Cache & Cookie Washer Help File© 2000, 2001, 2002 Webroot Software, Inc. |
1 – Overview of Cache & Cookie Washer
1a – Quick Start
2 – Washer Settings
2a – Browser Wash Items
2b – Wash Options
2c – Additional Wash Options
2d – Check for Update
3 – Verifying & Changing Default Directories
4 – Netscape Options
4a – Netscape Cookies to Keep
4b – Netscape 6.x Profile Management Options
5 – Internet Explorer/AOL Options
5a – Cache
5b – Internet Explorer Cookies to Keep
5c – Downloaded Program Files Directory
5d – Clean Locked (index.dat) files/History/Address Bar
5e – Use IE Control Panel to Clear Database Files
5f – America Online Cache/Drop Down Menu
5g – IE Autocomplete Form Data
5h – IE 6.0 and Above Media Player
6 – Updating Cache and Cookie Washer
7 – License Agreement and Disclaimer
Cache and Cookie Washer is a very useful program for cleaning up the history of your activities on a computer. Many people do not realize that their web browsers store information about what they have done such as what web sites they have visited, and various other activities they have performed. Therefore, anyone else can see what you have been doing on your computer, which raises several privacy concerns. Furthermore, much of your activity information takes up valuable disk space, and recovering this space can be very beneficial.
Cleaning up the history of your activities can be a tedious chore of manually removing each history file or entry. If privacy and disk space are to be maintained, this process must be performed every time you use your computer. Cache and Cookie Washer can automate this process for you! Cache and Cookie Washer will automatically run in the background and clean up whatever tracks you want removed, whenever you want. You can have Cache and Cookie Washer automatically clean your files when Windows is started or shutdown, in addition to regular timed cleanings. Cache and Cookie Washer integrates with Netscape, Internet Explorer, AOL, and MSN.
After installing Cache and Cookie Washer, whenever Cache and Cookie Washer is running there will be a small squeegee icon next to your clock on the Windows Taskbar. When Cache and Cookie Washer is minimized, you can access it by right-clicking this small squeegee icon. When you right-click once on the squeegee icon, a pop-up menu will appear with 7 options.
Wash Now - Once you have configured Cache and Cookie Washer to clean only the items you want, selecting Wash Now will wash all your wash items.
Settings - This will open Cache and Cookie Washer's main window so you can configure your wash items and other features of Cache and Cookie Washer.
About - This will open a pop-up box that displays specifics about the software you are using (this includes version number, copyright, technical support, and upgrade information).
Sytem Info - This will open a pop-up box that displays specifics about the computer you are using (this includes Windows operating system, disk space in use, available memory, video, and environmental information).
Help - This will open your browser to the Help File (you must be connected to the Internet to open the page).
Close - This will close the Cache and Cookie Washer program.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Because Cache and Cookie Washer automatically removes certain information from your computer, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with Cache and Cookie Washer's features and options, and check the Standard Wash Item paths (see 3 - Verifying and changingà) before "running a wash."
In order to change any of the settings listed in the following sections, open Cache and Cookie Washer's main settings window by clicking the small squeegee icon in the Taskbar and selecting Settings. Or, if you do not see the small squeegee icon in the Taskbar, you can open Cache and Cookie Washer by double-clicking the Cache and Cookie Washer icon on the desktop or by clicking Start | Programs | Cache and Cookie Washer | Cache and Cookie Washer.
To change these options, open Cache and Cookie Washer's main window. This group of options is located along the left side of the main window. There are four tabs û Browser Wash Items, Wash Options, Additional Wash Options, and Check for Update.
• Netscape/Internet Explorer - By clicking the Options button next to each one, you can tell Cache and Cookie Washer specifically which browser items to wash. The Netscape Wash options are explained in 4 - Netscape Options. The wash options for Internet Explorer and AOL are explained in 5 - Internet Explorer/AOL Options
Special Note: If you do not have Netscape and click on the checkbox to select Netscape, a pop-up message from Cache and Cookie Washer will appear stating that Netscape hasn't been detected. Click the OK button to close the pop-up message.
• Change Wash Directories - Clicking this button will allow you to change the wash paths (see section: 3 - Verifying & Changing Default Directories).
• Load at Windows Startup - If the Load at Windows Startup option is checked, then Cache and Cookie Washer will load and run in the background whenever Windows loads. It is important to have this option checked if you have Cache and Cookie Washer set to wash at Windows shutdown or wash automatically at specified intervals. If Cache and Cookie Washer is not running, it will not perform any automatic washes.
• Close Washer after a Wash - Checking the Close Washer after a Wash option will close Cache and Cookie Washer completely once it has finished washing. If this option is checked, and Cache and Cookie Washer closes, it will not perform any automatic washes unless it is restarted.
• Add Bleach to Wash - The Add Bleach to Wash option instructs Washer to "shred" the files it washes by overwriting each file a set number of times with random characters. This will render the files unrecoverable by utilities such as undelete and unerase. The default setting for bleach will overwrite a file 2 times, which is usually enough. The higher the number of overwrites the longer the wash cycle will take. Overwriting a file 3 times respects the DOD 5220.22-M directive for sanitizing a file on a Non-Removable Rigid Disk or a Removable Rigid Disk and overwriting a file 7 times respects the NSA approved seven-pass file erasure method. You can set the number of times to overwrite a file by clicking on the Info button next to the Add Bleach to Wash checkbox.
• Skip Messages During Wash - If this option is checked, Cache and Cookie Washer will skip over any wash items that cause errors, and continue with the next wash item.
• Run Autowash when Windows is Started or Shutdown - Checking either of these boxes will instruct Cache and Cookie Washer to automatically wash when Windows is started or shut down. The Set button to the right of this option enables you to determine what Cache and Cookie Washer will do after a "shut-down wash". Cache and Cookie Washer can be set to do one of three things after a shut-down wash:
Prompt for Shutdown/Restart Method - Once the shut-down wash is complete, Windows will prompt you again whether you want to shut down or restart.
Wash, Shutdown and Restart - Once the shut-down wash is complete, Windows will shut down, then re-start.
Wash, then Shutdown - Once the shut-down wash is complete, your computer will shut down.
• Run Autowash Every: - After checking the Run Autowash Every: box, the pull down menu under the box will become active. Using the pull down menu, you can select the time interval in which you would like Cache and Cookie Washer to clean your items. Time intervals range from every 15 minutes to once a month. Once you have selected a time, Cache and Cookie Washer will clean your items automatically when the time is reached.
• Supplementary Note - Command Line Washing (support for System Agent: Task Scheduler) - You can use the Windows System Agent: Task Scheduler to automate cleanings for Cache and Cookie Washer. Simply add the full path of the "autowash.exe" file to the Task Scheduler. For example: "c:\program files\washer\autowash.exe" would be a valid path for an automated wash from within the Task Scheduler. Also, entering "c:\program files\washer\autowash.exe" at the DOS prompt or from within a batch file would also be valid. The "autowash.exe" file instructs Cache and Cookie Washer to wash all selected items and then close itself after washing is completed.
• Use Custom Font Color - When this option is checked, you can select the color for all the text in Cache and Cookie Washer. For example, if your monitor settings are dark, then you may have a hard time reading the labels and messages in Cache and Cookie Washer. You might try setting the font color to white or yellow, or some other light color to increase the contrast to make the screen easier to read.
• Use Custom Title Color - When this option is checked, you can select the base color for all the title bars in Cache and Cookie Washer's main window.
• Don't Store Last Washed Time - Underneath the Cache and Cookie Washer logo in the main window, Cache and Cookie Washer displays the time and date of the last wash. If you would prefer that this information not be displayed, just check the Don't Store Last Washed Time option.
• Enable AutoWash Status Timer - The handy little counter on Cache and Cookie Washer's main window will display the time remaining, in minutes, until the next automatic wash is run. If you would prefer not to have Cache and Cookie Washer visibly count down to the next automatic wash, just un-check the Enable AutoWash Status Timer option.
• Show Washing Progress - When Cache and Cookie Washer is installed, this option is selected by default. When Cache and Cookie Washer runs an Autowash, it displays the progress indicator window. If desired, you can uncheck this option and the next time Cache and Cookie Washer runs, it will run without displaying the progress indicator window.
• Automatically Close Washing Progress After a Wash - Normally, after Cache and Cookie Washer runs an Autowash, the progress window will remain open until you close the window manually. Checking this item will cause the Cache and Cookie Washer progress window to close after a wash has been completed.
There are two additional buttons at the bottom of the Additional Options section.
• Sytem Info - This will open a pop-up box that displays specifics about the computer you are using (this includes Windows operating system, disk space in use, available memory, processor details, video, and environmental information).
• Help - This will open your browser to the Help File (you must be connected to the Internet to open the page).
• Check for Update - This will open your browser to Webroot Software's Update Software web page (you must be connected to the Internet to open the page). Once the web page loads, Cache and Cookie Washer will search the Webroot web site for updates to your existing software. If there is an update available, you will be given options and directions on how to update your software.
When Cache and Cookie Washer is installed it attempts to detect all the Browser Wash Items directory locations, such as the Netscape or IE cache directory. Clicking on the Change Wash Directories button on Cache and Cookie Washer's main window will display a listing of all the detected paths to each standard wash item that is to be cleaned. Below is a list of the standard directories as detected on most (but not all) system configurations:
Netscape User Profile†: C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\<user name> (for Netscape 4.x)
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Navigator (for Netscape 3.x)
Netscape Cache: C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\<user name>\cache (for Netscape 4.x)
C:\Program Files\Netscape\Navigator\cache (for Netscape 3.x)
Internet Explorer Cache: C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files (for single user system)
C:\Windows\Profiles\<user name>\Temporary Internet Files (for multiple user system)
Internet Explorer Cookies: C:\Windows\Cookies (for single user system)
C:\Windows\Profiles\<user name>\Cookies (for multiple user system)
Internet Explorer History: C:\Windows\History (for single user system)
C:\Windows\Profiles\<user name>=>\History (for multiple user system)
AOL Program Directory: C:\America Online 4.0 (Note: You will not need to set this unless you have America Online installed on your system.)
*For AOL5 users, the path is C:\America Online 5.0
*For AOL6 users, the path is C:\America Online 6.0
*For AOL7 users, the path is C:\America Online 7.0
† For Netscape 6.x users, if Cache and Cookie Washer detects Netscape 6.x or higher during installation, the profile scanning wizard will automatically launch. The wizard will automatically detect the Netscape 6.x user profiles.
When in the Change Wash Directories window, clicking the View button next the Netscape User Profile will launch the Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Manager. This wizard enables you with the ability to select which Netscape profiles you want washed. You can select the name(s) and click the OK button or click the Browse button which will enable you to manually select the directory. Clicking the Redetect button at the bottom of the Standard Wash Directories pop-up window will launch the Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Scanner. This wizard will scan your hard drive(s) for Netscape user profiles. Once the scanner has finished scanning, the Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Manager will automatically launch.
To change any of the above detected directories, simply click on the Edit button located next to the directory and then browse to the new directory and click on OK.
If you want to reset all the directories back to the original detected directories, click on Re-Detect.
When you are through verifying or changing your default directories or selecting Netscape profiles, click on Done. This will return you to Cache and Cookie Washer's main window.
If you have Netscape installed on your system, you can use this Browser Wash Option to clean up Netscape cookies, cache, history, and trash mailbox. Checking this box will activate the Options button next to the Netscape entry. Clicking the Options button allows you to select which Netscape items you would like cleaned: cookies, cache, history, and/or trash mailbox. NOTE: You must close Netscape before Cache and Cookie Washer will be able to clean the Netscape History items.
Once Netscape has been correctly detected (see 3 - Verifying & Changing...), you may choose to have Cache and Cookie Washer save certain cookies on your system. Clicking the Options button next to Netscape on Cache and Cookie Washer's Standard Wash Items window will bring up a list of Netscape options. Click the Keep button to display all the cookies currently in your profile. Click on a cookie to add it to the list of "keepers" in the right-hand window. To remove a cookie from the keepers list, select it in the right-hand window and click Remove From Keepers. If you have a lot of cookies on your system, it may be confusing which cookies you have selected to keep, especially if the cookies are similarly named. To help avoid such confusion, there is a large red button in the middle of the Cookies to Keep window. Click it once to display only the new cookies (cookies that aren't in the keepers list), or click it again to display all the cookies. When you have finished selecting the Cookies to Keep, click the Done button to return to the Netscape Options (clicking OK on the Options screen will return you to Cache and Cookie Washer's main window).
For Netscape 6.x users, if Cache and Cookie Washer detects Netscape 6.x or higher during installation, the Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Manager will automatically launch. The wizard will automatically detect the Netscape 6.x user profiles, that reside on the your hard drive(s), and enables you with the ability to select which profiles you want washed. You can select the name(s) and click the OK button or click the Browse button which will enable you to manually select the directory.
There are also two other ways to customize your user profiles. Both of these options are listed under the Start Menu under the Cache and Cookie Washer menu. The Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Manager and the Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Scanner.
The Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Manager enables you with the ability to select which Netscape profiles you want washed. You can select the name(s) and click the OK button or click the Browse button which will enable you to manually select the directory.
The Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Scanner will scan your hard drive(s) for Netscape user profiles. Once the scanner has finished scanning, the Cache and Cookie Washer Netscape Profile Manager will automatically launch.
For Other Cache and Cookie Washer functions that use the profile management and scanning options, please see: 3 - Verifying & Changing Default Directories - å For Netscape 6.x Users in this help file.
If you have Internet Explorer installed on your system, you can use this Standard Wash Item to clean up Internet Explorer cookies, cache, and history. Checking this box will activate the Options button next to the Internet Explorer entry. Clicking the Options button allows you to select which Internet Explorer items you would like cleaned: Cache (Temporary Internet Files), Cookies, Downloaded Programs Files Directory, Clean Locked (index.dat) Files/History/Address Bar, Use IE Control Panel to Clear Database Files, AOL/Compuserve Drop Down List & Cache, IE Autocomplete Form Data, and/or IE 6.0 and Above Media Player.
There is also an option to exclude cookies from being washed. This option is helpful if you visit sites that store useful cookies that you wish to keep.
Actual cache files in Internet Explorer are cleaned during a wash with this option. After running a wash, the Temporary Internet Files directory may not appear empty. This is because, even though the actual cache files are cleaned, IE stores references to these files in Locked index.dat database files. Windows Explorer will look in the database for these file names and display them even though the files themselves are removed.
To clean these Locked files, you must check the "History/Address Bar/Index.dat Files" checkbox and/or the "Clear database files with IE Control Panel" checkbox on this screen.
Once IE has been correctly detected (see 3 - Verifying & Changing...), you may choose to have Cache and Cookie Washer save certain cookies on your system. Clicking the Set button next to Internet Explorer on Cache and Cookie Washer's main window will bring up a list of IE/AOL options. Click the Keep button to display all the cookies currently in your profile. To view the contents of a cookie, select it in the left window and click View. To add cookies to the "keepers" list, selct it in the left window and click Add to Keepers (you can select multiple cookies to add). To remove a cookie from the keepers list, select it in the right window and click Remove from keepers. When you have finished selecting the Cookies to Keep, click the Done button to return to the IE Options (clicking OK on the Options screen will return you to Cache and Cookie Washer's main window).
This directory is where Internet Explorer stores ActiveX and Java applets that have been downloaded from the web. Checking this item will instruct Cache and Cookie Washer to clean out this directory.
This option will thoroughly clean the Temporary Internet Files, the History, and the Address Bar for Internet Explorer. In order for this option to be effective, you will need to restart Windows after running a wash.
The index.dat and mmxxx.dat files will only be cleaned after a wash is run and Windows is rebooted. This is because these files are LOCKED during a Windows session. Washer cleans these files during a reboot before they become locked. After Windows has restarted, new files are automatically created with the same name but they contain no data.
Normally the TIF directory does not appear empty after a wash. This is because the IE cache database file still stores pointers to the files that were there. After washing, when you view the TIF directory you will still see the pointers from this database while the actual files are gone.
This option clears the database by opening the IE Internet Control Panel and automatically clicking the Clear History and Delete Files buttons. This will make the TIF directory appear empty immediately after a wash on most systems.
If you have AOL or Compuserve installed on your system, once Cache and Cookie Washer has correctly detected AOL (see 3 - Verifying & Changing...), this option will clean out the Drop Down List and Cache that is displayed at the top of the main AOL/Compuserve window.
Internet Explorer can store a record of almost everything that you type into any web site form. Form data can be things such as all the keywords you have ever typed into a search engine and personal information such as your name and address. Selecting this option will wash all IE auto complete form data.
When Cache and Cookie Washer is being installed, it will automatically detect if your system is using IE 6.x or above Media Player. This option will only appear if your system is using IE 6.x or above. If you select this option, Cache and Cookie Washer will wash the playlists for your Media Player.
When you purchase Cache and Cookie Washer, you are entitled to FREE updates, technical support, and replacement downloads for one year from the date of purchase. To obtain your update, click on the Check for Update button listed under Washer Settings.
This will open your browser to Webroot Software's Update Software web page (you must be connected to the Internet to open the page). Once the web page loads, Cache and Cookie Washer will search the Webroot web site for updates to your existing software. If there is an update available, you will given options and directions on how to update your software.
WEBROOT SOFTWARE, INC. LICENSES THE ACCOMPANYING SOFTWARE TO YOU ONLY UPON THE CONDITION THAT YOU ACCEPT ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT. PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THE SOFTWARE.
LICENSE AND WARRANTY:
The software which accompanies this license, hereinafter referred to as "the software", is the property of Webroot Software or its licensers and is protected by copyright law. While Webroot Software continues to own the software, you will have certain rights to use the software after your acceptance of this license. Your rights and obligations with respect to the use of the software are as follows:
IF THE SOFTWARE IS LABELED AS A 'TRIAL VERSION' AND YOU AGREE TO THIS DISCLAIMER AND LICENSE,
YOU MAY:
(i) use the software on as many computers as you wish at no charge for up to but no longer than the trial period listed in the software; after which time you must either discontinue the use of the software or purchase a licensed version for each computer on which you continue to use the software;
YOU MAY NOT:
(i) sublicense, rent, sell, or lease any portion of the software;
(ii) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, modify, translate, make any attempt to discover the source code of the software, or create derivative works from the software.
IF THE SOFTWARE IS LABELED AS A 'FULL VERSION' OR 'REGISTERED VERSION' AND YOU AGREE TO THIS DISCLAIMER AND LICENSE,
YOU MAY:
(i) use the software on one computer for each license purchased;
YOU MAY NOT:
(i) sublicense, rent, sell, or lease any portion of the software;
(ii) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, modify, translate, make any attempt to discover the source code of the software, or create derivative works from the software;
or
(iii) use the software on a greater number of computers than the number of copies of the software you have licensed.
DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES:
Webroot Software has made every effort possible to ensure that the software is free of any bugs or errors, however in no way is this software to be considered error or bug free. By using the software you assume all responsibility for any damages or lost data that may result from any errors or bugs in the software. Regardless of whether any remedy set forth herein fails of its essential purpose, in no event will Webroot Software be liable to you for any special, consequential, indirect or similar damages, including any lost profits or lost data arising out of the use or inability to use the software, even if Webroot Software has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Some states do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. In no case shall Webroot Software's liability exceed the purchase price for the software. The disclaimers and limitations set forth above will apply regardless of whether you accept to use the software.
GENERAL:
This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado. This Agreement may only be modified by a license addendum which accompanies this license or by a written document which has been signed by both you and Webroot Software. Should you have any questions concerning this Agreement, or if you desire to contact Webroot Software for any reason, please write:
Webroot Software, Inc.
PO Box 19816
Boulder, CO 80308-2816
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© 2000, 2001, 2002 Webroot Software, Inc. All Rights Reserved |