If this info is correct, Microsoft keeps a record of sites visited with Explorer, and emails sent with Outlook Express, even after you clear these. Even if you tell Windows to show everything (unhide) not all files are shown. The files are named index.dat
A friend did this on one of his machines. After unhiding all files, he had Windows search for all index.dat files. It found 16. He then booted into DOS mode and found 21 files. So 5 more files.
Does anyone know for sure what the index.dat files do? Snope has nothing.
So - once Ive found the supposedly deleted files on my system - how do I get them back? In other words, what program do I use to open dbx files - any suggestions? Thanks
Index.dat files are used by Windows to aid in searching. They function for folders the same way that the index of a book helps you find specific information more quickly. They are NOT used by Microsoft to track anything in any way. If it were discovered that MS is actually doing such a thing, it would open them up to numerous lawsuits so I highly doubt they would bother for so little gain.
So is it actually possible then to retrieve email messages you have supposedly deleted from your system some time ago? And if so - anyone know how - on windows XP and on windows 98?
Many thanks clever people!
Last I heard, it was related to the Windows Fast Find function. It may include email information in the same way that it may indiscriminately include any text strings you have on your system.
I’ve never before seen cause to contradict you but I have personal experience to the contrary. These .dat files do indeed record at least your browsing history even after you clear your cache. I use a tool at work which does just that. Go to google and type in index.dat viewer and see how many hits it gets. Try the tool. You may be surprised to see a very lengthy internet history available for anyone with access to your machine to review.
As QED says the index.dat files are used by windows for searching. However, we are now splitting hairs over the wording. The index.dat does NOT intentionally record your browsing history. It inventories what files you have on your computer for faster searching. Whenever you visit a web site those files are downloaded to your computer and Windows indexes them for future reference in case it needs them. This isn’t some part of a grand conspiracy.
Funny thing for me is that when I clear my cache my index.dat file are updated very quickly. I tried using some of the index.dat viewers and it contains very little, just the site I am on now (straight dope of course!). I run Windoze XP with IE 6, perhaps this is an issue Microsoft has corrected in later versions for the privacy advocates?
If you are able to you can just delete them. However, the trick is they are often locked by Windows because they are in use. (so, even Windows can’t delete the files when the cache is cleared leading to this whole conspiracy)
Really, I think the question that should be asked is WHY would Microsoft want to keep records of all of YOUR internet and email history? Do you REALLY think you’re all that interesting?
Not exactly. By that, I mean they do kind of keep a record of your browsing history, but that’s only as a result of the natural function of index.dat files, and is not an intentional history cache. As I said earlier, index.dat files are used by Windows to speed up search operations. If you have indexing enabled and you visit a webpage, your browser stores a copy of the page in its cache and then Windows dutifully updates the index.dat file for the cache folder. This is the sum total of Microsoft’s interest in your index.dat files. AFAIK, none of the information contained in the files is used for any purpose by Microsoft, and in fact, I’d be very surprised if it was.
For the truly paranoid, you can turn indexing off:
[ol]
[li]Go to “My Computer”[/li][li]Right click on the “C:” drive icon and select “Properties”.[/li][li]Uncheck “Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching”[/li][li]Click “OK”[/li][li]Select “Apply changes to C:, subfolders and files”.[/li][li]Click “OK”[/li][li]Watch while Windows forgets everything it ever indexed about your files.[/li][/ol]
No, it’s something completely separate. The indexing service creates (unsurprisingly) an index of terms found inside files on a given disk. The creation (or not) of this index does not affect what files are stored on that disk, and your bookmarks are just regular files like everything else.
Also, while Terminus said that turning indexing off is for the truly paranoid, I should point out that indexing is also a bit of a resource hog, and therefore unless you’re regularly using Windows’ search feature, turning it off is actually a pretty smart move, IMO.
I researched a bit but could not find any articles (aside from the tinfoil hat crowd)that directly accuse MS of doing this for the purpose of assisting investigators. So while the original intent may be open to debate it remains that law enforcement does use the information.
