How Do I View the Recent History of my Computer

In order to examine a computer's recent history, start with the history of the web browser and work your way down to the files themselves. Be aware that the browser's history can be modified or deleted, and that Windows files can be hidden from view.

1. To view a browser's history:

• The shortcut key for Windows browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Opera, is Ctrl+H (control + home).
• In Google Chrome, press Ctrl+H or go to My Google Activity by selecting it from the menu bar.
• To open Apple Safari, press Command+Y on your keyboard.

When you run this command, a window will appear displaying a list of websites you have visited in reverse chronological order. Additionally, this information can be found in the History section of each browser's menu.

2. Locate any specific websites by typing their names into the search bar at the top of the History window.

3. To determine which files have been downloaded, perform the following steps:

• In any Windows browser, press the Ctrl+J keyboard shortcut.
• To access Apple Safari, press and hold Command+Option+L at the same time.

Also included is a search function, which is useful for locating previously downloaded files and other information.

4. After you've checked the browser, look for any files or programs that may have been accessed by the attacker.

• On Windows, go to File Manager > Quick Access or sign in with your Microsoft account and scroll down to App and Service Activity. • On Mac OS X, go to Applications > Services > App and Service Activity.
• On Macs, go to the Apple menu and select "Recently Used Files, Drives, and Servers" to see a list of recently used files, drives, and servers. Alternatively, you can open the Finder application by pressing the Command+Option+Space combination, or by right-clicking on your desktop and selecting File > New Finder Window from the context menu. Select View > Show View Options from the drop-down menu. Choose a sorting method > In the Finder, look for the date that was modified.

This will display a list of all the files that have been accessed, starting with the most recently accessed file. If your computer has multiple hard drives, make sure to check each one for any modifications.