PC cleaner and privacy tool Privazer 4.0 released
The developers of the PC cleaner and privacy tool Privazer have released Privazer 4.0, a new major version of the program, recently.
I reviewed Privazer back in 2012 for the first time when it was released initially, and concluded that it felt like the big brother of the-then popular tool CCleaner.
Privazer 4.0 is a major version release. The program is still available as a portable version and installer for Windows. Compatibility remained the same in the version: you can run the program on Windows XP and newer versions of Windows (including Windows 10).
Privazer 4.0
The new version of Privazer comes with a new design according to the release notes. The design is not that different from previous versions though and won't irritate long-standing users of the program.
Privazer supports basic and advanced user modes; if you are experienced, you may load the advanced mode as it provides you with more options and choices that you can make.
Regardless of mode, it is recommended that you check the "always create a restore point" under Advanced Options > Cleanup, and go through the settings once before you let it do any cleanup operations.
Privazer 4.0 includes support for the Chromium-based version of Microsoft Edge. The addition increases the number of supported browsers to ten (legacy and Chromium-based Edge, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Pale Moon, Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi, Opera and Safari).
Another new feature, only available to donors, is a new setting to download program updates automatically when they become available.
The developers have improved the overall speed of the application and the portable version. $Logfile scans, cleanups of Firefox, Chrome and Opera, and $MFT Index have also improved. Last but not least, storage connections and disconnects have also been improved in the new version.
Closing Words
Privazer 4.0 improves the program in several meaningful ways. New users need to spend some time initially going through the options, menus, and scan options while existing users will feel right at home again when they run the new version for the first time.
Users who are looking for an alternative to CCleaner may want to give this one a try.
Now you: do you use system cleaners or privacy tools?
The new version 4.0 had expired my donors version. I was actually thinking about donating again so this didn’t really annoy me and I signed up for a $15 dollar a year plan through PayPal today. Keep in mind that I could have updated the software manually if I chose not to re donate.
I really like how this software cleans my tracks. I am able to wipe files and folders in Firefox and other browsers using the custom settings and can get Privazer to also wipe the pagefile.sys folder on shut down.
Privazer has never borked my system yet but for those of you who are paranoid I would recommend the basic user setting and let Privazer automatically use the safer settings on your system. For those of you who are running low on space Privazer will also search for files that are no longer needed and safely delete them for you if you choose that option as well.
I think the yearly donation of $15 is worth it but the free version works just as good. The best thing about Privazer is that it is free if you can’t afford to donate.
Thanks Privazer!
bleachbit for the win!
If you have Linux, here’s a few:
x secure-delete
x wipe
x nwipe
among others…
I have been using donor’s version for years. They are extemely helpful and open to relevant user suggestions like no other. Along with Wise Cleaner serve my needs best. IIRC some users had problems with registry cleaning in the past but I never had one over the years. I hope they maintain the quality level while keeping away from damn top ten lists. So far so good.
Privazer sounds interesting and I know some love it, but I’m worried it may delete things I need. A great, safe and free disk cleaner is Wise Disk Cleaner. It cleans much more than CCleaner and safely. Never had a problem in 3-4 years with it. It has 3 main cleaning tabs, the first 2 just clean everything it suggests after a quick scan. The 3rd tab, select which items you want to clean or not. Yesterday I cleaned my laptop (4-5 weeks since last clean) and it removed 2.93 GB’s of junk. Also comes in a portable version.
I don’t use cleaners these days, just the built in windows thing, although win 10 has an autoclean function if you want to turn it on.
I tried Privazer a year or so ago and was totally amazed by how much stuff it found and how squeaky clean and fast my laptop was immediately afterward. Glad I made a restore point, a few days later some things wouldn’t open or work correctly. After a restore, all was well and Privazer was history. No, I didn’t just let it run, every step was reviewed first.
Clairveau is right, the interface seems like a number of programs were combined into one package with buttons everywhere, ransom note fonts and two steps forward, one back, flow. Maybe this version is organized, IDK.
“Ransom note fonts and two steps forward, one back.”
Exactly !
“How squeaky clean and fast my laptop was immediately afterward.”
Nice.
“A few days later some things wouldn’t open or work correctly.”
Frightening.
“I didn’t just let it run, every step was reviewed first.”
And how would you know ? More to the point : how would I know ?
After a lifelong IT career that started before the PC was invented (mainframe sysadmin) I have tried every cleaner I ever found. Privazer has been my fav now for some years. It does a thorough job, has tons of options and I have never had a single problem due to it. I run it every day to prevent tracking/profiling etc.
It has to be one of the top cleaners yet it gets almost no press and is never listed in “top ten” reviews. Why this is so is a mystery to me. Highly recommend it.
Same as you. I worked on computers for about 35 years. I have been using PrivaZer for several years and never had a problem with it. At the end of the day, I run it and select “Start cleaning” and “Shutdown PC after cleaning”. It creates a restore point each time, but I have never had to return it to a previous restore point. I use the Donor version and make a donation a couple of times each year.
Did you use to clean your mainframe, too ? :)
Your remark almost makes me reconsider. I might, possibly, try Privazer again. Not doing any harm is indeed request number one.
“The design is not that different from previous versions though and won’t irritate long-standing users of the program.”
I therefore take it for granted that it will irritate me, a long-time non-user of the program, precisely because of its extremely quirky design.
I have been using Privazer for years.
I am always skeptical of statements like “The design is not that different from previous versions though and won’t irritate long-standing users of the program.â€
In this case, my skepticism was not fulfilled.
I agree with the reviewer’s assessment.
“Do you use system cleaners or privacy tools?”
No. Don’t trust any of these fake applications.
“Fake applications”? I guess you know more than everyone else. Congrats. /s
There is nothing fake if you choose to involve yourself in reality instead of conspiracy.
Make a bit-level system image. Run the tool. Make a new bit-level system image. Compare.
Instead of spreading falsehoods, do your homework. Many of the comments on gHacks are a sad joke.
Do you use system cleaners or privacy tools?
I tried Bleachbit for awhile but was always worried I might delete something I shouldn’t so I went back to Windows built-in disk cleanup tool.
I like keeping my browsers cache, websites seem to load faster and my internet speed is not very fast.
Is this donor freemium?
What’s the difference in the “Get donors version” ?
Some features are reserved for donors (e.g. auto updates).
I usually use this program installed via chocolatey package manager, with another program called DiskMax, as my 1-2 punch of keeping my pc clean and well running.
What I like about Privazer is choices, choices that make sense, let me control whether to shutdown, restart or not.
Since using KeePass a year or so ago, I rarely need to keep or want to keep any browser cookies, so this helps clean my system.
Since while I use Ungoogled Chromium for my daily browsing, and sadly Google Chrome for any video streaming, this works really nicely.
Privazer is a nice product.
Where as I tend to get worried if there are a ton of new features, or if a product gets feature creep, or goes from a well run product to getting in your face too much like Malware AntiMalware has become.