Evidence Eliminator
{{Infobox Software
| name = Evidence Eliminator
| logo =
| screenshot =
| caption = Evidence Eliminator 6.0 running under Windows XP
| developer = Robin Hood Software
| operating system = Windows{{cite web | title = Evidence Eliminator | url = http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/process.d2w | accessdate = 2007-10-05 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20071005153415/http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/process.d2w | archivedate = 2007-10-05 }}
| language = English
| genre = Privacy
| license = Proprietary software
| website = http://www.evidence-eliminator.com
}}
Evidence Eliminator is a computer software program that runs on Microsoft Windows operating systems at least through Windows 7. The program deletes hidden information from the user's hard drive that normal procedures may fail to delete.Evidence Eliminator. [http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/product.d2w Product Information] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060704232152/http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/product.d2w |date=2006-07-04 }}, retrieved 19 April 2008. Such "cleaner" or "eraser" programs typically overwrite previously allocated disk space, in order to make it more difficult to salvage deleted information. In the absence of such overwrite procedures, information that a user thinks has been deleted may actually remain on the hard drive until that physical space is claimed for another use (i.e. to store another file). When it was offered for sale, the program cost between $20 early on to $150 later.{{Cite web|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-aug-07-ca-evidence7-story.html|title = Archives|website = Los Angeles Times|access-date = 2020-04-16|archive-date = 2016-03-06|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306032919/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/aug/07/entertainment/ca-evidence7|url-status = live}}
History
Evidence Eliminator was produced by Robin Hood Software, based in Nottingham, England, up to version 6.04.{{cite web
|title=So, Robin Hood Software / Evidence Eliminator actually gone for good this time?
|quote=Runs on Win7 [RS for that], Author is in UK witness protection [not RS for that, but cited RS could be checked]
|url=https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/so-robin-hood-software-evidence-eliminator-actually-gone-for-good-this-time.328745/
|access-date=2020-11-22
|archive-date=2020-11-30
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130115845/https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/so-robin-hood-software-evidence-eliminator-actually-gone-for-good-this-time.328745/
|url-status=live
}}
Controversy
There has been controversy surrounding Evidence Eliminator's marketing tactics. The company has used popup ads to market the program, including claims that the user's system was being compromised.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070430003955/http://internet-marketing.mcdar.net/18785.php When Is An Ad Not An Ad? - Internet-Marketing]{{Cite web |url=http://diamond-back.com/icqupdate14.html |title=ICQ Lies Update 131 - 136 |access-date=2007-01-31 |archive-date=2006-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026145648/http://diamond-back.com/icqupdate14.html |url-status=live }}[https://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2002/02/50555 Ads Play to Users' Privacy Fears] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221101432/http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/news/2002/02/50555 |date=2013-12-21 }} - Wired News In response, Robin Hood Software produced a "dis-information page" addressing these concerns.https://web.archive.org/web/20030216044138/http://www.evidence-eliminator.com/dis-information.d2w Archived copy of Evidence Eliminators Dis-Information page Radsoft, a competitor to Robin Hood, criticised its operation.http://radsoft.net/resources/software/reviews/ee/a6.shtml {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121120741/http://www.radsoft.net/resources/software/reviews/ee/a6.shtml |date=2008-11-21 }} Radsoft: The Evidence Eliminator Documents - Charging Windmills
Legal
On June 1, 2005, Peter Beale, one of the "Phoenix Four" used Evidence Eliminator to remove all trace of certain files from his PC the day after the appointment of DTI inspectors to investigate the collapse of MG Rover.{{cite web| url=http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file52783.pdf| title=Report on the Affairs of Phoenix Venture Holdings Limited, MG Rover Group Limited and 33 other Companies Volume 2 Chapter XXIV| year=2009| accessdate=December 27, 2012| url-status=dead| archiveurl=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121106104033/http%3A//www.bis.gov.uk/files/file52783.pdf| archivedate=November 6, 2012}}
In a 2011 case, MGA v. Mattel, a federal court found that a former employee used the program to delete information that he was accused of 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] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524151106/https://www.law.com/?id=1202422198064&rss=newswire&slreturn=20240424111057 |date=2024-05-24 }}, retrieved 11 June 2008.