How do I use Identity Finder?
To use Identity Finder, follow the instructions appropriate to your operating system.
If you need support for Identity Finder, the program contains a
comprehensive help system. You can also visit Identity
Finder Enterprise Support, which offers a searchable online help
system and downloadable help files, or send email to
support@identityfinder.com .
On this page:
Using Identity Finder for Windows
To use Identity Finder for Windows:
- Connect or insert any external storage media (e.g., external hard
drives, flash drives, CDs, or DVDs) or file server shares
that you want to search in addition to your computer's hard
drive.
- Disconnect from any file server shares that you do
not want Identity Finder to search.
- To start Identity Finder Enterprise Edition, from the
Startmenu, selectAll Programs, thenIdentity Finder, and thenIdentity Finder Enterprise Edition.
- In the
Identity Finder Welcomewindow, selectContinue in Wizard Mode, and then clickNext.
- In the
Automatic Searching Using AnyFindwindow, under "AnyFind Searching", make sureCredit Card Numbers,Bank Account Numbers,Social Security Numbers, andPasswordsare checked.
- Under "AnyFind Worldwide Searching", select
Yesif you are likely to have personal information from specific countries stored on your computer. ClickNext.Note: If you choose to search for non-US identification numbers, the
Automatic Searching Using AnyFind Worldwidewindow will appear. Select the additional countries and identity types for which you would like to search. - In the
Unique Searchwindow, if you wish to provide Identity Finder with your personal information to search for in addition to the generic Automatic Searching rules, selectYes, and then clickNext. Otherwise, selectNo, clickNext, and then skip the next step.
- In the
Unique Searching with entry fieldswindow, in the text fields, enter personal information to search for, and then clickAddto move it to the Unique Identity Include List.
- In the
Where to Searchwindow, make sure thatAll Files,Hidden Web Data,E-Mails and Attachments, andWindows Registryare selected.
- Under "File Locations", select the places you want to
search. Choose either
My Documents and Settings,My Computer, orCustom Location.
- In the
Finalizationwindow, review your selections; if necessary, clickBackto make any changes. ClickFinishto begin the search as specified.
- Upon completion of the search, from the "Search Summary" window,
select
Wizard. This will take you through your results and help you choose the best actions to protect your personal information.
Using Identity Finder for Mac OS X
To use Identity Finder for Mac OS X, in the Finder, from
the Go menu, choose Applications. In the window that
opens, double-click Identity Finder.
By default, Identity Finder will only scan your Documents
folder. From the Locations menu, you can configure Identity
Finder to scan your entire computer, or a custom location.
Note: Identity Finder scans can take several hours if you have a large number of documents. If you will be leaving your computer unattended during the scan, you may have to change your Energy Saver settings so your computer will not go to sleep.
Scanning a custom location
To scan a custom location:
- From the
Locationsmenu, chooseCustom....
- To select a location to scan, click the ellipsis (
...), and then browse to the location. Alternately, next to "Folder:", you can enter the location's path.
- Once you have selected a location, click
Add.Note: To exclude a location from the scan, follow these steps, but check
Add as Exclusionbefore clickingAddin step 3.
Shredding sensitive data
After running the scan, if Identity Finder finds a file that may
contain sensitive data, you can permanently delete it by clicking
the file in the result list, and then clicking Shred.
Saving results
To save the results of a scan for future reference:
- From the
Filemenu, chooseSaveorSave As....
- Give the file a name, and then select a location to save it from
the pull-down menu next to "Where:".
- Enter and confirm a password for the file, and then click
Save.
Last modified on May 13, 2009.







