System Cleaner

[adams_083]

Just wondering if there are any Apps or programs out there that cleans & maintains the OS? (such as Window Washer for Windows etc). Im looking for something that securely erases files, cleans slack space etc.

I have seen a few in the App store (Washing Machine, Shredlt X) - does anyone know how well these work?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bobtomay]

Already built in. Those apps are merely charging money to give you a fancy UI to access what is already built into your system.

For secure erasing files:
put them in the trash - open Finder to the Trash folder - go to Finder on the menu bar and select Secure Empty Trash

or set it up to always secure empty trash in Finder - Preferences - Advanced - check off Empty Trash Securely

To secure erase free space, open up Disk Utility - highlight your partition - go to the Erase tab, click Erase Free Space

 

[adams_083]

Already built in. Those apps are merely charging money to give you a fancy UI to access what is already built into your system.

For secure erasing files:
put them in the trash - open Finder to the Trash folder - go to Finder on the menu bar and select Secure Empty Trash

or set it up to always secure empty trash in Finder - Preferences - Advanced - check off Empty Trash Securely

To secure erase free space, open up Disk Utility - highlight your partition - go to the Erase tab, click Erase Free Space

Much appreciated, thanks!

 

[strikenine]

I have found the freeware program Onyx useful in this respect: ''OnyX is a multifunction utility for Mac OS X. It allows you to verify the Startup Disk and the structure of its System files, to run miscellaneous tasks of system maintenance, to configure the hidden parameters of the Finder, Dock and of some of Apple's own applications, to delete caches, to remove a certain number of files and folders that may become cumbersome and more.''
You can download it at http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/11582/onyx