MS has ignored the fact that it is VERY difficult to ensure that you
have cleared all traces of your browsing history, despite clicking on
the boxes MS has provided. They just don't clear it regardless of what
they say. You end up d/l and using other programs to clear the history
files.

The one step solution is simple. Download the Mozilla firefox browser.
If you set <TOOLS><OPTIONS><PRIVACY> and check clear all, it really
does CLEAR ALL.

I have tested this extensively and can say that it really does work.

SO, use IE for most web browsing, and for those sites that you don't
want anyone to know you go to, use Mozilla Firefox.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Granted, it has some issues, but as far as clearing your web tracks,
IT WORKS.

Bullshit. Mozilla leaves traces, if you are that paranoid,
just as any application does -- it's all there on your
hard drive for forensics to find.


On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 15:13:19 -0700, in
<fovge0hd9kvqi328cjuglf93b89fj5v9aq@4ax.com>
ZZ scrawled:

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ZZ wrote:

If you've got Mozilla installed, you have no need for IE anymore.

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On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 23:24:22 +0100, °Mike° <qp_mike_qp@yahoo.com>
wrote:

ask mozilla to do so, unlike IE. If I visit a site I don't want the
casual user to know about mozilla does the job.

On Sun, 04 Jul 2004 17:03:35 -0700, in
<eg6he0hshhjfj41n44c0n7amoo1rhb2nd1@4ax.com>
ZZ scrawled:

<snip>

The IE history is emptied when you ask it to. If yours
does not, then you have a separate problem.

So does IE. Anybody that says otherwise is either a rabid
anti-Microsoft loon, a penguin pusher/preacher, believes every
piece of negative information they hear, or are just plain too
stupid to configure their system properly.

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°Mike° wrote:
But the index.dat history file does not. So, your IE history file is, but it
isn't.

Correct?

°Mike° wrote:

I agree with the original poster. I have tested IE extensively with
this issue, and IE does indeed FAIL to erase your History when you
tell it to. EVEN ON A CLEAN INSTALL OF WINDOWS. It's partly why I
also chose to dump IE and use Firefox instead.

You say it's a separate problem, but I don't see how that can be if
the problem occurs on a fresh install. Please explain how.

On Mon, 05 Jul 2004 00:42:28 GMT, in
<Ut1Gc.5574$oD3.5048@newsread1.news.pas.earthlink. net>
Retiredff scrawled:

As I said, "if you are that paranoid". The index.dat file is
unreadable by the casual user, and gets overwritten as
your browsing progresses, and the temporary internet
files and history are cleaned, sites visited again, etc.

The only people who complain about this issue are those
that have something to hide, or those unfortunate enough
and gullible enough to believe the scaremongering about so
called "super hidden files".

It is a non-issue for the majority of surfers, but seems to
be a major issue for those who are terrified that somebody
might actually find out what they have been viewing, or
for those who take every opportunity to slam *any* Microsoft
product -- I have no love for Microsoft products, generally,
but I find this "index.dat" issue to be quite laughable.

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On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 10:45:27 +1000, in
<2krmkmF4prrrU1@uni-berlin.de>
Me scrawled:

No, it doesn't.

Not even on a four year old install, it doesn't.

There's other reasons to do that, but this shouldn't be
one of them; it's a red herring, *unless* you have
something to hide from a forensic examination of
your drive.

As already stated, it does not.

*If* the history does not get cleared when the 'Clear
History' button is pressed, then the (un)likely cause is
a damaged History folder, or index.dat file. But, of
course, you and I both know that this is not the
issue here -- see my reply to "Retiredff".

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°Mike° wrote:

Let me explain: I install Windows on a freshly-formatted HD. I then
connect to the net, surf a bit, then log off. I open IE's "Internet
Options" and click the "Clear history" button. I then click the
"History" button at the top of IE's window and my history of surfed
sites is still there. Thus, it fails to erase my history, and you
have no argument against these facts.

On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 11:13:47 +1000, in
<2kro9qF5m61iU1@uni-berlin.de>
Me scrawled:

That is because you are keeping your browser open whilst
clearing the cache. Now do the same thing, but close your
browser, either before or after you have cleared the cache.
It WILL be gone, unless you have a problem with your
History folder.

No, it doesn't.

I have no argument? Then what have I been doing?

They are not facts, they are your interpretations.

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°Mike° wrote:


No I wasn't, and I never said that. I was clearing the history through
"Internet Options" via the Control Panel, and it failed from there.

Been there, done that; history remains. It seems, according to you, that
the History folder has a problem right from a fresh Windows install.

°Mike° wrote:
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 11:24:41 +1000, in
<2krou9F5k9jrU1@uni-berlin.de>
Me scrawled:

You said: "I open IE's "Internet Options" and click the "Clear history" button."

Bullshit.

So which category are you, then?

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°Mike° wrote:

Of course: IE's "Internet Options" are available at the Control Panel.

Okay then. Since you aren't here to witness the event, you have no
right to claim my story as bullshit, and it shows your character.

Bye!

"Me" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:2krou9F5k9jrU1@uni-berlin.de...
I've just tried clearing my History folder three different ways in IE 6,
and all three were successful. I tried doing it from the Control Panel as
you describe, I tried emptying it from IE Tools|Options and then closing
and re-opening IE, and finally I did it from IE Tools|Options but left IE
open. In all three cases, when I then clicked on "History" within IE,
there was nothing there any more.

What am I doing wrong?

--
Ian.

Ionizer wrote:

I'm using IE v5.00 with W2K Pro (SP4) and it doesn't clear for me, so
perhaps it's a bug in that version then. That would likely explain it.

"Me" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:2krs55F1ker5U1@uni-berlin.de...
I just found something you may find interesting- you are apparently not
alone. This page lists programs which can interfere with IE clearing its
History folder: http://www.purgeie.com/lockhist.htm

Regards,
Ian.

On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 12:08:22 +1000, in
<2krrg5F5nsmfU1@uni-berlin.de>
Me scrawled:

Yeah, right!

I have *every* right to not believe what you are claiming,
particularly since what you are claiming is pure fantasy.

No stamina?

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On Mon, 5 Jul 2004 12:19:34 +1000, in
<2krs55F1ker5U1@uni-berlin.de>
Me scrawled:

Yeah, sure, blame another version, that has been used by
millions, without problems, for many years.

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