I downloaded this program and think that it works excellent. Its easy to use and does exactly what its meant to.

this program is not for the average home computer user. I found it hard to setup and harder to use. I did not like it.

This is a waste of time.I ran the program but ccleaner still found stuff on my pc.Lucky I was not stupid to pay for it

Program appeared to activate & install OK, but when I opened it, it had the message that the trial period had expired. It was too late to try installing again. I have downloaded many programs, but this is the first time I had a problem with the program not activating/registering properly.

Nothing much new here but it is one of the most comprehensive cleaning applications I have found. It has a clear and uncluttered interface and is a good, workmanlike tool. It was well worth the download and worth featuring again as a future freebie.

Nice program. Thanks for the update :)

Installed OK - SWEET AS, TILL IT TRIED TO DO ITS THING AND Trend Micro Internet Security blocked it. Second time this week it's not wanted to let the other software from GAOTD work.

Uninstalled OK.

Help! I have downloaded this file 3 times today thinking that maybe I got a corrupt file. When I try to activate/setup the program, I am getting an error message saying "Activation Module failed to connect to giveaway of the day. Software activation is not possible at this time. Please try again later or check your firewall settings." Thinking it might be the firewall, I exited the program and tried again. Still getting the same error message. I even rebooted my computer, but no luck. I have Windows XP3. I would really like to have this program. Any suggestions.

Never used Ccleaner or any software like this before, so I don't have much to compare it with. However, tried running it once, and it opened up over 700MB of space for me just by deleting logs, databases, temp files. I'm not messing around with the more advanced options just yet, but so far so good.

instal this over your origonal but first go to the folder called pointstone/shredder and change the name of the only dll located there. then install.. all is well. Even your profiles will be carried over to the new version.
#83 my first time i ticked off all of it and broke my comp...but then after restore, i only unticked a few things. now i have 27 items selected and 8 custom selected. just do a backup first and then you can play around with it.

setting it to run every time browser closes was also a prob because sometimes it would turn itself on when i wasn't on the web??? so set it to manual washes only then do it every day.

Have to give it a -10. Won't even open before giving error.
And for something called total privacy, kinda funny that the error report it tries to send identifies me by name, computer name and ip address and dns servers. Waaay to much identifiable info in that report to ever let see the light of day
Thanks but no thanks, will stick with ccleaner.

I have no claims to be a computer expert (am self taught)
But it would make sense to make a backup of your files and registry before you use this program.
Good luck with the program.
Note: i have messed with the program some more and have found an option for wiping free space.
I really enjoy this option, but it is time consuming
Cheers.
Jas

to #61
I just tried to zap my hard drive, didn't work, my microwave is not powerful enough :)

anyways, the free space utility actually took away some of my free space...

Thumbs down. I tried installing twice on an Ultimate 64bit machine with the same results. First install was on the admin account but saw no results in my daily user account. Recent history was still there and no option to securely erase contents of the recycle bin. However they were taken care of on the admin account. 2nd install was on my daily user account but neither of these were taken care of on this daily user account. (If they were when I installed on the admin, why not when I installed on the daily user?) They're not doing me any good cleaning the account I don't use every day. Not much in the way of help or FAQs either.

#87, Rick, I still had the previous giveaway, which identified itself as 5.50e, installed. Since I don't normally use it, I didn't have it check for updates, because it's a pain to verify that updates can be used with previous GOTD registrations. I uninstalled 5.50e, it had an option to keep its settings, and rebooted. This prevented any DLL-in-use issues when installing this version, 5.60. Although 5.60 won't crash IE 7 when right-clicking on a Favorite, IE 7 still crashes when right-clicking on a Favorite folder. I don't have time to test disabling 5.60's shell extension, but it's still the most likely culprit (IE 7 without third-party shell extensions doesn't crash in that situation).

Does this take care of ALL user login accounts set up on a given computer?

I was not able to find any reference to this (so far) in either the application's Help or at the Pointstone web site support pages.

I could not find but about 1 review/description that was independent of Pointstone (and it said it was pretty good), but it still didn't mention anything about multiple user login accounts.

I set this up using my Administrator account, and I notice that as installed the Start Menu/Programs/Total Privacy 5 folder of shortcuts is only for that account and not under "All Users".

Looks like this is perhaps intended for use on one user login account at a time only?

The best way to really destroy files off a hard drive is to wipe it, throw it in the oven for an hour, use a really strong magnet on it (the ones used for lifting cars should be good), smash it into tiny pieces with a sledgehammer and then throw it into various dumpsters around town. Or sell the pieces for scrap metal.

Ha, that's only if you want total privacy. If I had to dump my computer, I'd probably just wipe it and then magnetize it and sell it for scrap.

seems to be a good little program works to the level that youd expect it to..

Very nice utility, seems a little bit more powerful than some freeware utilities in this category. I like the interface - have to play around some more with it though.

Worth the download!

I use CC cleaner and Glary's, covers all I need

Looks cool, but CCleaner, coupled with Cryptology (link to site on page) is just as effective, and always free.

#8
Could a system not be put in place on the site wherby you are unable to whine about the same thing every day?
or
Want some cheese with that whine?

Anyone else seeing Xupiter Toolbar message come up when trying to install this? Spy Sweeper shows this program was trying to install this tool bar.

Never could get it to work on other computer so I am trying this one.

@37 Your comment about DBAN (Darik's Boot And Nuke) would have been of greater use had it included a link, or more detail on exactly what DBAN was/did. Your post intrigued me and so I looked up the product. I happen to have an old computer sitting around collecting dust that I just want to junk. It contains financial records and I wanted an easy way to zap the entire hard drive. Your tip was useful but would have been better had you included more description and a link.

As to Total Privacy 5, I have it on all my machines!

#30...hey Fubar...before you get your panties in a bunch....8(

I dld the earlier version and installed it and it works fine...8)

when I checked to have it update to the newest version it showed...


that it WAS still the newest version...8)

hows that grab you in the keester...8)

Installing, 2 seconds in this message:

"Error opening file for writing.
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Pointstone\Shredder\SDShlExt.dll
Click abort to stop installation, Retry to Try Again, or Ignore to skip this file."

What should I do??

The thing that bugs me about TP 5.FIVE is that I run it, it says it's done, I close it, then re-run it, and it always claims it finds the same load on the IE cache, etc.
That said, can we update 5.5 thru that install? Anyone know?

I WISH, when updates were offered, a note would be made in the readme.txt file whether to uninstall to previous or install ‘over’ it.

could someone tell me what is safe to tick off for cleaning

Thanks

I just downloaded-installed and cleaned with the program and think rather highly of the results. Installed on XP SP2 seamlessly with little overhead requirements and cleans very well. I use Disc Srubber 3 also and they seem to complement each other quite nicely. Thanks for the give away.

I feel the only way to write a review is to personally use whatever you are reviewing. You can't tell me how good something taste, unless you have eaten it. This software is awesome. It is practical, simple and easy on the eyes. It asked me if I wanted to clean things that I never would have thought of. I will dl to all of my computers.

Jackie D - I guess you are one of those people who believe if you are innocent, then you have nothing to hide. Can I have your full name and bank account number please? If you aren't doing anything illegal with your bank account, then you should not keep your number private.

I think Bigun missed the point. This software doesn't have a restore because it is meant to permanently removed your private data. Be careful about what you remove.

~ is put in front of temp files in Windows so all programs are likely to treat files with that in the name as trash.

This program sounds good. I have ccleaner and eraser but it looks like this will make a nice all-in-one package.

Thanks for the updated version! I just installed it over the previous one. There was an error about a dll file, but I chose to ignore it and it finished installing and then it showed as being the updated version. My one complaint about this is I wish Pointstone would fix it so it would look right on the higher resolution screens. Most of the text is overlapped and it's hard to tell what things say. Also the Maximize square doesn't work. I thought if I could maximize it, it might put the text where it should be, but no such luck. Other than that, it's a good program & runs fine on my Vista. Vista users, remember to right click on the activation icon and choose to run as administrator.

Just to let you folks know, click the about section of your software and/or search your registry using run---> regedit.exe and search up software, then export the key and view it in a text editor. This way, if you lose your giveaway due to a backup or something, you can just for the most part re-download the file from the manufacturer.

Oh, and another point of interest: Sometimes the keys will work on upgrades of the programs. Just be careful though, because if they don't, most websites don't sell the earlier version anymore, and as such, you can't download it meaning you've lost that giveaway. I'll narrow your search a bit: Reg Easy 2.4 can upgrade to 3.6 on the key found in the "about" section of the program. You are welcome.

#5: “I spoke with a computer forensic expert...”

Basically the way it works is data is written in tracks, like the tracks on a DVD/CD, or tape, or old vinyl record. On an hdd platter, the heads don’t always follow in the exact same tracks, so like recording over an old tape in the VCR, there’s data left behind that isn’t completely overwritten, generally on either or both sides of the most recently written track. Another source of hidden data on hdds is caused when a file really isn’t deleted, but simply removed from the *table of contents* so-to-speak... this is why data recovery programs work. And finally, data is stored on an hdd in clusters or chunks of space - if the last bit of file data doesn’t fill up one of these chunks, then any previous, remaining data isn’t overwritten.

Programs that *erase* data overwrite tracks several times, which takes care of free space in clusters, actual data (not just TOC), and covers remnants of previous tracks, & has proven sufficient for business and the DOD. Sure there are some agencies & companies that still destroy old drives, because any possibility of data recovery, no matter how infinitesimal, is still a risk. Facilities that can even *attempt* data recovery from a *non-erased* disc are few, far between, & very expensive - general opinion is that since we’re none of us 007, & thus hardly worth it, using something like the freeware Eraser is more than sufficient. ;-)

#23: “...will it get rid of some of the stuff i do want...”

Most cleaning programs will, though not so much things like saved games, or anything written to files. If you rely on persistent Cookies for certain site, or use the “most recently opened” lists in Windows or Windows apps, then you have to be careful with this sort of program - it can get rid of that stuff.

#61: I do hope that no one takes your comment seriously! ;-) Hate to think of folks destroying their microwaves or possible hazzards.

#62: if you want to preserve your privacy when/after using a public PC, portable apps on a USB stick if done right don’t leave any footprints, &, a properly set-up public PC won’t let you run an erasing program anyways.

#69: Googling...”Pointstone Shredder. Pointstone Shredder Context Menu Shell Extension Pointstone Shredder Context Menu Shell Extension
1.0.0.10
Pointstone Software, LLC Pointstone Software, LLC”

RE: Cleaning up after your browser, use Firefox and set it to delete all that stuff the moment you close Firefox. There was a comment or three about USB sticks - Microsoft has a free encryption program just in case a stick is lost, though I haven’t read of any serious attempts at breaking the encryption, so don’t know how bullet-proof it is. If you’re interested in cleaning up your tracks, search your registry & Google for the “UserAssist” keys Windows stores.

@69 SDShlExt.dll = shell extension. It is for the right click context menu functions. Many programs install these and are usually only deleted on reboot since windows locks the deletion usually. I override this with unlocker to avoid reboots myself. YMMV.

To #12, Jackie D---

That's a pretty ignorant opinion on your part. Cleaning up tracks prevents people from looking in various locations to find all sorts of information about you. Bank accounts, personal ID, and various other info you don't want to share. It also speeds up your system so it doesnt have to look through a bunch of useless junk

To think this enables pedophiles to hide their child porn is just plain ignorant. Unless you smash your drive with a hammer repeatedly, then burn it, and then let it sit in an acid bath for a length of time, information can be extracted from it with the right amount of time and procedure. I guarantee the GOVT uses the most advanced methods of data recovery for hunting down the pedophiles of this world.

This software is designed to keep prying eyes from sensitive info, not erase tracks of illegal activity from professional data recovery. If you think this is simply to prevent one family member from seeing anothers activity, you are partially correct. However if you suspect (within reason!!!) this is going on this software is the least of your concerns and a professional can easily defeat this.

I have used this and use it weekly now in place or along side CCleaner and find it to be as effective with a real nice interface. This is a very good program. I have used it since it's last Giveaway

Good point Richard (#8) Very good software thanks!!

Worked just fine..a keeper!

It installed and works great on my 32 bit Vista Ultimate SP1.

It did somehow change the explorer folder display settings. I'm sure it's something I did but I don't know what it was. I did get everything reset. (It turned on "file type" for folders as well as "file type" and "password protected" columns for zip folders).

There are many settings so be careful what you select and what you leave.

It did not find ANY cookies for my Firefox or Opera browsers and I know that's wrong. I'll do some playing to see if it just doesn't recognize the new versions or if I have a selection setting wrong.

Im from India, and i doubt my computer will ever get scanned by the Indian police, not that theyre not good, just that im not that type of a person. even if they did.......
The average user also does not possess the capabilities to recover 'shift-deleted' data from FAT/NTFS drives, so exchanging hard disks doesnt really pose a threat.
Today's giveaway is a pass for me. No vote either. Im indifferent to what seems to be a very useful sort of software for many people.

Let privacy prevail in this world!!

Cheers

Thanks GAOTD. Just downloaded on Vista and tried it out, looks great, easy to use. I now have to do some reading on how to use properly!!!

I downloaded and installed Total Privacy 5. I used it and the results show that it doesn't do anything more than CCleaner or other similar programmes. If you want a optimal amnd smooth performance of your pc then use both CCleaner and ATF cleaner.

I downloaded and installed this programme. I used it and the results show that it doesn't do anything more than any other similar software. Moreover it installs a suspicious file: SDShlExt.dll which I only deleted after I restarted the computer. My recommendation is that if you want an optimal cleaning of your temporary files, cookies, prefetch, etc you should use both CCleaner and ATF cleaner (V 3.0.2). IF you use these two programmes together you will see that your pc will run as smoothly as possible.

This is a good program. At first I too thought it was only a CCleaner clone, but it is far more extensive. One thing I don't know is whether it cleans the drive cluster tips as well, as eraser (http://www.heidi.ie/node/6 free gpl software) does. So get both I say :) Eraser also has a handy secure move option that will wipe as it moves so it may be useful for that purpose alone.

As for people who think this protects only criminals, remember:

a. The 4th and 5th Amendments to the US Constitution were not written for criminals.

b. EVERYONE has something to hide, whether that be secure business data, personal correspondence, or naughty pr0n.

c. Many examples of persecution exist throughout the world for such things as forbidden religious literature, or being a member of a disfavored political group.

So keep things tidy....

#5) Yeah, and I talked to the girl working at the parts counter at the AutoZone and she told me that police don't have a monthly quota system for giving out traffic tickets. She knew because she was a Criminal Justice Major and it said so on page 147 of the text book. Know the difference between the truth and someone trying to get in your pants.
If anyone says they can recover anything usable from a Peter Gutmann wipe delete like they offer in this program he is full of ____. For almost anyone else in the world the US Navy(RLL)(3 pass) would be more than they would ever need.

Does anyone know how this compares to the commercial product HISTORY KILL?

Better than CCleaner. Thanks!

I installed today's offer - Total Privacy 5 when it was first offered on GOTD earlier. When I ran it for the first time, I backed out of the program without letting it make any changes to my computer. I did not run "wash", the program's cleaning application because I could not tell if a means of restoring data removed by the program was a feature of the program.

I ran the program today because I will be reinstalling Windows soon. I found that the program does not have a restore function. When the program "washes" the removed program is gone.

I have no doubt that I could recover most or all of the data removed by using one of the several recovery programs that I have immediately after I washed my hard drives. What a pain that would be. But I could do it. I could also return lost data by restoring my hard drives from the image backups that I made immediately before running Total Privacy 5. Not a difficult process but it is one that I should not have to make.

A restore feature needs to be added to Total Privacy 5. I would never run the program again unless I had a pressing need to remove sensitive data and a fresh image backup of my hard drives. I consider this program to be a dangerous one for ME unless I have prepared backups immediately before running it. I am not speaking for anyone else. I have lost data before running a cleaning program that did not stop with removing trash files. I spent about $150 to restore my data and purchase True Image to keep me from losing it all again.

Bigun

I can not tell what internal drives and/or USB drives are being scanned by the program. Because Total Privacy 5 analyzed the data on my computer in less than fifteen seconds I imagine only my small "C" drive (drive 0 contains mostly system files)was scanned.

Installed with *minor difficulty* on my WinXP (SP3) Home Ed.

I WISH, when updates were offered, a note would be made in the readme.txt file whether to uninstall to previous or install 'over' it.

This time I chose to install this new version 5.60 over the previous v5.50e version. (It gave the same file path/directory to install as the previous version.) During installation, there was an error message that it could not write a .dll file to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Pointstone\Shredder. On checking, there was a .dll file already there. I re-named the extention, clicked "Try Again" and the install proceeded without a problem.

On opening the program, I checked the version and registration, and it was indeed updated to v5.60 and registered to GAOTD. Thanks GAOTD and Pointstone for the update on this excellent program.

John

this type of program is useful if you're using a public computer like in a library or internet cafe. unfortunately you can't install this on a usb stick so you can only clean your own computer (home or office).... probably useful if your house is full of spies and you can't trust your children or spouse, or if you're looking at highly questionable materials on the internet and don't want your own family to know.