How To Delete Index.dat Files - Erase Index.dat Files To Fully Remove Internet Browsing History
Ranked #450 in Tech & Geek, #9,864 overall
Erase Index.dat Files In Internet Explorer: How to Clear and Delete Index.dat Files
If you are concerned about the privacy and security of your computer then you should be aware of index.dat files. Index.dat files are files that are hidden on your computer which contain details all of the websites you have ever visited. Not only that but every single picture, video, websites you typed in the url box, and even emails that you have sent or received are also being logged and can be viewed by any third person.
So if you thought you erased your internet browsing history by simply clearing your temporary internet files, cookies and caches on your web browser then think again because if you want to delete internet history completely then you will need to erase index.dat files as well. Anyone who has access to your computer or the slightest knowledge about index.dat files, can easily see what you've been doing online, that means exactly what websites you have visited, what pictures you have viewed, what videos you have watched, what emails you have sent or received, and even what you've typed in Chat Messeangers ( Skype, MSN etc.).
Index.dat files are a huge invasion of privacy and there is no clear explanation as to why Microsoft allows these files to be stored on your computer.
How To Delete Index.dat Files?
People are always asking "How do I erase Index.dat Files?" However deleting these files is no simple task and its virtually impossible to get rid of the files through manual deletion methods. The reason index.dat files are so hard to delete is because they are always open when Windows is running. Open or "locked" files cannot be deleted in any way when the process using them is running. They are locked system files and they are referenced continually in windows XP and Vista and hence cannot be deleted manually.
The worst part is that your web browser and operating system gives you a false sense of security. Users think they have fully cleared their internet browsing history not knowing that Even after they have cleared the internet cache folder, temporary internet files folder, and history folder, the index.dat files on Windows continue to store all the visited web addresses and cookies.
However that doesn't mean you cannot permanently erase index.dat files and completely delete your internet browsing history. With a proper index.dat viewer and eraser like Privacy Guardian (Free Download) you can easily view and clear index.dat files within a few minutes and fully protect the privacy of your computer and online tracks. Continue Reading To learn More About Index.dat Files...
So if you thought you erased your internet browsing history by simply clearing your temporary internet files, cookies and caches on your web browser then think again because if you want to delete internet history completely then you will need to erase index.dat files as well. Anyone who has access to your computer or the slightest knowledge about index.dat files, can easily see what you've been doing online, that means exactly what websites you have visited, what pictures you have viewed, what videos you have watched, what emails you have sent or received, and even what you've typed in Chat Messeangers ( Skype, MSN etc.).
Index.dat files are a huge invasion of privacy and there is no clear explanation as to why Microsoft allows these files to be stored on your computer.
How To Delete Index.dat Files?
People are always asking "How do I erase Index.dat Files?" However deleting these files is no simple task and its virtually impossible to get rid of the files through manual deletion methods. The reason index.dat files are so hard to delete is because they are always open when Windows is running. Open or "locked" files cannot be deleted in any way when the process using them is running. They are locked system files and they are referenced continually in windows XP and Vista and hence cannot be deleted manually.
The worst part is that your web browser and operating system gives you a false sense of security. Users think they have fully cleared their internet browsing history not knowing that Even after they have cleared the internet cache folder, temporary internet files folder, and history folder, the index.dat files on Windows continue to store all the visited web addresses and cookies.
However that doesn't mean you cannot permanently erase index.dat files and completely delete your internet browsing history. With a proper index.dat viewer and eraser like Privacy Guardian (Free Download) you can easily view and clear index.dat files within a few minutes and fully protect the privacy of your computer and online tracks. Continue Reading To learn More About Index.dat Files...
What Are Index.dat Files?
Erase Index.dat Files For Full Privacy
Index.dat is a file used by Microsoft Internet Explorer to store web addresses, search queries, and recently opened files.Whenever you visit a website on the Internet; the address, time of visit, images, scripts, tracking cookies and web page contents are saved to your hard drive. The primary reason Internet Explorer does this is to allow quicker access to the site if you revisit again because the contents can be opened from your computer hard drive rather than downloaded over the Internet a second time.
While this feature is activated, and mind you it always is, websites, form entries, and recent download information are stored within the index.dat file. When you type a website into the address bar, or enter information into a textbox, the index.dat file is referenced. If you have entered a similar string of characters at any point in the past, you will be presented with matching entries. While this is a useful when dealing with long Internet addresses that are difficult to remember, or having to repeatedly enter in the same addresses, having a complete record of Internet activity is a major threat to personal privacy and security.
Not only are these files huge privacy threats but they are also the most obscure and dangerous files around, mainly because they are so hard to find and even harder to delete. In fact, in most cases it is impossible to delete Index.dat files manually because Internet Explorer and Windows use them all the time.
However with the proper tools like Privacy Guardian you can easily clean the content of index.dat files along with history, cache, cookies, and many other tracks.
How Does The index.dat file Compromise Privacy?
Clearing Index.dat Files is A Must!
Internet Explorer does offer you the ability to remove and clear some of the information that it is has saved onto your computer after browsing the web. However unfortunately it doesn't clean all of it and this includes not removing index.dat files (which are Hidden). Not only does this invade privacy but it also leaves the user with a false sense of security and relief that they have fully cleared all of their internet tracks and browsing history. Well let me tell you something, clearing you're your cache, deleting cookies and erasing your URL history does nothing for you, all of your internet browsing history can still be recovered from the Index.dat Files.Now it is very possible for someone with the right tools and knowledge to see exactly which sites have been visited, which pictures have been viewed, and which files have been downloaded simply by viewing the contents of the index.dat file stored on your computer. I mean anyone can see these; even you're Boss, Wife, Husband or kids can access these files and find out exactly what you've been doing online, do you really want to be stuck in that predicament?
With the increasing threat of spyware and malicious web-sites redirecting you to illegal or pornographic material this lack-of privacy means that these sites will be stored and viewable in the index.dat even if they were visited unintentionally
Can I Manually Delete Index.dat Files?
How To Delete Index.dat Files!
One of the biggest problems with the index.dat file is that it is very difficult if not impossible to fully erase from your computer through manual methods. It will remain even after you clear Internet cache, temporary files, and history. You see index.dat files are hidden system files and they are in regular use by the windows operating system. These system files are given extra priority by windows and basically cannot be deleted, even if one manages to locate the file, and attempt to delete it, they will come up against an error claiming the file is in use. Therefore because they are critical system files and constantly in use they cannot be deleted manually.If you are using Windows Me, Windows 98 or Windows 95 you can restart in DOS mode and then you can delete index.dat files one by one. You will have to individually locate every index.dat file and then delete them; I must warn you it can become quite time consuming as This method is complicated and error-prone as Internet Explorer usually stores more than one copy of index.dat and finding them all when they are located in hidden directories can be very difficult (only recommended for advanced computer users with extensive MS Dos Knowledge). However if you are using Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT this tactic won't work and you will a proper index.dat viewer and eraser if you wish to completely delete Index.dat files.
How To Delete Index.dat Files Quickly and Easily
How To Delete Internet History Completely and Remain Fully Secure
If you are like me and are constantly concerned about the tracks you leave behind while surfing the Web then you need to download the award winning software, Privacy Guardian 4.1, released by PC Tools. This amazing software will guarantee that you remain completely anonymous online and ensure all traces of your online and computer activity are permanently erased and unrecoverable. That means absolutely no one will know what you've been doing on the net and your personal details ( credit card numbers, passwords etc.) will never be vulnerable to online theft.Information from every website you visit is stored on your computer and recorded in hidden Windows locations including temporary files, cookies, system registry and the index.dat file. Web browsers only provide partial privacy protection by allowing some temporary Internet files and cookies to be deleted, but they do not clean data out of all the hidden files nor do they delete the data securely, something that Privacy Guardian Does Best.
The program also restores valuable hard drive space and speeds up system performance by cleaning out old and unused temporary records. It allows you to simply and securely erase privacy sensitive files from Windows, Microsoft Office, Netscape, Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer.
The Great Thing about the Software is that it Is available to Download For Free
With Privacy Guardian installed on your computer you will never have to worry about prying eyes again. It will easily delete all index.dat files and also erase all unwanted tracks left in P2P Sharing networks (Limewire, Bearshare etc.), and Chat messenger like Skype and MSN. So you will be as swift as a ninja, leaving no tracks of absolutely anything you do on your Computer.
Here are some of the Products Main Features:
* Completely cleans all traces of online Internet activities on your computer including cache, cookies, index.dat and history
* Permanently deletes recycle bin contents, temporary files, document history, plus many more PC tracks
* Bleaches free space and deleted files using Department of Defense standard (DoD 5220.22-M) making them unrecoverable using regular methods
* Restores valuable hard drive space and improves system performance
* Plug-ins to clean the history of 100+ third-party programs, including chat, image viewing, P2P applications and more
* Supports Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla Firefox and Opera web browsers
Get Rid Of All Tracks Of Internet Browsing History
What you do online in your spare time is your business and it shouldn't be vulnerable and available to any third person.Right now as you are using your computer, surfing the net, sending emails, downloading videos, maybe even viewing porn. It is all being tracked and hidden details of everything you are doing online and off are being stored in a certain folder.
Imagine if your Boss, Wife, Husband or children somehow managed to find out exactly what you were doing online, it could cause major problems and embarrassments. So do yourself a favor and clear you index.dat files today in order to remain completely secure online!
Blog Posts from Google
- How to delete index.dat file - PCMech Forums
- Does anyone know how to delete the index.dat file? Or at least erase its contents? Can I do it manually, or is there free (not shareware or trial) software available? jjfossey is offline ...
- iSysCleaner Pro Review and Download,Disk Cleanup,File & Disk Software
- Tracking Cookies Internet Explorer Cache, Hisotry, Address Bar History and 'index.dat' files. Outlook Express (only if installed) Windows and Office recent files. User junk files. Office Outlook Junk Email and Deleted Items ... Designate files to be removed from your system, including temporary files, orphan DLLs and duplicate DLLs. Anti Tracks Anti Tracks enables you to erase your internet tracks, computer activities and other tracks with the. Real Time Cleaner ...
- Tracks Eraser Pro v8.0 Build 1001 - Symbian Galaxy Forum for ...
- The Windows built-in functions will not protect you, most of the tracks can not be erased with them. With the Clean Free Space feature, all the deleted files are overwritten with blank characters and can not be recovered. ... Delete Internet history files ? Delete Internet search history ? Delete history of autocomplete ? Delete IE plugins (selectable) ? Delete index.dat file ? Delete history of start menu run box ? Delete history of start menu search box ...
- Privacy Guardian v4.1.0.37 + Lifetime Patch - Vista, XP (32 ...
- ... activities are permanently erased and unrecoverable on your PC. Information from every website you visit is stored on your computer and recorded in hidden Windows® locations including temporary files, cookies, system registry and the index.dat file. Web browsers only provide partial privacy protection by allowing some temporary Internet files and cookies to be deleted, but they do not clean data out of all the hidden files nor do they delete the data securely. ...
