ParetoLogic Privacy Controls > Tutorials > Erasing AOL Instant Messenger Logs
Erase AOL, Yahoo, ICQ Instant Messenger
IM Chat Logs
This tutorial discusses AOL IM Instant Messenger, but the process is nearly identical for all Instant Messenger Chat Services (Yahoo, ICQ, MSN etc...)
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AOL Instant Messenger is a superb way for friends and colleagues to stay in touch. Instant messengers can be used to upload and download files sent over an Internet connection or to chat with other messenger users. The AOL Instant Messenger is one of the more popular messengers available because it has long been included as part of the AOL browser.
Information That AOL Instant Messenger Stores
AOL Instant Messenger keeps a log of your chat history as well as details of downloaded and uploaded files and applications. For the sake of ease AOL Instant Messenger also retains a record of the username belonging to the last person to use the service. This information is often personal information that hackers and others may be able to gain access to. Even deleting the files will not necessarily remove them from your system.
Cleaning Instant Messenger Using ParetoLogic Privacy Controls
ParetoLogic Privacy Controls can be used to scan your system in order to find files and entries that are associated with various different Instant messenger applications. This includes AOL Instant Messenger and other messengers. Clearing out this information regularly and securely is the only way to protect any personal information you forward to other people. How regularly you need to clear out AOL Instant Messenger depends on how often you use the application. Regular users will need to use ParetoLogic Privacy Controls much more often than infrequent users.
Using ParetoLogic Privacy Controls Secure Deletion Methods
ParetoLogic Privacy Controls also provides a list of options in regards to how secure you intend the deletion to be. This is determined by the number of times a file is overwritten during the deletion process. Quick deletion provides one single overwrite pass while thorough deletion overwrites the file seven times making it impossible even for recovery experts with specialist software to recover and restore the deleted files.
1 – Opening ParetoLogic Privacy Controls
Open ParetoLogic Privacy Controls and click on the Options link in the top left of the main window. This will open the scanning options screen.
2 – Choosing AOL Instant Messenger Options
Navigate down to the Instant Messaging option, ensure this is ticked, and then click the black arrow next to it t open the list of Instant Messengers that ParetoLogic Privacy Controls supports. Click the arrow next to AOL Instant Messenger ensuring that you also place a tick in that tickbox.
Options Available
There are three options for AOL Instant Messenger users:
Chat History – This option enables users to securely delete all content within the AIM chat history and log. Be sure that you wish to completely delete this before proceeding because once deleted it can not be restored.
Received And Shared Files – The files that you send and
receive through AOL Instant Messenger are cached for quick access in
the future. In order to delete this cache and clear out the files
from the relevant folders ensure that this option is ticked before
proceeding.
Recent Screen Names – Selecting this option enables users to
delete the screen names of anyone that you have chatted to recently
on AIM. This can be particularly useful in preventing prying eyes
from viewing information regarding the people you have contacted and
may stop the transmitting of viruses or spyware to these contacts.
Deletion Options
On the options page you are also provided with the opportunity to decide on the type of deletion you wish to use.
These options are as follows:
Delete Files Without Overwriting – This option is equivalent to manually deleting a file and will remove the main file from your system. However, it is not a secure option because the file is not overwritten before being deleted.
Overwrite Once (Quick) – This option is the quickest of the
secure deletion methods that use overwrite passes. It only
overwrites the file once before being deleted but makes it much more
difficult for applications or individuals to access the information.
Overwrite Three Times (Safe) – Overwriting files three times
is the standard option for securely deleting the contents of AOL
Instant Messenger. This should be adequate unless removing sensitive
data.
Overwrite Seven Times (Thorough) – This is the most secure
deletion available and overwrites files a total of seven times
before deletion. This makes it impossible for anyone or any software
to access the information once shredded. This is the best option for
highly sensitive data or to completely ensure your privacy.
3 – Starting The Scan
Once you have selected the areas to be cleared and the level of secure deletion you wish to choose click the Scan & Erase link in the top left of the screen and click the Start button on the resulting page.
4 – Viewing The Scan Update
While ParetoLogic Privacy Controls scans your system you will be presented with a scan update screen. Scanning should only take a few seconds for AOL Instant Messenger.
5 – Checking Scan Results
Once completed the update screen will become a scan results page. In the Window on the left you can navigate through the individual results and tick or untick any options that you wish to delete or you wish to leave. Some items may also offer a brief preview to help you determine the files that you do want rid of and those you wish to keep. The preview is displayed in the right hand Window when you highlight a file that offers a preview.
6 – Starting Deletion
When you have selected all the entries you wish to remove click the Erase button and confirm your actions to start deleting according to your settings. A deletion progress screen will be briefly displayed and when ParetoLogic Privacy Controls has finished deleting the files click Finish to be returned to the main page.
Getting The Most From ParetoLogic Privacy Controls
ParetoLogic Privacy Controls provides a quick, convenient, and secure way to clear history files and logs from Instant Messaging software including AOL Instant Messenger. By using secure deletion options it is possible to prevent anyone, even with specialist software, from gaining access to your personal and private information. You should try to get into the habit of clearing this out regularly because doing so can also improve the performance of AIM and your system as a whole.