Index.dat files-necessary or not?

Topic

New Reply

After much research, Google finally provided several ways to entirely eliminate the Index.dat files, and disable the mechanism that recreates it. My question is can IE survive without it? I keep finding conflicting theories. One site says that nuking the Index.dat will destroy IE, another site says it will only sacrifice some of IE’s functions, and another says it will have no adverse impact at all. Using the ‘search’ here seems to suggest that you all are in the ‘sacrifice some functions’ camp, but wanted to check and make sure I’m understanding what has been said.

Reply | Quote

Replies

If you have links to articles on how to “permanently” remove index.dat files please provide them,
I’m sure others, as well as myself would be interested.

IE utilizes 3 index.dat file types; they are cache, cookies, and history.
I doubt very much there is a permanent way to remove such files, except with batch scripts designated to run upon shut down.

If you’ve got yourself a super fast internet connection you’re not likely to notice much as far as slowing is concerned.
You might have issues with websites that use cookies.

If it’s privacy your concerned about, it’s basically a non issue to the informed, as these files can easily be deleted at will.
CCleaner will remove the files, but a restart may be needed..
Privacy Mantra will delete the files, but a restart is needed.
Some scripts can be made to delete these files on restart.

Index.dat files can be a real privacy issue in the wrong hands, or should I say in the right hands, as most common users don’t
know anything about them.

Reply | Quote

If you have links to articles on how to “permanently” remove index.dat files please provide them,
I’m sure others, as well as myself would be interested.

IE utilizes 3 index.dat file types; they are cache, cookies, and history.
I doubt very much there is a permanent way to remove such files, except with batch scripts designated to run upon shut down.

If you’ve got yourself a super fast internet connection you’re not likely to notice much as far as slowing is concerned.
You might have issues with websites that use cookies.

If it’s privacy your concerned about, it’s basically a non issue to the informed, as these files can easily be deleted at will.
CCleaner will remove the files, but a restart may be needed..
Privacy Mantra will delete the files, but a restart is needed.
Some scripts can be made to delete these files on restart.

Index.dat files can be a real privacy issue in the wrong hands, or should I say in the right hands, as most common users don’t
know anything about them.

So can I assume what you said that IE can survive (even if in slightly less functional form) the extinction of the Index.dat? All I really need to know is whether I can nuke the Index.dat, and keep IE…or whether I have to do a clean sweep (uninstall IE), and find a replacement browser.

The methods of eradicating the index.dat, and disabling the mechanism that replicates it, are in my storage binders (I ran across them about a year ago). It will likely take a couple weeks to get to the storage facility, pull the binders, sift through them, and get back to you.

My irritation with the Index.dat is multifold, but if I had to pick the main one its simply that I don’t like the idea of having to regularly deploy an app like ‘Index.dat Suite’ to erase the contents again and again and again…I might think differently if it actually did something that I needed done, but all research indicates its as useless to me as a tapeworm. Since I intend to eliminate IRC, Telnet, and similar bloatware, I have no reason to allow it to remain. I will say that I was not aware of this:

Some scripts can be made to delete these files on restart.

I’ll have to study this, compare its implementation to those of eradicating the files, and see which is easier to make happen. Possibly this could be an acceptable solution.

Reply | Quote

Or, if you’re concerned about privacy, use InPrivate browsing mode (Ctrl Shift P)
“InPrivate Browsing helps prevent Internet Explorer from storing data about your browsing session. This includes cookies, temporary Internet files, history, and other data. Toolbars and extensions are disabled by default”

Jerry

Reply | Quote

In all fact, I don’t know what the real impact on the browser would be.
I would be greatly interested in your disabling mechanism and the overall effect.

Please ensure you take precautions, like perform an image based backup, if and when you do decide to experiment with this.

The scripts I linked too sound fine, but your computing habits would have to include shutting down or restarting the computer regularly.
This is something a sizable demographic of users don’t often do.

Reply | Quote

As part of my security regimen, I will be disconnecting from the internet, and turning off the PC when not in use, so the link you gave will definitely work for my need. Only downside would be whether or not the script actually erases the files on shutdown…having delved into the Recycle Bin, I’ve learned that erasing files in Windows is only ‘pretend’ erasing. If so, then eliminating the Index.dat would be the better way, although maybe eliminating the ‘free space’ and/or ‘unallocated space’ would stop the storage of deleted files. Guess it all goes to which is easier to implement: nuke the index.dat, or deploy your script.

In all fact, I don’t know what the real impact on the browser would be.
I would be greatly interested in your disabling mechanism and the overall effect.

Please ensure you take precautions, like perform an image based backup, if and when you do decide to experiment with this.

The scripts I linked too sound fine, but your computing habits would have to include shutting down or restarting the computer regularly.
This is something a sizable demographic of users don’t often do.

Reply | Quote

@Vorn… if you are so concerned about Internet Explorer’s use of index.dat files (which, I agree, are easily decipherable), could you not just use an alternative browser?

Reply | Quote

Of course! In fact, I have never been much impressed by either IE or Firefox, and have found 14 other less-known browsers slated for trial. At this point, I’m just looking to find out whether or not I can keep IE, or must ditch it.

@Vorn… if you are so concerned about Internet Explorer’s use of index.dat files (which, I agree, are easily decipherable), could you not just use an alternative browser?

Reply | Quote