Privacy concerns with Windows Vista’s Shadow Copy feature
Windows Vista brings Shadow Copies to the end users. While this feature was already implemented in Windows XP with System Restore points, only Windows Server 2003 allowed users to access specific versions of files as a sort of online backup (for non-disaster purposes).
With Windows Vista, this feature is now available for the users of the Business, Enterprise and Ultimate versions (the Home and Home Premium use it in the same way as Windows XP did). However, this brings light to new privacy concerns. Files that you deleted and removed from the recycle bin are probably still there. This is actually a good thing as it has saved me more than one restore from backup.
If you delete your browsing history, the files will remain available in their shadow copy form. Of course it is possible to delete all shadow copies, but programs that support secure delete do generally not support scrubbing the respective shadow copies too.
Few end users know about the support, as it is not available in the Home and Home Premium features - Apple brings this technology to the masses, advertising it as a Time Machine. However, many Laptops are sold with Vista Business on them, and many Small Businesses that purchase Hardware from Lenovo or HP might end up with a Vista Business Machine.
End users should learn about shadow copies and that it might affect their privacy - you can no longer be sure that a file you scrubbed and deleted is actually completely gone.
Vista Geek:
I have home premium, but it’s nice to know about shadow copies. I wouldn’t really be concerned about my privacy (you can protect it in so many ways) and I wish I would have this feature on my home premium machine.
8. June, 2007, 15:08Pissed Off Windows User:
I’m seriously considering switching to Linux just because of this EXACT problem. This is a serious security risk and no one seems to be addressing it.
19. April, 2008, 04:22getit:
Ohh please spare me the drama, if you really are that security aware you wouldn’t cache any information or have files that contain sensitive data on the machine. (external storage which is switched off is the best security against any hacker) Internet history, wow just because you don’t want to get caught browsing porn, big deal. (encrpyted pages from the net do not get cached)
As for moving to another OS, Linux has not yet matured it and MAC OSX hardware is over priced the only choice is stick with XP SP3.
4. May, 2008, 21:00koji:
Shadow Copy is an a good option but still an option and i don’t need to be forced to use i really want to stop using it or at least can delete it anytime.
29. July, 2008, 02:08Thanks for ur concern