How to view browsing history in Internet Explorer

Dan Bailey, president • May 22, 2008

Question:

How can I tell what web sites have been visited on a computer?

Answer:

The list of web sites that have been visited on a particular computer is called the “history”. It is possible to erase this history, but there is a way that is much harder to cover up. This history is kept in a file called index.dat for Internet Explorer. There is a program called “IE History Viewer” that will show you the contents of index.dat. You can download it from this web site:

The actual download is at this location:

If you run it on the PC that was used to browse, then you just download and run “IEHV.EXE”, and it will show you where the person has been. It’s possible to defeat even this method, but the person has to be pretty serious about doing that. If they are defeating this program, it might be safe to assume they are hiding something. In that case, the only way that remains may be to view the router logs that may be available to system administrators.

It’s also possible to reach across a network and view the history from another PC, but the appropriate folder has to be shared before this can be done. It’s simplest to run it on the computer in question.

Anne Ogle marks 8 years with Iowa PC Services, inc.
24 Apr, 2023
It was a great day when Anne Ogle joined Iowa PC Services, Inc. as a scheduler! Since that time her responsibilities have grown and she now serves as Administrative Assistant. Anne is still the pleasant, helpful voice our customers look forward to hearing when they call. Most recently, Anne has been doing the social media posts for IPCS - perhaps you have seen them? Her organizational skills and good communication are a huge part of our serving you and we simply don't know what we would do with her! Please join us in congratulating Anne on 8 great years with IPCS!
By Dan Bailey 28 Jan, 2023
Use a password manager now! Here's why...
By Dan Bailey 02 Nov, 2022
Congratulations, Jerad!
By Donna Bailey 01 Nov, 2022
Congratulations, Jason!
Cash App Scams
By Phil Muncaster 01 Aug, 2022
It pays to be careful – here’s how you can stay safe from fake giveaways, money flipping scams and other cons that fraudsters use to trick payment app users out of their hard-earned cash.
By Phil Muncaster 28 Jul, 2022
Here are some of the most common ways hackers can get hold of other people’s credit card data – and how you can keep yours safe.
By Phil Muncaster 21 Jul, 2022
Here’s what to watch out for when buying or selling stuff on the online marketplace and how to tell if you’re being scammed
Dan & Donna Bailey celebrate 20 years in business with Iowa PC Services, Inc.
By Dan Bailey 12 Jul, 2022
Celebrating 20 years of making computers work for you!
By Dan Bailey, president 14 Nov, 2021
If your credit card was hacked, you were double-billed for a purchase, or you’ve ever stopped a subscription or service but continued to be charged for it, read on. Often your first thought is to call the bank and ask them to cancel the card. Then you wait for the new card to arrive in […]
By Dan Bailey, president 07 Nov, 2021
If your business regularly faces problems with with internet speed, poor service from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or if you simply need to upgrade to a better, more reliable service, then read on. We have partnered with a master agent that gives us the inside scoop and priority access to the best Internet access […]
More Posts
Share by: