How can we daily clean the WinXP registry of privacy data which the
standard programs miss?

I run the following freeware privacy programs daily ... but I STILL find
some esoteric privacy keys left in the Windows XP SP2 registry! I can
delete these esoteric keys manually but doing that every day is a pain. It
would be nicer if we can teach a freeware program about those keys. What
freeware registry cleaner program can we add keys to so it learns how to
maintain our privacy?

For example, I run the following registry privacy cleaners daily:
- Javacool Software MRU Blaster 1.5 (
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/mrudownload.html )
- CCleaner 1.26.218 ( www.ccleaner.com )
- Toni Arts EasyCleaner 2.0.6 Build 7 (
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download414.html )
- CleanUp! 4.0 (http://www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup )
- Free Internet Eraser 2.05 ( http://www.privacyeraser.com )
etc.

But all these privacy erasers still miss many keys, for example, these
text-editor search history registry keys:
HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search1 value = textstring_1
HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search2 value = textstring_2
HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search3 value = textstring_3
....
HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Searchnnn value = textstring_nnn

Judging from my multiple registry searches for known privacy data such as
my bank passwords and company name and social security number, etc. (using
the freeware RegScanner from http://www.nirsoft.net ), these freeware
security tools above miss a lot of privacy data left in the WinXP registry!

I can delete these registry keys manually daily, but I prefer to "teach" a
privacy program to do this for me.

So, my question to concerned community is:
Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
teach it which registry keys to clean daily?

From: "Anthony Susa" <Susa.J.Anth...@neosporum.com>

| How can we daily clean the WinXP registry of privacy data which the
| standard programs miss?
|
| I run the following freeware privacy programs daily ... but I STILL find
| some esoteric privacy keys left in the Windows XP SP2 registry! I can
| delete these esoteric keys manually but doing that every day is a pain. It
| would be nicer if we can teach a freeware program about those keys. What
| freeware registry cleaner program can we add keys to so it learns how to
| maintain our privacy?
|
| For example, I run the following registry privacy cleaners daily:
| - Javacool Software MRU Blaster 1.5 (
| http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/mrudownload.html )
| - CCleaner 1.26.218 ( www.ccleaner.com )
| - Toni Arts EasyCleaner 2.0.6 Build 7 (
| http://www.majorgeeks.com/download414.html )
| - CleanUp! 4.0 (http://www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup )
| - Free Internet Eraser 2.05 ( http://www.privacyeraser.com )
| etc.
|
| But all these privacy erasers still miss many keys, for example, these
| text-editor search history registry keys:
| HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search1 value = textstring_1
| HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search2 value = textstring_2
| HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search3 value = textstring_3
| ...
| HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Searchnnn value = textstring_nnn
|
| Judging from my multiple registry searches for known privacy data such as
| my bank passwords and company name and social security number, etc. (using
| the freeware RegScanner from http://www.nirsoft.net ), these freeware
| security tools above miss a lot of privacy data left in the WinXP registry!
|
| I can delete these registry keys manually daily, but I prefer to "teach" a
| privacy program to do this for me.
|
| So, my question to concerned community is:
| Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
| teach it which registry keys to clean daily?

You don't because there is no need to. This is overmanagement and is "asking" for more
problems then you are trying to prevent.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

Anthony Susa wrote:
> How can we daily clean the WinXP registry of privacy data which the
> standard programs miss?
>
> I run the following freeware privacy programs daily ... but I STILL find
> some esoteric privacy keys left in the Windows XP SP2 registry! I can
> delete these esoteric keys manually but doing that every day is a pain. It
> would be nicer if we can teach a freeware program about those keys. What
> freeware registry cleaner program can we add keys to so it learns how to
> maintain our privacy?
>
> For example, I run the following registry privacy cleaners daily:
> - Javacool Software MRU Blaster 1.5 (
> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/mrudownload.html )
> - CCleaner 1.26.218 ( www.ccleaner.com )
> - Toni Arts EasyCleaner 2.0.6 Build 7 (
> http://www.majorgeeks.com/download414.html )
> - CleanUp! 4.0 (http://www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup )
> - Free Internet Eraser 2.05 ( http://www.privacyeraser.com )
> etc.
>
> But all these privacy erasers still miss many keys, for example, these
> text-editor search history registry keys:
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search1 value = textstring_1
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search2 value = textstring_2
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search3 value = textstring_3
> ....
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Searchnnn value = textstring_nnn
>
> Judging from my multiple registry searches for known privacy data such as
> my bank passwords and company name and social security number, etc. (using
> the freeware RegScanner from http://www.nirsoft.net ), these freeware
> security tools above miss a lot of privacy data left in the WinXP registry!
>
> I can delete these registry keys manually daily, but I prefer to "teach" a
> privacy program to do this for me.
>
> So, my question to concerned community is:
> Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
> teach it which registry keys to clean daily?

Since you already have CCleaner, why not use that. Select "Options" from
the menu on the left, then select "Custom" and enter the files you want
to have cleaned regularly.

*Note* I have never used this function in CCleaner myself. I have only
used the default settings presented by the program. So you are on your
own regarding configuration and any possible ramifications.



--
Insert witty comment here.

Anthony Susa wrote:

> So, my question to concerned community is:
> Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
> teach it which registry keys to clean daily?

What you need is IE Privacy Keeper (freeware).

About it: http://browsertools.net/IE-Privacy-Keeper/index.html

Download it: http://browsertools.net/downloads.html

--
Daze

If you feel that you can not find a program that does what you want I
suggest you look at the Windows XP SP2 Shared Computer Toolkit that has an
option to create restricted users and to delete any changes in the current
session to bring the computer back to the baseline state after a computer
restart with the Windows Disk Protection tool. There are also tools that
can backup and restore your registry to a previous state such as Erunt. ---
Steve

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/s.../overview.mspx --- Shared
Computer Toolkit
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/erunt.html --- Erunt

"Anthony Susa" <Susa.J.Anth...@neosporum.com> wrote in message
news:1mxqlc18np2i4$.xs96881zt4id.dlg@40tude.net...
> How can we daily clean the WinXP registry of privacy data which the
> standard programs miss?
>
> I run the following freeware privacy programs daily ... but I STILL find
> some esoteric privacy keys left in the Windows XP SP2 registry! I can
> delete these esoteric keys manually but doing that every day is a pain. It
> would be nicer if we can teach a freeware program about those keys. What
> freeware registry cleaner program can we add keys to so it learns how to
> maintain our privacy?
>
> For example, I run the following registry privacy cleaners daily:
> - Javacool Software MRU Blaster 1.5 (
> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/mrudownload.html )
> - CCleaner 1.26.218 ( www.ccleaner.com )
> - Toni Arts EasyCleaner 2.0.6 Build 7 (
> http://www.majorgeeks.com/download414.html )
> - CleanUp! 4.0 (http://www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup )
> - Free Internet Eraser 2.05 ( http://www.privacyeraser.com )
> etc.
>
> But all these privacy erasers still miss many keys, for example, these
> text-editor search history registry keys:
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search1 value = textstring_1
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search2 value = textstring_2
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Search3 value = textstring_3
> ...
> HKCU\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHistory\Searchnnn value = textstring_nnn
>
> Judging from my multiple registry searches for known privacy data such as
> my bank passwords and company name and social security number, etc. (using
> the freeware RegScanner from http://www.nirsoft.net ), these freeware
> security tools above miss a lot of privacy data left in the WinXP
> registry!
>
> I can delete these registry keys manually daily, but I prefer to "teach" a
> privacy program to do this for me.
>
> So, my question to concerned community is:
> Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
> teach it which registry keys to clean daily?

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 09:39:22 -0500, David H. Lipman wrote:
>| Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
>| teach it which registry keys to clean daily?
>
> You don't because there is no need to.
> This is overmanagement and is "asking" for more
> problems then you are trying to prevent.

Hi David,

I understand your concern of deleting a registry key causing problems
further on down the road. If it were easy, it wouldn't be a question for
these expert user groups.

However, forsaking privacy for the sake of ease is like sort of like snail
mailing actual money to your pregnant unwed sister in an unsealed envelope
which anyone who cares to look can both see our private missives and who
can take your money if they see fit.

It's work to be secure and not without risk; that's why we ask the experts
here first!

Tony Susa

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 10:11:26 -0500, The Six Million Dollar Man wrote:
>> Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
>> teach it which registry keys to clean daily?
> Since you already have CCleaner, why not use that. Select "Options" from
> the menu on the left, then select "Custom" and enter the files you want
> to have cleaned regularly.

Hi Six Million Dollar Man,

Yes. Thank you. I do use Crap Cleaner to clean custom files too.

But, unless I misunderstand what ccleaner does, simply handing it the
system registry hives does no clean them of privacy information.

Maybe I misunderstood though, so I will let others let me know if I
misunderstood the suggestion.

Thanks for taking the time to help me and others,
Tony Susa

From: "Anthony Susa" <Susa.J.Anth...@neosporum.com>


|
| Hi David,
|
| I understand your concern of deleting a registry key causing problems
| further on down the road. If it were easy, it wouldn't be a question for
| these expert user groups.
|
| However, forsaking privacy for the sake of ease is like sort of like snail
| mailing actual money to your pregnant unwed sister in an unsealed envelope
| which anyone who cares to look can both see our private missives and who
| can take your money if they see fit.
|
| It's work to be secure and not without risk; that's why we ask the experts
| here first!
|
| Tony Susa

Then if the functions are redundant, I suggest learning how to use .REG files to remove
information from the Registry.

The you can run a BAT (CMD) file that can have in it...

regedit /s .\path\RegFix.reg

For exmple...

To remove

Heres a sample...
FixReg.reg file
-------------

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop]
"NoChangingWallPaper"=-


[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Group Policy Objects]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Policies\Explorer]
"NoActiveDesktopChanges"=-
"ForceActiveDesktopOn"=-


-------------
Note the line...
"NoChangingWallPaper"=-

This means the Explorer Policy "NoChangingWallPaper" will be deleted.

Note the line...
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Group Policy Objects]

This means the key "Group policy Objects" and all below it will be deleted.


If the changes are NOT redundant, I strongly suggest NOT mucking with the Registry.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 14:19:25 -0600, Steven L Umbach wrote:
> If you feel that you can not find a program that does what you want I
> suggest you look at the Windows XP SP2 Shared Computer Toolkit that has an
> option to create restricted users and to delete any changes in the current
> session to bring the computer back to the baseline state after a computer
> restart with the Windows Disk Protection tool.

Hi Steven,

Thank you for taking the time and effort to suggest an alternative approach
if all else fails. Depending on the use model, this appears to be a good
fail-safe strategy.

To be honest, I'm going to first try the suggested IE Privacy Keeper
freeware ( http://browsertools.net/IE-Privacy-Keeper/index.html ) which
Daze N. Knights kindly provided.

If that doesn't work, I'll then try the freeware NirCmd tool from the
http://www.nirsoft.net site ( http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/nircmd.html )
which djohnson@english.umass.edu suggested separately. Donna Johnson said
she uses nirCmd in a batch file to delete privacy bank passwords and usenet
search keys.

It's wonderful when alternative suggestions are given, not only for me, but
for the many tens of thousands who lurk in the background following in our
footsteps,

Tony Susa

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 09:11:35 -0800, Daze N. Knights wrote:
>> So, my question to concerned community is:
>> Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
>> teach it which registry keys to clean daily?
> What you need is IE Privacy Keeper (freeware).
> About it: http://browsertools.net/IE-Privacy-Keeper/index.html
> Download it: http://browsertools.net/downloads.html

Hmm. Am I misinterpreting the readme for privacy keeper?
This seems to only work for Internet Explorer.

What I (and everyone else) has are hundreds of privacy related keys in the
system registry that we need deleting.

These privacy related keys are NOT detected by the common security programs
(listed prior in this thread). I only know of them myself by searching for
known keywords that are personal to me alone using the
http://www.nirsoft.net freeware Windows Registry Scanner (
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/regscanner.html ).

After a few such scans, I was horrified at the huge privacy hole left by
the traditional freeware privacy programs listed so I asked for a registry
key deletion or nullification utility that could be taught our specific
keys.

I'm going to attempt to use the NirCmd batch registry key deletion tool to
see if I can teach it to learn which privacy keys to delete. If you know of
other methods to teach a program to delete personal and private security
data in the Windows registry, let us all know!

Tony Susa

Anthony Susa wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 09:11:35 -0800, Daze N. Knights wrote:
>
>>>So, my question to concerned community is:
>>>Q: Is there a freeware privacy program out there that will allow us to
>>>teach it which registry keys to clean daily?
>>
>>What you need is IE Privacy Keeper (freeware).
>>About it: http://browsertools.net/IE-Privacy-Keeper/index.html
>>Download it: http://browsertools.net/downloads.html
>
>
> Hmm. Am I misinterpreting the readme for privacy keeper?
> This seems to only work for Internet Explorer.

Yes. You are misinterpreting it. Again, you can read about what it does
at http://browsertools.net/IE-Privacy-Keeper/index.html

>
> What I (and everyone else) has are hundreds of privacy related keys in the
> system registry that we need deleting.

That's what IE Privacy Keeper can do that Ccleaner cannot: delete
specified registry keys and individual files. For me, it automatically
deletes four registry keys and about a dozen individual files every time
my computer shuts down. It is a wonderful little application if you take
time to poke through it and learn how to use it.

The registry keys that I have it automatically delete for me at shutdown
are:

HKCU Software\IZSoftware\IZArc\Recent\cbExtractPath
HKCU Software\TomaSoft\MasterSplitter\Recent Dir List
HKCU Software\Xnews\coXPat
HKCU Software\Xnews\coSearch



--
Daze

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 16:06:23 -0500, David H. Lipman wrote:
> I suggest learning how to use .REG files to remove
> information from the Registry.
> The you can run a BAT (CMD) file that can have in it...
> regedit /s .\path\RegFix.reg

Hi David,

This is excellent advice! I just tried it.
I could change the value of the key, but, I couldn't delete the key!

In your example, were you able to delete the key or just change the value
to the null set?

Given this batch command:
c:\> regedit /s c:\privacy\regfix.reg

And given this exported reg file "c:\privacy\regfix.reg" where the number
of "search##" keys is indeterminate:
----| begin |----
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
"Search30Len"=dword:0000000c
"Search30"="bank account"
"Search29Len"=dword:00000010
"Search29"="password f1ick1t"
"Search28Len"=dword:0000000d
"Search28"="wachovia bank"
----| end |----

How does one clear these indeterminate number of keys?

From: "Anthony Susa" <Susa.J.Anth...@neosporum.com>

| On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 16:06:23 -0500, David H. Lipman wrote:
>> I suggest learning how to use .REG files to remove
>> information from the Registry.
>> The you can run a BAT (CMD) file that can have in it...
>> regedit /s .\path\RegFix.reg
|
| Hi David,
|
| This is excellent advice! I just tried it.
| I could change the value of the key, but, I couldn't delete the key!
|
| In your example, were you able to delete the key or just change the value
| to the null set?
|
| Given this batch command:
| c:\> regedit /s c:\privacy\regfix.reg
|
| And given this exported reg file "c:\privacy\regfix.reg" where the number
| of "search##" keys is indeterminate:
| ----| begin |----
| REGEDIT4
|
| [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
| "Search30Len"=dword:0000000c
| "Search30"="bank account"
| "Search29Len"=dword:00000010
| "Search29"="password f1ick1t"
| "Search28Len"=dword:0000000d
| "Search28"="wachovia bank"
| ----| end |----
|
| How does one clear these indeterminate number of keys?

Assuming they are not protected by the OS or other software (that is the software while
loaded won't allow changes to stick)...

To delete....
------------------------------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
"Search30Len"=-
"Search30"=-
"Search29Len"=-
"Search29"=-
"Search28Len"=-
"Search28"=-


Alternate delete....
------------------------------
REGEDIT4

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]


To set a null or default
------------------------------
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
"Search30Len"=dword:00000000
"Search30"=""
"Search29Len"=dword:00000000
"Search29"=""
"Search28Len"=dword:00000000
"Search28"=""


--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

From: "Anthony Susa" <Susa.J.Anth...@neosporum.com>

| On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 16:06:23 -0500, David H. Lipman wrote:
>> I suggest learning how to use .REG files to remove
>> information from the Registry.
>> The you can run a BAT (CMD) file that can have in it...
>> regedit /s .\path\RegFix.reg
|
| Hi David,
|
| This is excellent advice! I just tried it.
| I could change the value of the key, but, I couldn't delete the key!
|
| In your example, were you able to delete the key or just change the value
| to the null set?
|
| Given this batch command:
| c:\> regedit /s c:\privacy\regfix.reg
|
| And given this exported reg file "c:\privacy\regfix.reg" where the number
| of "search##" keys is indeterminate:
| ----| begin |----
| REGEDIT4
|
| [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
| "Search30Len"=dword:0000000c
| "Search30"="bank account"
| "Search29Len"=dword:00000010
| "Search29"="password f1ick1t"
| "Search28Len"=dword:0000000d
| "Search28"="wachovia bank"
| ----| end |----
|
| How does one clear these indeterminate number of keys?

Maybe I read your reply wrong and thus affected my previous reply where you indicate...
"search##" keys is indeterminate

Do you mean ## represents a number from 00 ~ 99 ?

If so I created and tested a KiXtart Script (http://kixtart.org , KiXtart is CareWare)

This will step from 0 to 99 and if the Registry entry "Search##Len" is found, the DWORD is
set to "0" and "Search##" is found it is set to an empty string.

{ note: the following script may wrap to due to posting length restrictions }

For $NUM = 0 To 99 Step 1
$SearchLen="Search"+$NUM+"Len"
$Search="Search"+$NUM
if
(readtype("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ SearchHistory",$SearchLen)="REG_DWORD")=1

WriteValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy \SearchHistory",$SearchLen,"0",REG_DWORD)
endif
if (readtype("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ SearchHistory",$Search)="REG_SZ")=1
WriteValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy \SearchHistory",$Search,"",REG_SZ)
endif
Next


--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 20:19:02 -0500, David H. Lipman wrote:
> You indicate ... "search## keys are indeterminate"
> Do you mean ## represents a number from 00 ~ 99 ?

Hi David Lipman,

You are fantastic. Count me as one of your new supporters! I'm sure many
can re-use this post in the future because it contains working code!

Very few people would take the time to write a registry script for anyone,
let alone one that actually works on the very first try! I appreciate your
help.

Yes, the otherwise wonderful Lemmy (
http://www.softwareonline.org/lemmy45.html ) text editor (which is vastly
better than Notepad, I assure you) unfortunately creates MULTIPLE history
keys with an apparent numbering system starting with 1 and going as high as
45 in my system registry (who knows if it goes higher).

Replacing the key value with a dash (-) worked (after OK'g an admonition
from Microsoft AntiSpyware that a script required permanent approval):
REGEDIT4
<blank line>
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
"Search1Len"=-
"Search1"=-
"Search2Len"=-
"Search2"=-
"Search3Len"=-
"Search3"=-
<blank line>

But, as you noted, there is an ever changing number after the keyword
Search##Len & Search## (presumably from 1 to 99 but I only had numbers as
high as about 45).

As you suggested, prefixing the key with a dash (-) worked even better:
REGEDIT4
<blank line>
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ReplaceHist ory]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\FileHistory ]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ExHistory]
<blank line>

I wrote the code snippet above to lemmy.txt and then, from lemmy.txt, saved
as lemmy.reg and then doubleclicked on lemmy.reg and answered the two
Microsoft Windows XP dialog boxes:

Registry Editor:
Are you sure you want to add the information in
C:\privacy\lemmy.reg to the registry?
Yes | No

Registry Editor:
Information in C:\privacy\lemmy.reg has been successfully
entered into the registry.
OK

I didn't yet try the suggested KiXtart Script ( http://kixtart.org ) which
seems to have the foreach power to traverse down an indeterminate pathway;
but it too seems promising.

Thank you for helping us maintain our privacy. I added the following line
to my cleanup batch script which runs every day.
regedit /s c:\privacy\lemmy.reg

Interestingly, I expected problems from Microsoft AntiSpyware and from
those two dialog boxes; but both didn't interfere (I'm not sure why) when I
ran this in my daily cleanup batch script. That's good news as I wasn't
sure how to OK the two dialog boxes from the batch script. When I run the
cleanreg from the batch script, they seem to pop up and instantaneously go
away so quickly I can't tell what is popping up.

Thank you for taking the time to help others today, and all in the future
who use this usenet post for reference to clean up their privacy data off
their system.

Tony Susa

Anthony Susa wrote:

> It's wonderful when alternative suggestions are given, not only for me, but
> for the many tens of thousands who lurk in the background ...

Amen.
Don't know if there are many tens of thousands, but there's at least one
here who has found the different suggestions to be educational..!

--
Tony.P

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 19:22:31 GMT, Anthony Susa wrote:
> I added the following line
> to my cleanup batch script which runs every day.
> regedit /s c:\privacy\lemmy.reg

I spoke a bit too soon (but not too soon).

When I moved from my test area, to my real area, it failed.

My real area for running the cleanup.bat script is in my menu system.

The actual batch file is run from a start menu in the location:
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\security\cleanup.bat

So, to run this batch script, I press with my mouse:
Start > security > cleanup.bat

This batch file contained the new line:
regedit /s C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start
Menu\security\cleanup.reg

But, it failed so I had to add quotes:
regedit /s "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start
Menu\security\cleanup.reg"

I noticed while I was trying to edit the reg file, I kept executing the reg
file, even though I right clicked to "Open with Program > Lemmy". So, I
resorted to changing the batch script to a "txt" extension so I wouldn't
accidentally run it.

Thanks for all the advice; I hope others follow in our footsteps verbatim,
Tony Susa

From: "Anthony Susa" <Susa.J.Anth...@neosporum.com>

| On Sun, 11 Dec 2005 20:19:02 -0500, David H. Lipman wrote:
>> You indicate ... "search## keys are indeterminate"
>> Do you mean ## represents a number from 00 ~ 99 ?
|
| Hi David Lipman,
|
| You are fantastic. Count me as one of your new supporters! I'm sure many
| can re-use this post in the future because it contains working code!
|
| Very few people would take the time to write a registry script for anyone,
| let alone one that actually works on the very first try! I appreciate your
| help.
|
| Yes, the otherwise wonderful Lemmy (
| http://www.softwareonline.org/lemmy45.html ) text editor (which is vastly
| better than Notepad, I assure you) unfortunately creates MULTIPLE history
| keys with an apparent numbering system starting with 1 and going as high as
| 45 in my system registry (who knows if it goes higher).
|
| Replacing the key value with a dash (-) worked (after OK'g an admonition
| from Microsoft AntiSpyware that a script required permanent approval):
| REGEDIT4
| <blank line>
| [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
| "Search1Len"=-
| "Search1"=-
| "Search2Len"=-
| "Search2"=-
| "Search3Len"=-
| "Search3"=-
| <blank line>
|
| But, as you noted, there is an ever changing number after the keyword
| Search##Len & Search## (presumably from 1 to 99 but I only had numbers as
| high as about 45).
|
| As you suggested, prefixing the key with a dash (-) worked even better:
| REGEDIT4
| <blank line>
| [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
| [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ReplaceHist ory]
| [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\FileHistory ]
| [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ExHistory]
| <blank line>
|
| I wrote the code snippet above to lemmy.txt and then, from lemmy.txt, saved
| as lemmy.reg and then doubleclicked on lemmy.reg and answered the two
| Microsoft Windows XP dialog boxes:
|
| Registry Editor:
| Are you sure you want to add the information in
| C:\privacy\lemmy.reg to the registry?
Yes |> No
|
| Registry Editor:
| Information in C:\privacy\lemmy.reg has been successfully
| entered into the registry.
| OK
|
| I didn't yet try the suggested KiXtart Script ( http://kixtart.org ) which
| seems to have the foreach power to traverse down an indeterminate pathway;
| but it too seems promising.
|
| Thank you for helping us maintain our privacy. I added the following line
| to my cleanup batch script which runs every day.
| regedit /s c:\privacy\lemmy.reg
|
| Interestingly, I expected problems from Microsoft AntiSpyware and from
| those two dialog boxes; but both didn't interfere (I'm not sure why) when I
| ran this in my daily cleanup batch script. That's good news as I wasn't
| sure how to OK the two dialog boxes from the batch script. When I run the
| cleanreg from the batch script, they seem to pop up and instantaneously go
| away so quickly I can't tell what is popping up.
|
| Thank you for taking the time to help others today, and all in the future
| who use this usenet post for reference to clean up their privacy data off
| their system.
|
| Tony Susa

Your welcome Tony.

Note that I whipped up the KiX Script quickly and I had thought I made one mistake. That is
the numnber was in the ## format as 00 ~ 99 not 0 ~ 99.

I rewrote the script in this AM in case you wrote back in which the number 0 would pad a
prefix 0 as 00 and 1 as 01, 2 as 02 through 09.

Based upon your reply, I see it wasn't needed. However, since I modified the script, I
thought I'd post it anyway :-)

{ Note that the script will most likely wrap }

For $NUM = 0 To 99 Step 1
if len($NUM)=1
$NUM1="0"+$NUM
else
$NUM1=$NUM
endif
$SearchLen="Search"+$NUM1+"Len"
$Search="Search"+$NUM1
if
(readtype("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ SearchHistory",$SearchLen)="REG_DWORD")=1

WriteValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy \SearchHistory",$SearchLen,"0",REG_DWORD)
endif
if (readtype("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ SearchHistory",$Search)="REG_SZ")=1
WriteValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy \SearchHistory",$Search,"",REG_SZ)
endif
Next


Actually I found this to be a phun excercise. I like to use KiXtart to write anti malware
tools such as the Multi AV Scanning Tool which provides command line scanners for; McAfee,
Sophos Trend Micro and Kaspersky.

This excercise was good practice. Thank you... and Happy Holidays !!


--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
http://www.ik-cs.com/got-a-virus.htm

On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 15:04:07 -0500, David H. Lipman wrote:
> I rewrote the script where it would pad a
> prefix 0 as 00 and 1 as 01, 2 as 02 through 09.
>
> { Note that the script will most likely wrap }
>
> For $NUM = 0 To 99 Step 1
> if len($NUM)=1
> $NUM1="0"+$NUM
> else
> $NUM1=$NUM
> endif
> $SearchLen="Search"+$NUM1+"Len"
> $Search="Search"+$NUM1
> if
> (readtype("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ SearchHistory",$SearchLen)="REG_DWORD")=1
>
> WriteValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy \SearchHistory",$SearchLen,"0",REG_DWORD)
> endif
> if (readtype("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ SearchHistory",$Search)="REG_SZ")=1
> WriteValue("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy \SearchHistory",$Search,"",REG_SZ)
> endif
> Next
>

Thank you yet again David. It was nice to see not only that your scripts
worked first time (which will help others greatly) but that others who had
been lurking took the time to say they appreciated the multiple ways of
cleaning the registry of keys that the standard freeware privacy programs
miss.

I suspect the reason the standard freeware privacy programs miss Lemmy
history keys is that the Lemmy text editor (
http://www.softwareonline.org/lemmy45.html ) is not for the average person.

Lemmy is probably one of the most powerful ascii text editors on the planet
(along the lines of "vi", "vim", & "emacs") which most PC users would find
daunting. So, I guess the privacy folks who wrote the registry cleaners,
e.g., MRUBlaster ( www.javacoolsoftware.com/mrublaster.html ) stuck to the
mainstream PC users.

One warning I'm sure you are very aware of is that some programs are not
smart enough to recover from a deleted key. Lemmy seems to have no problem
re-creating the deleted keys; but I would warn the many lurkers that this
approach won't work directly for any program which requires the key to
exist.

Good luck - be safe - guard your privacy - and happy holidays to all!
Tony Susa

Further improving and to help others ...

Given the batch command suggested in this usenet thread:
c:\> regedit /s "c:\directory path\lemmy.reg"

Where lemmy.reg is of the delete-registry-key format:
REGEDIT4
<blank line>
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\SearchHisto ry]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ReplaceHist ory]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\FileHistory ]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Lemmy\Lemmy\ExHistory]

Assuming future users may need multiple registry cleanups, e.g.:
c:\directory path\notepad.reg
c:\directory path\media player.reg
c:\directory path\irfanview.reg
etc.

This single batch command should run any number of regisry cleanups:
for /f "tokens=*" %%i in (registry_files.txt) do regedit /s "%%i"

Where registry_files.txt contains the list of registry cleanup files:
"c:\directory path\lemmy.reg"
"c:\directory path\notepad.reg"
"c:\directory path\media player.reg"
"c:\directory path\irfanview.reg"

Tony Susa