October 8, 1998

Many people are unaware of files that are created on personal computer's operating system, whether person uses word processor, electronic mail or visits Internet sites; Prof Joel R Reidenberg of Fordham University Law School, in discussing privacy issues, says many computer users do not know that recovering files that were deleted from computer directory is 'trivial process'; notes that while many people are aware of files called cookies, that record person's Internet transactions--they are unaware that browser creates history file as well that keeps a record of Web sites a user visits; also says there is a cache file that sometimes even keeps copies of pictures that have been downloaded; photos of hard disk; chart on some encryption programs for personal computers (L)

Cleveland Indians defeat New York Yankees, 4-1, in second game of American League Championship Series; series is tied, 1-1; photo (M)

World economic crisis spreads nervousness in United States; Japan is strangely optimistic, with stock prices soaring on hopes for big infusion of government money into banks (S)

Previews of revised version of Stephen Sondheim's revue, Putting It Together, will begin on October 8 at Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, with Carol Burnett, Bronson Pinchot, Susan Egan, John McCook and John Barrowman; show attracted mixed reception at Manhattan Theater Club in 1993; Burnett photo; Frankfurt Book Fair is celebrating 50th anniversary; expects to attract 300,000 visitors to see wares of 6,500 exhibitors from 105 countries; will be visited by persecuted Turkish writer Ayse Nur Zarakolu, who will receive $6,000 International Freedom to Publish Award; other participating authors noted; Metropolitan Museum of Art will stage exhibit, Heroic Armor of the Italian Renaissance: Filippo Negroli and His Contemporaries, which is billed as first comprehensive survey of classically inspired parade armor created by Negroli and his contemporaries in Milan, Mantua and Brescia; photo; vandals steal head of 13-century statue at Notre Dame Catherdal in Paris and damage five others (M)

Dollar plunges 8.1 percent against Japanese yen, its biggest one-day decline in 25 years; analysts say spectacular drop does not reflect new belief among investors that Japan is on verge of turning its troubled economy around, but rather a selloff set off by new rush of hedge funds and other investors to get out of bets against Japanese currency that had been very profitable until two months ago; in late trading in New York, dollar cost 120.25 yen, and also fell against other currencies; chart (M)