Internet Washer FAQ

Answers to the Top 10 Internet Washer Questions

1. Why Should I Use an Internet Washer?

Identity theft is America's fastest growing crime.

As a result millions of computer users are now using Internet washer software to protect their privacy. Browsing history, cookies, cache, passwords, online banking information and other temporary Internet data can be accessed by employers, family members, friends and even by spyware and viruses.

Embarrassment, job loss, and identity theft can all be prevented by using Internet washer software. For both peace of mind and a cleaner, faster running system, use Internet washer software to eliminate unnecessary and confidential data from your computer.

2. Can I Remove Sensitive Internet Data Myself?

A common misconception is that erasing browsing history, cache, cookies, and temporary files under Tools/Internet Options in your browser will protect your privacy.

An Internet washer protects you in 3 additional ways:

1. Pressing the Delete Key Doesn't Remove a File Permanently
   Because Windows only deletes file records, not file contents, deleted files remain intact on the free space of your hard drive until overwritten. There are hundreds of data recovery programs and free utilities available on the Internet that can access these files.
   
   
2. Index.dat Files Also Contain Records of History, Cookie, and Cache Information
   Index.dat files are hidden system files stored on your computer that contain temporary Internet file data including a record of every web site you visit. These files are designated as system files and are not automatically deleted. Only an Internet washer can easily clear the contents of these files.
   
   
3. Other Records May Still Exist in Your Memory
   The only way to make sure that sensitive information is really gone is to scan your hard drive for remaining files with an Internet washer. Thumbnail files of images, printer spool files of documents, and swap files containing bits of data from all running applications are just a few examples of the many additional types of files that an Internet washer will remove to keep your privacy safe.

3. What Should I Look For In an Internet Washer?

With many products on the market, finding the right Internet washer to fit your needs can be difficult.

Because not all Internet washers have the same security features, the bulleted lists below will help you identify the essential security features that will protect your privacy.

4. How Does An Internet Washer Protect My Internet Privacy?

An Internet washer will clear all tracks and sensitive information accumulated on your hard drive while surfing the Internet. Histories, cookies, cache files, search terms, and hidden index.dat files all contain personal information that can compromise your privacy.

Other files such as Auto-Complete entries and supposedly deleted e-mails may contain credit card numbers, passwords, online banking information, and other confidential data.

An Internet washer removes data from several places:

• Address Bar - Use an Internet washer to clear the address bar of all typed in URLs.
  
  
• Auto-Complete - Remove Auto-Complete entries with an Internet washer. These records are not securely protected and may include passwords, credit card numbers, personal data, and other confidential information that your browser has automatically stored.
  
  
• Cache - Use an Internet washer to erase web page information such as picture files that are automatically stored in the cache.
  
  
• Cookies - Cookies are small bits of data that many sites use to log your surfing patterns for advertising purposes. Erase cookies with an Internet washer to protect your privacy.
  
  
• Deleted E-mails - Deleted e-mails and old e-mails often remain lingering on the hard drive. An Internet washer can find and restore or permanently remove these files.
  
  
• Index.dat Files - Index.dat files are hidden system files used to store Internet information. There are multiple index.dat files that contain browsing histories, cookie and cache data, and more. Only an Internet washer can easily clean these hard to find files.
  
  
• Search Terms - An Internet washer will keep the list of terms typed into search engines from automatically popping up by clearing all entries

5. What Else Does an Internet Washer Clean From My Computer?

Internet Washer software also cleans up tracks left in Windows. Remove recently opened file records, Windows-generated document backups, and data not automatically cleaned from the memory in order to protect your privacy.

• Autosave Documents - Use an Internet washer to remove Autosave backups made automatically by Microsoft Word, Excel, and other programs in case of a crash.
  
  
• File Slack - File slack is the gap between files stored on a hard drive and contains data from previous files. An Internet washer will automatically clean file slack from your hard drive.
  
  
• Printer Files - Use an Internet washer to erase printed documents stored in a temporary spool folder.
  
  
• Recently Opened Documents List - Clear the recently opened documents list on the Start Menu with an Internet washer.
  
  
• Recycle Bin - An Internet washer will permanently erase files in the Recycle Bin.
  
  
• Swap Files - Because Windows runs multiple programs at once, Windows creates temporary swap files from which it can quickly pull information. Swap files contain pieces of data from all programs running and can be erased with an Internet washer.
  
  
• Temporary Files - Temporary files and folders are often left behind as programs are installed, run, and uninstalled. Find and clear these unnecessary files with an Internet washer.
  
  
• Thumbnail Files - Windows stores hidden thumbnail versions of pictures and images on your drive that are not automatically removed with the corresponding file. Use an Internet washer to remove leftover thumbnail files.

6. Can Data Deleted By an Internet Washer Be Recovered?

To defeat recovery software, the US Department of Defense came out with a file removal procedure known as the DoD 5220.22-M standard. An Internet washer that meets the Department of Defense standard will remove and overwrite files in such a way that they cannot be recovered.

Choose a DoD compliant Internet washer that shreds individual files and folders, cleans the free space of your hard drive, and verifies that all data has been removed.

• Deleted File Removal - Use Internet washer software to clear file contents that remain stored on the free space of your hard drive.
  
  
• Department of Defense Approved - Choose an Internet washer that meets the US DoD 5220.22-M file removal standard.
  
  
• Multiple Overwrites - Customize your Internet washer's overwriting settings to remove files at or above the US DoD 5220.22-M standard.
  
  
• Overwrite Verification - Use your Internet washer to verify that data has been removed and overwritten.

7. Does an Internet Washer work like the Recycle Bin?

Most Internet washers have a drag-and-drop file shredder that works like the Windows Recycle Bin. Confidential files can be dropped in this desktop shredder for secure deletion rather than placing them insecurely in Recycle Bin.

• Drag-and-Drop File Shredding - Look for an Internet washer with a drag-and-drop desktop file shredder.
  
  
• Right Click File Removal - Some Internet washers offer a right click file removal menu in Windows Explorer.

8. What Other Features Should I Look For in an Internet Washer?

Some Internet washers offer more features than the competition. Look for an Internet washer that is easy to use and fully customizable.

• Automatic Updates - An Internet washer with automatic updates will provide you with better protection against future threats.
  
  
• Clean Specific Files and Folders - Some Internet washers can be customized to clean certain file types and folders.
  
  
• File Sorting - Users can save time with an Internet washer that will sort risky files for you based on the data they contain.
  
  
• Multi-Drive Support - Compatibility with multiple hard drives, flash drives, floppy disks, zip disks, and other types of removable media is an important feature.
  
  
• Password Protection - To prevent unauthorized use choose an Internet washer with password protection.
  
  
• Schedule Cleanings - Look for an Internet washer that can be scheduled to automatically clean your computer.

9. Where Can I Try an Internet Washer For Free?

There are several free-to-try Internet washers available, however for an Internet washer that contains every feature listed on this page we recommend WhiteCanyon's SecureClean.

Click on the link below for a free download of the same Internet washer software used by government agencies, major Fortune 500 companies, and home users all over the world.

Download SecureClean 4.0

10. Where Can I Find Additional Information?

Find security news, products, press releases, and more at http://www.whitecanyon.com.

Identity Theft Library

How To Library

Press Library

Technical Support