Re WinXP
I have discovered that all my ID's and Passwords (and even a valid credit card number) are contained in the index.dat files.
There are index.dat files in the Cookies Folder in each user name, not to mention IE. The same data is also stored in c:\windows\pchealth\helpctr\offline cache.
I use SuperClean to erase the index.dat file in user/Cookie folder, but it doesn't touch the pchealth index.dat file. As you know that is a help system allowing remote connection to your pc for "help". I have mine shut off and it is, of course encrypted, but not secure????.
You can read what's in there with a hex reader, but if you scan it with a program like Secure Clean, it will knock your socks off, especially if you use your pc for on line purchases, banking, etc.
I've visited a couple forums about this and see the following more than once:
\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\OfflineCache\index.dat Should not be deleted in
any way.
This index.dat does not get recreated. The loss of this particlar file will
cripple System Information (msinfo32.exe).
Caution: www.xpbanter.com/showthread.php?t=9531&page=3
check out:
hxxp://freeware.it-mate.co.uk/?Cat=PC%20Maintenance#81
Anybody have experience in erasing these index.dat files, particularly the one in pchealth? Is this data hacking risk?
Linear Mode
