CCleaner – Erase your browsing history safely

This post was written by admin on June 4, 2007
Posted Under: Free Program, Temp Files

I have covered this previously, but have added some new information to this.

CCleaner is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space by automatically cleaning the cache when run.

It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. It also only takes a few seconds to run and remove these unwanted files from your pc. There have been over 55 million downloads of this program

Internet Explorer:
Temporary files, URL history, cookies, Autocomplete form history, index.dat.

Firefox
Temporary files, URL history, cookies, download history.

Opera
Temporary files, URL history, cookies.

Windows
Recycle Bin, Recent Documents, Temporary files and Log files.

Registry cleaner
Advanced features to remove unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more...also comes with a comprehensive backup feature.

Third-party applications
Removes temp files and recent file lists (MRUs) from many apps including Media Player, eMule, Kazaa, Google Toolbar, Netscape, MS Office, Nero, Adobe Acrobat, WinRAR, WinAce, WinZip and many more...

This software does NOT contain any Spyware, Adware or Viruses.

I set mine up as follows:
Click on the Cleaner Tab on the left and under Windows tick all boxes in Internet Explorer.

If you save your username/passwords untick 'Autocomplete Form History' and under System tick all boxes except the last 2, and leave Advanced all unticked.

Then click on the Applications tab and tick all apart from Saved form information if you use Firefox and save your username/passwords.

Click on Options then Settings and under Secure Deletion mark the Secure file deletion (slower) and use the drop down to select Guttman (35 passes)

Please note that some files are 'locked' but will be removed on shutdown.

Issues tab:
Unless you are competent at dealing with the registry then leave this one alone and DO NOT run it.

If you wish to run the Issues to clean the Registry, carry out the following first:

Backup your Registry.

Go to Start, Run and type in regedit click on OK and the Registry Editor will then open.

Go to the top Tabs and click on File, scroll down until you see Export, left click it and this will open Export Registry File window.

Save this file to your desktop and in the File Name box enter Registry Backup File.

Click on Save and it should now be on your desktop.

Verify the file is a good copy, in the Registry Editor window click on File, select Import, in new panel where it says 'Look in' select desktop and then click on your saved file then click 'Open'.

Once it says it has been read in successfully, you have a good backup.

Now if you find that some programs are no longer running in the way that they should, restore your Registry as detailed above.

CCleaner will also create backup copies of your Registry and I suggest that if you do choose to run the Registry Issues untick all of the boxes and tick one box at a time and run each one separately.

Tools tab:
Here you will find a list of Uninstall options to remove programs from your pc, use with caution. I prefer to use RevoUninstaller, which is also free.

Startup:
Lists all programs that are set to run when you boot up, if you are unsure about deleting any of these then leave it as it is.

Options tab:
Settings - Choose your language, untick Run CCleaner when the computer starts, tick the next 3 boxes, then look at the Secure Deletion, tick the radio button 'Secure file deletion (Slower) and set it to Guttman (35 passes)

Cookies
Entirely up to the individual, but I don't save any cookies.

Custom
You can drag and drop files or folders into the window or browse for them and on the next run they will be securely deleted.

Advanced
Untick boxes 1-3 tick all others.
Finally click on the Cleaner tab on the left and you have the option to Analyze or Run Cleaner. When you are comfortable using this program you won't use Analyze, but initially do use it to see what can be deleted and the approximate size of files to be deleted.

Important This will remove any saved passwords and usernames that you have, so make sure that you have a copy of them all before proceeding to clean.

Download CCleaner Here

To save your passwords, open a text document, enter the URL, username and password, save this to floppy, external drive or print it off. Do NOT save this text file to your hard drive.

There is an excellent program for saving your passwords available from KeePass.

As always, back-up your system or create a restore point before making any changes.