Ask, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!: Major search engines have started to recognize the importance of limiting data-retention periods for all data. Ask developed the AskEraser, allowing users to conduct online searches without the company logging any information. Microsoft deletes the full IP address, cookies, and any other identifiable user information from its logs after 18 months. Yahoo! is now planning to anonymize all search records after three months. Google now engages in a very limited form of log anonymization after nine months for those using the search engine and not logged into a Google account. After 18 months, the company deletes a portion of the stored IP address and de-identifies the cookie information stored in its logfiles.