If you think that erasing your internet files with a program protects you...think again.

Used the index file thingy. Found nothing more than this evening's surfing.

Used the Track Eraser Pro thingy. Nothing seen this evening's surfing.

Also, the Track Eraser Pro window is small and cutssquiches some words making it difficult to know what some options are.

Not impressed so far. What am I doing wrong?

Start over man.

Download index.dat viewer 3 here.

[link to www.softpedia.com]

That program will only give you a list of what is already on your PC.

Then download Index.dat analyzer here.

[link to download.cnet.com]

When you open that program there is a little icon in the upper right area of the program that looks like a little hammer (to me at least) with a yellow handle and a cubed looking top. Click that and it will pull up all the folders on your PC that store index.dat files.

Right next to that button, to the right, there is another button. Click that and it will erase everything.

You're done.

Thanks. Will try again tonight.

As we all know internet privacy is a very important topic.

Everything you do online is stored in various directories on your hard drive, but using eraser programs like Ccleaner and Window Washer doesn't erase them completely.

There are hidden folders on your computer that store every URL you have visited, every picture you have viewed and every download you have saved, to your computer's hard drive and cannot be accessed to delete without a specific program.

This folder is called index.dat.

If you don't believe me, type these various file paths into your search bar in the start menu and find out for yourself.

If you have Windows 7 or Windows Vista then index.dat files are in these locations (note that on your PC they can be on other drive instead of drive C):

C:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies\index.d​at
C:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies\Low\ind​ex.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History\History.I​E5\index.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History\History.I​E5\Low\index.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History\History.I​E5\index.dat\MSHistXXXXXXXXXXX\index.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History\History.I​E5\Low\index.dat\MSHistXXXXXXXXXXX\index.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Low\Content.IE5index.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\UserData\index.dat
C:\Users\<username>\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\UserData\Low\index.dat
------------------------------------------

If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000 then index.dat files are in these locations (note that on your PC they can be on other drive instead of drive C):

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Cookies\index.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHistXXXXXXXXXXX\index.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\UserData\index.dat
----------------------------------

If you have Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 95 then index.dat files are in these locations:
C:\Windows\Cookies\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\MSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX\index.dat (XXXX are some digits)
C:\Windows\History\History.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\History\History.IE5\MSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX\index​.dat
C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\index.dat (only in Internet Explorer 4.x)
C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\UserData\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\Cookies\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\History\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\History\MSHistXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX​XX\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\History\History.IE5\index.dat
​
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\History\History.IE5\MSHistXXXX​XXXXXXXXXXXXXX\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\Temporary Internet Files\index.dat (only in IE 4.x)
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Windows\Profiles\<username>\UserData\index.dat

Doesn't work does it? You can even set your settings to show hidden folders and they still will not allow access.

I have Windows 7 and I know for a fact that all index.dat files are locked from viewing and deleting.

I cannot speak as to what other operating systems do but go ahead and try it anyway. Even if they allow access they will not allow you to just drag them to your recycle bin because they are always being used by your computer.

Today I will show you to not only access and view evrything permanently stored on your computer, but also how to delete all traces of internet activity FOREVER.

Please be patient, I will be adding links to index.dat viewers as well as erasers.

The rest is up to you.

How do you know those "free software" companies aren't transferring files before deleting them?

thanks OP
but everything seems to be for windows. What are the links to all this for my
Mac OSX?

My personal favorite is Tracks Eraser Pro. It's fast and easy to figure out.

I'm not sure if this is a free program or not, but the people in the know will know where to find a free version.

Torrents..cough cough.