Do index.dat files ever get securely wiped?

It is my understanding that CCleaner doesn't necessarily delete index.dat files per se, but that it "vacuums" out the contents of the file. Is this correct?

I am viewing my index.dat files using a program called Index.DatSuite. While most of them appear to be newly created, one of them dates back to May 31 which was the day Windows was installed. Also, the size of the file is fairly large (896k), so it appears to have been growing since day one even though it's now "empty" ...strange

My question is what exactly happens to the contents of the index.dat files?

While on the surface it appears that CCleaner deleted the contents of the file, my fear is that the data is still "hidden" within the confines of that 896k file just waiting to be recovered.

Ideally, not only do I want the index.dat contents to be deleted, but also to have them be securely overwritten by using say the 35 pass gutmann method. If CCleaner cannot securely overwrite the index.dat files, are the contents at least thrown into the free space so that I can can overwrite them by using a free space wipe?

There are only 3 index.dat files in my profile, and 3 more in C:\Users\User.

They get the latest time stamp when CCleaner processes each profile.

There are 23 more within C:\Windows, four of which have a modified date back to a clean installation of Windows 7,

and the other 19 have timestamps that precede my profile time stamps by several minutes,

which suggests that whilst a browser is in use these index.dat files are updated, and freeze when the browsers are closed.

Obviously they are not processed or vacuumed in any way by CCleaner.

I suspect that it may be a policy decision that CCleaner will not "deal death" to any files with Windows.

If you are concerned about privacy you may wish to worry about these extra index.dat files in Windows.

Everything from VoidTools will show you what you have.

It is unlikely that you can use Windows to delete or over-write index.dat in the System partition.

You either need to dual boot and clean the non-active partition,

or use a Boot CD that avoids the need for Windows to be running.

What you said doesn't seem to make sense to me. Perhaps you can rephrase it.

Are you saying that CCleaner does nothing at all to the index.dat files? If so, what is the whole point of having an Index.dat files checkbox option in CCleaner at all?

Clearly, the Index.Dat Suite program shows that the files are emptied.

I just want to know why a particular index.dat file is still 896k in size even though it has been cleared. I also still want to know if CCleaner, with secure deletion selected of course, will securely shred the contents of the index.dat files. If it does NOT do this, then I want to know if the data resides in free space so that I can erase it there with a free space wipe.

If THAT is not the case, then are you saying that the data is stuck inside the file for good? Where exactly does it end up?

I still find it hard to believe that CCleaner will NOT protect my privacy when it comes to the index.dat files regardless if Windows uses them or not. Again, like I said, CCleaner is supposed to do this.

Perhaps someone else could shed some light on this for me.

As I told you, there are 6 index.dat held in two profiles within C:\USERS\*\etc WHICH ARE PROCESSED BY CCLEANER

and 23 more under C:\WINDOWS\*\etc which are NOT PROCESSED.

Personally I do not care about the privacy of cookies and have no knowledge of what may be exposed if any C:\WINDOWS\*\etc\index.dat should be inspected.

I have no interest but you may find Google will advise you.

I do not believe CCleaner started life with secure deletion.

Therefore its mission in life was to purge clutter and increase free space.

Privacy protection is a bonus that comes with secure deletion.

Please feel free to Google using the search phrase "rename on reboot"

I suspect that will provide tools that will run under Windows and cause a change any index.dat file you specify to index.tmp,

and after reboot you can Gutman Wipe those index.tmp files - assuming only that Windows will boot.

It is reasonable to assume that Windows will regenerate all missing index.dat files that lurk in C:\Windows.

I have never found Windows to be reasonable - there is always a GOTCHA.

Your mileage may vary - and your experience may be devastating.

Do you really want to go there ?

I really do not understand your statements

Clearly, the Index.Dat Suite program shows that the files are emptied.

I just want to know why a particular index.dat file is still 896k in size even though it has been cleared.

It may be clear to you but you have not presented any evidence.

You have not even specified the location of the file.

This is hard work. I give up. I will leave it to others to shed any further light you may need.

Thank you. I used Everything like you told me, and the only file under C:\WINDOWS is the C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\OfflineCache\index.dat file. Is it possible that I simply don't have any extra index.dat files under C:\WINDOWS like you do?

So, can anyone else please help answer the questions I asked in my above posts?

I think vaccuming a file is irreversible. It doesn't delete the data, it removes it and saves the file so there is no previous version to roll back to.

"....my fear is that the data is still "hidden" within the confines of that 896k file..."

That fear can only be mitigated by your own efforts. Regardless of how many programs tell you that a file is emptied or scrambled, you may still fear that it is not if you wish.

If index.dat suite says it is emptied, maybe it actually is.

For a second opinion, you might try a little freeware app called "Peek", found HERE.

In past experiments, I have used windows explorer to find files named index.dat and looked into them using Peek. The ones CCleaner cleans contained data before using Ccleaner, but none after using it. I suppose the issue is still in doubt, but that's enough for me. :P

Thank you. I would still like to know where exactly the removed data eventually ends up. Is it now outside the file? ...still within the file? ...or do we simply do not know? Does anybody know?

Also, no one has yet explained to me why one file is still relatively large, 896k, despite being cleared. By the way this file is located at C:\Documents and Settings\*****\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat

If you opened up a notepad file and typed "Hello World!" saved it, then opened it again and took out "world" so it read "Hello!" and saved it, that's essentially what CCleaner does. As to what happens to data removed from a file, I am honestly not sure.

So, we don't know if they ever get shredded either do we?

Thanks again guys for all your responses.

So, we don't know if they ever get shredded either do we?

"However, if Secure Deletion is enabled in CCleaner then this will effectively wipe the contents of this file although the size will continue to increase with use."

-- Wikipedia

Wikipedia is incorrect, or misleading. CC will clear (not securely overwrite) some index.dat files whether or not secure deletion is selected. And index.dat only increases in size if the contents force it to do so, initially it uses the cleared space.

The index.dat business is very confusing. The index.dat file in temp int file is not listed in CC analysis, but is cleaned on a CC run if Temp Int Files is checked. I have no idea what the Index.dat checkbox does, as nothing ever shows on analysis or clean, and it does absolutely b all on temp int files/index.dat. You need to have the Temp Int Files box checked to clear the index.dat file. I think that the index.dat file in History - one of them at least - is deleted, and is not wiped or securely deleted whatever you specify. Some clarification is sorely needed.

Where does the cleared data go? After clearing index.dat (the temp int files index.dat) the file is full of zeroes after the header. So the data just drifts away into the ether.

I have no idea what the Index.dat checkbox does, as nothing ever shows on analysis or clean . .

I right-clicked ☐Index.dat files and analyzed -- there were >2 MB data, which I cleaned single pass overwrite, confirmed by CC.

Jeez, I never get anything. What were the files? Were they all index.dat files? Or is it an IE8/IE9 difference. I'm on 8.

Wish I'd thought about that cos I didn't pay attention. Too late now. :lol:

I keep it unticked, so it will build again over time, then I'll be a bit more attentive. I have IE9 but rarely use it. Use FF5.

Thank you. I would still like to know where exactly the removed data eventually ends up. ...

... So the data just drifts away into the ether.

:lol:

If a text file says "home", and I erase that and write in "away", then all the ones and zeros are magnetically rearranged so that space on the disk now IS the word "away". True?

That is a simple example that ignores a bunch of other references to the file, but as for the file itself, its ones and zeroes now are the word "away". Did I get that right?

That drifting stuff is smoke from the wiring ... often a bad sign.