how to view index.dat file?

[z3r0aCc3Ss]

I don't know whether this question has been already asked here or not, but still, I want to know how to view index.dat file?
Browsers save the entire history in index.dat file.
So, is there any method or software to view and erase dat?
Manual method will b appreciated rather than automatic software.

Also, what abt linux? Is it like on windows systems, browsers save history in index.dat file and on other systems, in some different file?

[bad_brain]

um, isn't index.dat just in context with Internet Explorer? so on Linux it of course doesn't apply...

here is a nice read about it:
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/system/Cleanup_API.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[z3r0aCc3Ss]

Nice reply, as usual.
Will read afterwords. Thanks for help.

[floodhound2]

You may not know this but if you are using Google and have a G-mail account then Google keeps all your surfing history.

Youll have to log in and delete it from Google. Go to Settings,Google account settings,Web History. There you may find years of web history.

As far as index.dat. You can always drag a program into notepad. It may be encrypted so if funny letters are displayed then there you are. You can also edit files this way just make sure you save it correctly.

[DNR]

"Internet Explorer caches visited content in the Temporary Internet Files folder to allow quicker access (or offline access) to previously visited pages. The content is indexed in a database file, known as Index.dat. Multiple Index.dat files exist which index different content - visited content, web feeds, visited URLs, cookies etc.
Prior to IE7, clearing the cache used to clear the index but the files themselves were not reliably removed, posing a potential security and privacy risk. In IE7 and later, when the cache is cleared, the cache files are more reliably removed, and the index.dat file is overwritten with null bytes."

Also .dat files can be use in other applications, all might be viewable with notepad.exe but results may vary.

DNR

[z3r0aCc3Ss]

"Internet Explorer caches visited content in the Temporary Internet Files folder to allow quicker access (or offline access) to previously visited pages. The content is indexed in a database file, known as Index.dat. Multiple Index.dat files exist which index different content - visited content, web feeds, visited URLs, cookies etc.
Prior to IE7, clearing the cache used to clear the index but the files themselves were not reliably removed, posing a potential security and privacy risk. In IE7 and later, when the cache is cleared, the cache files are more reliably removed, and the index.dat file is overwritten with null bytes."

Also .dat files can be use in other applications, all might be viewable with notepad.exe but results may vary.

DNR

So, where do I find the index.dat file? Im using FF, chrome, Opera.
So, locations may be different.

[DNR]

index.dat is common to Microsoft's browser, it might not be used in other propreity browsers. In other cases, those browser would have to store that database somewhere - it just does not have to be a index or .dat file

DNR