How do you clean a Mac?

[CapitalGuy]

Sounds like a setup for a bad joke.

Anyhow I used to clean my Toshiba laptop with Windows Washer then AGV Cleaner. It just gave me the peace of mind that if a tech savvy friend got his or her hands on my laptop, they wouldn't be able to easily find my surfing history.

On my Macbook Pro all I do is "Reset Safari". Yes the history and cookies and caches all get cleared, but does that clean this new laptop to the same standard that WW used to clean my PC laptop? Or, are there still ways that a computer service department could see that I like Asian porn and TERB?

The corollary question, of course, is what products clean a Mac, if it turns out that tracing my history is relatively easy for an IT professional to do?

As always, thank you in advance.

 

[canucklehead]

Sounds like a setup for a bad joke.

Anyhow I used to clean my Toshiba laptop with Windows Washer then AGV Cleaner. It just gave me the peace of mind that if a tech savvy friend got his or her hands on my laptop, they wouldn't be able to easily find my surfing history.

On my Macbook Pro all I do is "Reset Safari". Yes the history and cookies and caches all get cleared, but does that clean this new laptop to the same standard that WW used to clean my PC laptop? Or, are there still ways that a computer service department could see that I like Asian porn and TERB?

The corollary question, of course, is what products clean a Mac, if it turns out that tracing my history is relatively easy for an IT professional to do?

As always, thank you in advance.

U can always go to the Library and move the cache and plist file that has the history to the trash and do a secure empty trash.
Dude there is always a way ... just depends on how much work your company nerds want to do to see you like porn..

 

[djk]

Finder > Safari > Reset Safari.

Make sure everything is checked. Your browser history is no more unless you're using Time Machine. Then only someone with a mission to dig up dirt would bother getting access to your history.

http://www.maciverse.com/restore-safari-history-with-time-machine.html

 

[djk]

Dude there is always a way ... just depends on how much work your company nerds want to do to see you like porn..

Aye. Save the pr0n surfing to your own computers.

 

[CapitalGuy]

Thanks. It is my home computer, not work. My only concern is that a gf does some deep digging or someone like Geek Squad runs a deep program when I take the laptop in for servicing. Nothing illegal is being viewed, just embarrassing should someone find my history. We're all in that boat, lol. I'm not trying to prevent the RCMP computer forensics lab from delving into my love of yellow-skinned women.

I reset Safari after every session, was just trying to determine the degree to which that cleans out my history.

 

[larry]

Hence, why I suggest that nobody buy a mac or use linux. unless they KNOW-IT-ALL!! The windows world has so many great utilities that do everything, for free. and help is easy to find.

 

[Wallstreet]

Sounds like a setup for a bad joke.

Anyhow I used to clean my Toshiba laptop with Windows Washer then AGV Cleaner. It just gave me the peace of mind that if a tech savvy friend got his or her hands on my laptop, they wouldn't be able to easily find my surfing history.

On my Macbook Pro all I do is "Reset Safari". Yes the history and cookies and caches all get cleared, but does that clean this new laptop to the same standard that WW used to clean my PC laptop? Or, are there still ways that a computer service department could see that I like Asian porn and TERB?

The corollary question, of course, is what products clean a Mac, if it turns out that tracing my history is relatively easy for an IT professional to do?

As always, thank you in advance.

Capital, you really need to relax yourself. First off, why are you using safari? You know if you used firefox and added adblock plus, you would never ever see another annoying ad? Firefox is safer, and faster. Safari is a joke.

If you mean 'clean' as in getting rid of all the porn and other stuff you have viewed, just reset the browser, it will look suspicious though, so you may want to randomly visit a couple of sites to play it off. I would suggest you use firefox,and use 'private browsing' when you are doing things you dont want others to see. That way you don't have to delete your entire web history.

 

[larry]

Look here. This is a minimum.
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secure-cleaning/CCleaner.shtml
Some of the steps don't apply to the Mac OS. Beats me which. You'd be better off re-installing your OS and getting a smaller system for those fishy activities. Something you could restore to a clean state easily. So far all I've read doesn't sound like sufficient.

 

[djk]

as far as i know if it has a HDD either PC or Apple, the data or partial data can be retrieved unless the HDD is melted down.

That is technically correct.

There are ways to deleting data that would require an inordinate amount of cash and resources to recover it. At this point, it's smarter to just encrypt the whole drive with PGP and use a strong passphrase.

 

[enyaw]

techtools pro is an excellent piece of software that does all of the above and more. Look into it, make sure your running as adm

 

[danibbler]

If you mean 'clean' as in getting rid of all the porn and other stuff you have viewed, just reset the browser, it will look suspicious though, so you may want to randomly visit a couple of sites to play it off. I would suggest you use firefox,and use 'private browsing' when you are doing things you dont want others to see. That way you don't have to delete your entire web history.

Private browsing on Safari is very easy, just go to the top left hand corner and click on "Safari" for the drop down menu and select "Private Browsing". Works great and easier than Chrome where you have to open some sort of "incognito" window.

For past indiscretions just reset the browser.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Best way, switch to Linux!.....

 

[CapitalGuy]

"This message is hidden because WoodPeckr is on your ignore list.
View Post
Remove user from ignore list"

This is my favourite post in this thread.

 

[WoodPeckr]

This is my favourite post in this thread.

LMAO!!!!
Fine, don't go crying when you are busted!.....

 

[koreanenvy]

Buy a software called Drive Genius 3. This is the same software that the people at Apple Store uses to fix your Mac. I bought mine from OWC at www.macsales.com. This is a very reputable company and I buy all my Mac accessories from them. Ships same day via FedEx arrive in Toronto next day. Shipping is about $25. Or I think you can buy it at Apple store for around $129. It is the best Mac utilitiy software out there and you can boot off the DVD to defrag your hardware to brand new condition.

 

[WoodPeckr]

. Or I think you can buy it at Apple store for around $129. It is the best Mac utilitiy software out there and you can boot off the DVD to defrag your hardware to brand new condition.

Ouch!!!!
Rather pricey, NO?

Surely there must be a good free app available....

 

[djk]

You don't need to defrag the HD on a Mac. The FS automatically defragments in OS X.

If you're looking for a great free system utility for OS X, try Onyx.

http://www.titanium.free.fr/download.php

 

[larry]

Th OP was asking about cleaning his Mac so past evidence of browsing touchy sites would be removed. nothing to do with defragging! what about picture viewing? apps used? look at the list for ccleaner PC. there's a ton of things that need to be tidied up. so far, no utility to do a great clean-up has been mentioned. there must be one.

 

[VikkiBlue]

Dont know if you live in TO but ClickOn Mac Solutions 416.778.6848. 400 Eastern Ave. Toronto Ontario are great...cool guys and non judgmental.
Everyone has porn on their computer...as long as its not something illegal...don't worry...and you can always hand it in under another name pay cash.

 

[WoodPeckr]

If you really want to scrub your Mac clean, format and reinstall the OS, after you first save whatever files you want to keep to a flash drive or an exteral HDD.