Evidence Eliminator

Evidence Eliminator was a computer software program that ran on the Microsoft Windows operating system. The program deletes hidden information from the user's hard drive that normal procedures may fail to delete.^[2] 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 $149.99.^[3]

History

Evidence Eliminator was produced by Robin Hood Software, based in Nottingham, England, up to version 6.04.

Controversy

There has been controversy surrounding Evidence Eliminator's marketing tactics. The company has used popup ads to market the program, including ads that the user's system was being compromised.^[4][5][6] In response, Robin Hood Software produced a "dis-information page" addressing these concerns.^[7] Radsoft, a competitor to Robin Hood, criticised its operation.^[8]

In August 2013 the company Website reported that the Author of the Software, Andrew Churchill, had been the victim of a gang crime in Nottingham specifically gun-crime, and launched a public appeal for information in connection with the Nottinghamshire Police and Crimestoppers, a UK-Based charity.

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.^[9]

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.^[10]

References