Freeware vs shareware internet cleanup tools

[notageek]

First. I'm sorry if this has been done before. I didn't see it here in the polls so far so I thought I would ask and see what everyone thinks.

What is everyone take on freeware and shareware internet cleanup tools? Would you guys prefer freeware internet cleanup tool? If so what one? would you guys prefer a shareware internet cleanup tool? If so what one?

I figure I would ask this cuz I see people at other places asking on how to clean up there tracks on the internet. :)

My answer would be I think some of the freeware internet cleanups can be as good as the shareware ones. I find MRU Blaster a good example. Eraser is another good example. If you know where stuff is stored on your computer you can set eraser up to eraser cookies and other stuff. The only down fall in using eraser is that you can't save cookies you want. The free version of internet sweeper is also good.
Right now I'm trying a program called Disk Cleaner you can find it here http://www.xs4all.nl/~mp2004/

Here's the right link to disk cleaner.

[Detox]

I held on to Internet Sweeper 1.8.1 and it does everything I need.. Really it only does stuff you can do manually but I like clearing all that space out fast with one application and I've got no "space" issues with my HDs so... I also have eraser 5363 but don't really use it ever since we talked about the possibility of the multiple passes helping my hard drives wear out earlier... All the same I keep it around; it's not a bad option to have if I ever feel the need.

[JayK]

My opinion is that the freeware tools are excellent, though you need at least 3 to cover all the bases, where a commerical product migth cover all 3 with "one stone"

[notageek]

Not all shareware programs will do all 3 things. :)

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=0#msg82889 date=1061910016]
Not all shareware programs will do all 3 things. :)
<-QUOTE}

That's why i said Commerical. Shareware is usually inferior .

[notageek]

Still some commercial programs are the same. You have to have a couple to make sure you clean well. LOL McAfee quick clean is a good example.

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=0#msg82894 date=1061910587]
Still some commercial programs are the same. You have to have a couple to make sure you clean well. LOL McAfee quick clean is a good example.
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Well notageek, if you say so.

[notageek]

If you don't believe me try it for yourself and see if you clean everything that want to clean.

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=0#msg83059 date=1061991632]
If you don't believe me try it for yourself and see if you clean everything that want to clean.
<-QUOTE}

Depends, do you know what exactly can be cleaned?

Besides I wasnt even thinking of snipped mcafee products when talking about commercial. They are snipped.

sinipped: we are not on the habit of software bashing - paul

[notageek]

Well if you need to know what needs to be cleaned just check, you might want to read the faq about the product that you're using to clean with. It all depends on how much security you want to clean. I use MRU Blaster once a week and use the disk cleanup tool from XP to clean up junk files on my computer. Just trying to point out that not all commercial produts are always that great. You never said what commercial product you was reffering to.

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=0#msg83292 date=1062082995]
Well if you need to know what needs to be cleaned just check, you might want to read the faq about the product that you're using to clean with. It all depends on how much security you want to clean. I use MRU Blaster once a week and use the disk cleanup tool from XP to clean up junk files on my computer.
{QUOTE->

If this is just what you used, you left something critical uncleaned - your history index.dat file . with that on, even with the temps files removed, i can still see what sites you went to.

Mrublaster gets the cookie and TIF index.dat, but not the history index.dat file.

I personally use spider for that (it's quite nice , since it show what can be accessed from the index.dat files, even after the rest of the cleaning programs which remove temp files do their stuff). But for XP users, a freeware alternative is System security suite, there are others.

Personally, i find spybot's tracks and mru cleaner very good, there is not much for mrublaster to get at once they are through. I use mrublaster's plugins to erase the index.dat files in the cookies and TIF files because the deletion is more secure then in spider. At the same time, various programs clear the normal temp files and those specified by me.

Spider gets the last bit.


{QUOTE->
Just trying to point out that not all commercial produts are always that great. You never said what commercial product you was reffering to.
<-QUOTE}

I didnt have to. Clearly when doing such comparisons we are talking of the best commerical products versus the best freeware products. Otherwise it would be pointless.

I can always point to a certain freeware product as being inferior to another commerical product, and you can on the other hand always point to yet another freeware product being better then another commerical product.

This would be silly, hence the need to compare the best of both groups.






Just trying to point out that not all commercial produts are always that great. You never said what commercial product you was reffering to.
<-QUOTE} <-QUOTE}

[notageek]

Wel being that spider isn't getting updated anymore and I can't use it Because I'm usning XP. I have been toying with freeware and shareware products that will clean what I want it to clean. Like I said in my first post that tried Disk Cleaner. It worked pretty good so far. I also tried iIsystem wiper. I didn't like iISytem Wiper (it don't wipe anthing just cleans it unless you but the pay version).

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=0#msg83559 date=1062162739]
Wel being that spider isn't getting updated anymore and I can't use it Because I'm usning XP.
<-QUOTE}

As i mentioned above you should use system security suite to clear the index.dats, or perhaps an expert such tester of dozens of software such as yourself have already used it and discarded it for some reason?

http://www.igorshpak.net/



{QUOTE->
I have been toying with freeware and shareware products that will clean what I want it to clean. Like I said in my first post that tried Disk Cleaner. It worked pretty good so far. I also tried iIsystem wiper. I didn't like iISytem Wiper (it don't wipe anthing just cleans it unless you but the pay version).
<-QUOTE}

Well notageek, you have to give me a direct link to "disk cleaner" i can't find it in the link you gave.

[notageek]

Look at my first post agian I posted the right link. Sorry about that.

[JayK]

I took a look at it, i'm not sure why you think it's worth a trial. It'sa feature set is inferior to even stuff like spybot s&D and mrublaster

[notageek]

You can try it or not. I don't work for the company and i don't get paid for people trying the program. It's not a big deal about Disk Cleaner. I said I tried it. I don't like it but I tought someone might of liked it. I can't please everone. ;)

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=15#msg83652 date=1062175488]
You can try it or not. I don't work for the company and i don't get paid for people trying the program. It's not a big deal about Disk Cleaner. I said I tried it. I don't like it but I tought someone might of liked it. I can't please everone. ;)
<-QUOTE}

I normally mention only software i tried that i think is worth using. Not sure about you.

[notageek]

Re read my first post and see what it says. I said I tried it. and it wasn't bad (that was said in another post so you're going to have to re this whole post over to find it.). I seen nothing wrong with the program at all just didn't want to use it. From what I seen is that it cleaned what it said it cleans. I could be wrong but I sure people want a program that does what it says it does.

[Blackcat]

After trying many 'cleaners' I am happy using Adios Cleaner at present.

After the trial period, I purchased it( very cheap) but you can carry on using the trial, you just have various nag screens.

http://www.martinbeek.net/adios/

[notageek]

Thanks Blackcat. That was the next cleaner on my list to try.

[notageek]

jay, I looked at 3S and see that you can't save cookies that you want to save. I know you don't have to check the cookies box but what about the other cookies on you computer? Maybe I'll download it and see if it really works.

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=15#msg83663 date=1062179196]
Re read my first post and see what it says. I said I tried it. and it wasn't bad (that was said in another post so you're going to have to re this whole post over to find it.). I seen nothing wrong with the program at all just didn't want to use it. F
<-QUOTE}

I don't need to reread your post , i know you used it. My point is you didnt like it (i'm presuming that why you didnt want to use it), hence i'm suprised you recommended it.

I tried lots of stuff, but i only recommend something I like. Of course , i recognise that sometimes that others have different needs (E.g ZA free versus other more complicated firewalls for newbies), but by and large when i recommend such stuff I say so.

[JayK]

{QUOTE-> quoting: notageek link=board=19;threadid=12888;start=15#msg83798 date=1062221032]
jay, I looked at 3S and see that you can't save cookies that you want to save. I know you don't have to check the cookies box but what about the other cookies on you computer? Maybe I'll download it and see if it really works.
<-QUOTE}

Personally I don't accept anything but session cookies, so I dont need cookies management. Cookies are mostly for passwords.usernames yes? So For saving of passwords i prefer using Mozilla's buildin password manager, or a password manager for IE.

Your best bet is to use something else to clear cookies if you want the option of controlling cookies, but use SSS to remove the other index.dat files.

[notageek]

Well I ran Internet sweeper last night and than ran RegSeeker and looked at History and IE hist. Cache cookies (index.dat) and it didn't even clean it. So I'll try 3S.


Everyone feel free to tell us what you use to clean up your Internet tracks. :) I don't care if it's freware or shareware just explian why you like the program. And a link to let us know where to find it.

[jer03]

XCleaner, Spider, and Internet Cleanup.