only delete files older than 24 hours: risk of unchecking this?

CCleaner for Windows
1

Hello:

Under: Options-->Advanced the following is ticked:

"Only delee files in windows Temp folder older than 24 hours"

Because I've been getting hit with a number of web-based Java exploits lately, I'd like to delete as much Temp files as quickly s possible. So I'm tempted to untick this setting.

Other than Temp files stored in the middle of an installation, is there a good reason to want to delay the deletion of new temp files for 24 hours?

Are there any risks in unticking that setting?

Thanks in advance

-eliuri

Windows XP Pro SP3

CCleaner 3.14.1616

2

To me, a TMP file is just what it is ...a Temp File. I nuke all TMP files right away.

3

Eli, your probably better off dumping Internet Explorer.

Not only is Firefox/Chrome/Opera safer, but they are faster as well.

Internet Explorer, even version 9, is still subject to Active-X exploits, which can be subverted via java-script to my knowledge. IE9 is only available for Vista & 7, while 8 is for XP. I seem to recall that at one time, they had a very early preview version 9 for XP, then they cancelled it & stopped production, claiming an XP version cannot be produced & is impossible. If I ever find it, I shall resurrect it from the dead for proof.

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@Tr3, I would be careful with that. Not all .tmp files are temp. I had I-Photo plus 4 (came with a Ulead Scanner years ago) that had a calendar program with it. I had a program that did search for .tmp files to delete them, but it also deleted my calendar templates as they were also .tmp files.

This is why after I did research, I dropped the program I was testing & switched to something safer, like CCleaner.

4

Super Fast please keep on topic. Poster is asking about deleting temp files older than 24 hours.

He is not asking which browser he should use.

5

@Hazel, the reason I suggested such, is poster mentioned being hit by several Java based exploits. Using Internet Explorer is like holding up swiss cheese for armor in a battle.

I am not 100% certain they are using IE, just thought I'd mention it, in the case that they were. I would assume that with IE 8 & java based exploits... Just didn't sound like something caused by a more secure modern browser such as Firefox/Chrome/Opera.

I like firefox best, but some say Chrome has been proven most secure of all the browsers due it's sandboxing.

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As to the deletion of temp files older than 24 hrs, Eli, that setting is mostly used because sometimes people install software that require a reboot before they complete. Windows updates, whatever.

You can safely untick this if you are certain that nothing you use requires a reboot, but otherwise, I would leave it checkmarked.

Of course, you could always do a 1 time clearance of the files, then add back the 24 hr rule.

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Sorry for the confusion, Hazel. I should have, perhaps, specified the reason I mentioned that. Thanks!

6

Super Fast you are not listening.

There is no confusion.

The topic is about deleting temp files older than 24hours, NOT about why you think he should use another browser.

7

Oh, I see.

Well, I read that, Hazel. And I read also the part about being hit by java exploits. 2 parts, not 1.

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I figured that he was being hit by java exploits because of using insecure IE (possibly), which is why I suggested what I did.

He wanted to know about deleting temp files because of java exploits, etc, so I figured I would kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Both inform him of whether he can delete 24 hr files, & also, eliminate the cause of needing to delete them (insecure browser, possibly).

_____

You saw where he wanted to delete 24 hr files. I saw where he wanted to delete them because of java exploits. You figured it was only about deleting the files. I figured it was not only about deleting the files, but eliminating the cause of needing to delete them (insecure browser, possibly).

While I am not 100% sure, I just mentioned it because I figured if he was getting hit by java exploits, there was some reason for them, which is why I suggested a more secure web browser just in case he wasn't using it.

_____

I also figured that if the exploit cause were eliminated, the need to delete 24 hr files would go away as well. You can attribute this to our thinking of the same problem in 2 different ways.

You were only interested in the end solution. I was interested not only in the solution, but in preventing the problem in the future so they won't have to be doing this over, and over, and over, and.... You get the idea...

Thanks!

8

You were only interested in the end solution.

I am interested in keeping things on topic.

Please see your pm's.

9

Hi from the original poster:

I use Firefox for all my browsing, but some of the applications do use IE 8 to store their cache. I'm not sure if the Java Script exploits are coming via my Firefox browsing or from that cache stored in IE.

I'm still not clear if its ok to untick that "only delete files older than 24 hours" option. I'd like to to so because theres a chance such malware can lurk in those temp files

Oooops..My apologies. i see that Superfast had in fact answered this in his second post above, but I hadnt read that paragraph. I"ll reinsert the tick if I need to install something requiring a reboot. Thanks for your responses

10

I'm still not clear if its ok to untick that "only delete files older than 24 hours" option. I'd like to to so because theres a chance such malware can lurk in those temp files

I've had that unticked/disabled forever in CCleaner and no issues!

However with some updates/installs/uninstalls that may not ask for a reboot you have to know a reboot may actually be necessary, such as if installing or uninstalling some driver that doesn't ask you to reboot.

11

I always wait for a shut-down and reboot before running CCleaner when I have installed something just in case that something has planted a "Run Once" to complete on restart.

Anything that instals without my knowledge is malware - especially if it is a sneaky Microsoft Update that came in against my authority.

I have no qualms about deleting recent files.

12

I've never had that option ticked (and I never will :lol: )