Internet Explorer was pre-installed on Microsoft Windows computers and was the most popular Internet browsing application between 1999 and 2012 when Google Chrome took over in popularity.
Microsoft Internet Explorer has been discontinued in 2015 to be replaced by Microsoft Edge as the Windows 10 default Internet browsing application.
Due to its popularity, Microsoft Internet Explorer was the target of malware.
The Different Versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft released 11 versions of Internet Explorer with the last being released in 2013.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 to 9
Versions 4 to 9 of Microsoft Internet Explorer use Index.dat files to store Internet browsing history activity, including Internet based searches and opened files.
Within Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems, the Index.dat relating to Microsoft Internet Explorer is located within the following locations:
\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies\index.dat
\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Cookies\low\index.dat
\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat
C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\History\Content.IE5\index.dat.
Within Windows XP and 2000 based computers, index.dat files relating to Microsoft Internet Explorer are located within the following locations:
\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Cookies\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist012001123120020101\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local
Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist012002010720020114\index.dat
\Documents and Settings\<Username>\Local
Internet Files\Content.IE5\index.dat.
Within Windows 9x based computers, index.dat files relating to Microsoft Internet Explorer are located within the following locations:
\WINDOWS\Cookies\index.dat
\WINDOWS\History\index.dat
\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\index.dat
\WINDOWS\Cookies\index.dat
\WINDOWS\History\index.dat
\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files\index.dat
Microsoft Internet Explorer 10
From Microsoft Internet Explorer 10 onwards, the format of data storage was changed. The Index.dat file was replace with a database in ESE (Extensible Storage Engine) format named WebCacheV01.dat.
Internet Explorer version 11 still exists even though Microsoft Edge has now been subsequently introduced. The browsing history for Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 is located within the directory path \Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache
The file named WebCacheV01.dat, contains the Internet browsing history from Internet explorer as well as the activity from Microsoft Edge. It also stores Cookie information and is stored at the directory path \Users\Profile Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WebCache\
The file named esentutl.exe within the System32 directory can be used to repair Windows system databases if they have become corrupted, including the WebCacheV01.dat file.
About Athena Forensics
For information on our digital forensic services or if you require any advice or assistance please contact a member of our team on 0330 123 4448 or via email on enquiries@athenaforensics.co.uk, further details are available on our contact us page.
Our client’s confidentiality is of the utmost importance. All correspondence is treated with discretion, from initial contact to the conclusion of any computer forensics investigation.
Our digital forensics experts are fully aware of the significance and importance of the information that they encounter and we have been accredited to ISO 9001 for 10 years.
Our forensic experts are all security cleared and we offer non-disclosure agreements if required. Our premises along with our security procedures have been inspected and approved by law enforcement agencies.
Athena Forensics do not disclose personal information to other companies or suppliers.
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