Evidence Eliminator

Infobox Software
name = Evidence Eliminator



caption = "Evidence Eliminator 6.0" running under Windows XP
developer = "Robin Hood Software"
latest_release_version = 6.01
operating system = Windows [cite web | title = Evidence Eliminator | publisher = | url = http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/process.d2w | accessdate = 2007-10-05 ]
language = English
genre = Privacy
license = Proprietary software
website = http://www.evidence-eliminator.com

Evidence Eliminator is a computer software program for Microsoft Windows computers that claims to delete hidden information from the hard disk which would otherwise have remained despite any 'normal' efforts to delete it. [Evidence Eliminator. [http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/product.d2w Product Information] , retrieved 19 April 2008.] Such programs usually overwrite previously allocated disk space to make it more difficult to salvage information. Deleted information physically stays on the hard drive until its old space is claimed by another program.

Evidence Eliminator is produced by "Robin Hood Software", based in Nottingham, England.

Controversy

Evidence Eliminator is perhaps best known through the marketing of the program; spamming Usenet with claims such as:cquote|"Did you know... that the government and police are installing black boxes in ISPs to record your Internet surfing and downloads for evidence?" are typical of their approach. [ [http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/product.d2w Product - Evidence Eliminator ] ] Evidence Eliminator has also been marketed through popup ads that purport to show evidence that a user's system is vulnerable to spying, or that the user may be being investigated. [ [http://internet-marketing.mcdar.net/18785.php When Is An Ad Not An Ad? - Internet-Marketing ] ] [ [http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-628-Evidence-Eliminator-displays-your-system-info-for-149-Rip-Off.html Evidence Eliminator: displays your system info for $149 Rip Off! - TechSpot Troubleshooting ] ] [ [http://diamond-back.com/icqupdate14.html ICQ Lies Update 131 - 136 ] ] Robin Hood Software "claimed" that these marketing methods were carried out by its sales affiliates and not by the company itself. At one point Robin Hood Software produced a "dis-information page" which contained trenchant attacks on journalists who had written unfavourable reviews, including accusations of "hate speech". [http://web.archive.org/web/20030216044138/http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/dis-information.d2w Archived copy of Evidence Eliminators Dis-Information page] [http://radsoft.net/resources/software/reviews/ee/a6.shtml Radsoft: The Evidence Eliminator Documents - Charging Windmills]

Legal

Rather than protecting its users, Evidence Eliminator, and the use of Evidence Eliminator, has been considered by the courts "in itself" as evidence of a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence of criminal actions [ [http://www.ediscoverylaw.com/2005/01/articles/case-summaries/defendants-use-of-evidence-eliminator-software-warrants-adverse-inference/ Defendant's Use of "Evidence Eliminator" Software Warrants Adverse Inference] ] to prevent the course of justice.

The MGA v. Mattel suit is an example of such a case, where an ex-employee (Bryant Carter) allegedly used it to hide information he was giving to MGA while employed at Mattel. [ [http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202422198064&rss=newswire Judge: Bratz Jurors Can Hear Evidence on Computer Tampering] , retrieved 11 June 2008.]

References

External links

* [http://www.evidence-elminator.com Evidence Eliminator web site]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030216044138/http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/dis-information.d2w Archived copy of Evidence Eliminators Dis-Information page]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20041010082259/http://www.vogon-computer-evidence.com/forensic_bulletin-24/forensic_bulletin_24_2.htm Archived copy of Forensic Investigators complaints about Evidence Eliminator]

Critical Sites

* [http://ee-sucks.tripod.com/ Evidence Eliminator Sucks Site]
* [http://radsoft.net/resources/software/reviews/ee/ Radsoft: The Evidence Eliminator Documents] - The Evidence Eliminator Documents: A Consumer Warning
* [http://www.pc-help.org/opinion/eeemail.htm Response by 'featured detractor']