this more throughly. There are other areas that track system wide changes like the event viewer etc that you would need to think about. There are some pretty inexpensive laptops out there now (used on Ebay etc) that might be less hassle.

[ictvuser]

Originally posted by FLPilot
The question I have is, if I add an external hard drive, can I install a browser on it and use the laptop with my own network card to surf the net either at home or out and about where wireless connectivity is offered and not have any traces of that left on the internal hard drive? (trying to catch my breath)

Disclaimer: Standard warnings apply - use at your own risk!

There are a few ways you can do this but it depends on what OS you are using and which browser.

If you are using a Windows based OS and Internet Explorer, the following will give you some guidelines on what to do.

One option is to use a tool like McAfee's Shredder to remove the user profile you were using. The profile usually resides under C:\Documents and Settings

Another option is to move the profile for your user to the new drive.

1) As Admin, create a folder "Documents and Settings" on the new drive and assign Everyone access to it (e.g., right click on the folder, select the Security tab, and add the group Everyone w/full access.
2) As Admin, create a non-admin user
3) Login as that user
4) Login as admin
5) Locate the new user's profile

See http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;214470

[URL]http://windowsxp.mvps.org/userpath.htm[\URL]

Run regedit and go to the ProfilesList key and find the ProfileImagePath associated with the new user. Look for the username is at the end of the path. The path usually looks like "%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\<user>".

6) Replace the %SystemDrive% to the new drive.

"X:\Documents and Settings\<user>"

7) Login as that user and verify that the profile now resides on the new drive.

8) Login as admin and remove the old user profile ("C:\Documents and Settings\<user>". If a file is locked or in use, just reboot the computer and repeat.

Another option is create a RAM disk/drive (depends on which OS you are using).

[jl_ss]

You could boot from a live linux CD like knoppix using your own network card.

[robrecht]

White collar crime ...?

[f2benny]

just bring your own wireless equipped laptop in and glom onto a wireless connection from the area if one's available

[ramirami]

Originally posted by robrecht
White collar crime ...?

oxymoron

[robrecht]

Originally posted by ramirami


oxymoron

OxyContin

[krygny]

Originally posted by robrecht
White collar crime ...?

FLPilot is a police ocifer. That would make it a BLUE collar crime.
(AH HAR HAR HAR!! Sometimes, I just kill me.)

[FLPilot]

I thank everyone for their replies. The IT person is a control freak and I have no clue what programs they may have that watches what we do on the laptops. I just thought if I had an external drive and installed fire fox on it, that all or at least most of the traces would stay on the external drive. I guess it was more of a hope that actually thinking it might work. I figured the operating system would record what I did like coming to hp.org while on duty. Oh well, guess it's better I don't try to cut corners. BTW, the main reason I was trying to do this is because our server is made to block all internet sites, but allow intranet to pass.

Again I thank you all for the info provided.

[robrecht]

Originally posted by krygny

FLPilot is a police ocifer. That would make it a BLUE collar crime.
(AH HAR HAR HAR!! Sometimes, I just kill me.)

I actually thought of that too but figured I was already in enough trouble with the law!

[MPSpecter]

check www.slickdeals.net , they always have coupon from dell for 40% off and some are stackable....

[FLPilot]

Originally posted by robrecht
I actually thought of that too but figured I was already in enough trouble with the law!

You guys are too much.

[robrecht]

Stealth Surfer USB Flash Drive

This is a product that caters to the extremely paranoid, but nevertheless it is a pretty damn good idea. This USB flash drive comes loaded with everything you need to prevent the man from catching you hax teh Gibson or maybe prevent your boss from discovering your fetishes.

StealthSurfer is a Windows PC compatible key-sized USB device that is preloaded with Firefox, Anonymizer, RoboForm, and Thunderbird software configured and integrated for optimum privacy. When using StealthSurfer, all your sensitive Internet files such as cookies, history, and cache are stored on the StealthSurfer device instead of your computer.

[FLPilot]

Thanks robrecht, but I just assume not to bother with this project any longer. When it comes down to it, the equipment isn't mine and I really shouldn't be online while at work anyway. Although the graveyard shift gets boring about 4am when not a sole is out and about. I thank you for all the suggestions though.