How to Use GiliSoft Privacy Protector
Clear selected history, hide or lock local files, set automatic cleanup, or shred files you no longer need. Choose a task below for its controls and steps, with screenshots from GiliSoft Privacy Protector for Windows.
Clear Selected Windows History
Choose Windows History when you want to remove local activity records. Browser traces and application records have their own Internet History and Application History tutorials below; they are not required steps in every cleanup.
Open Windows History
Save your work and close the affected applications. In GiliSoft Privacy Protector, open Erase History > Windows History to see the available cleanup categories.
Choose the records to remove
Use None to clear the initial selection, then select the recent-document, Start Menu Run, Find, Open/Save, clipboard, or other listed records you want to clear. Review Recycle Bin and temporary-file options separately because they delete content, not just history entries.
- Recent-file and activity lists
- Clears selected records of activity. Removing a recent-document entry is different from deleting its document.
- Clipboard
- Save copied text or other clipboard content you still need before selecting this category.
- Recycle Bin
- Targets deleted files still held in the Recycle Bin. Check its contents before choosing this deletion option.
- Temporary files
- Review this as a separate file-deletion category and close the affected programs first.
Erase the selected categories
Review the final selection and select Erase. Let cleanup finish before reopening the affected programs. You do not need to select every category to clear a recent-file list.
Check the cleaned records and retained files
Open the Windows history surface you selected and confirm the intended records were removed. Check that documents you wanted to keep are still available. Use the result of this manual run to decide which categories, if any, to automate.
For browser or account history that returns through synchronization, review the relevant profile and account separately. Local cleanup is not an instruction to delete the original working files.
Clear Browser and Application Records
Clear Browser History, Cache, or Cookies
- Close the browser and select its entry
Save any work in the browser and close it. Open Erase History > Internet History, then locate the intended browser in the installed app. The screenshot lists Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome; use the entries actually available.
- Choose the trace categories
Review history, Internet cache, cookies, typed addresses, saved forms, and download records where listed. Keep any session or form information you need; deleting cookies can sign you out.
- Erase and check the intended browser profile
Select Erase, let cleanup finish, and reopen the intended profile. Inspect its local history and session behavior. If records return through synchronization, review the account settings separately.
Clear Application Activity Records
- Open the supported application list
Save your work, close the affected programs, and choose Erase History > Application History.
- Review the records for each program
Check Name, Version, and Description. Select only the listed records you intend to remove, such as an application recent-file list; keep work records you still need.
- Erase and verify in the application
Select Erase and wait for completion. Reopen the relevant program and inspect the exact recent-file or activity surface you cleaned. Coverage follows the entries recognized by the installed version.
Configure startup or shutdown cleanup
Open Settings > Schedule. Configure the history selections separately from the file/folder erase list, then choose the automatic event.
- Choose the history categories
Select Secure erase windows history, Secure erase application history, or Secure erase internet history for the reviewed cleanup routine.
- Review explicit file and folder paths
Use Add only for content you intend to erase automatically. Remove paths that should not be deleted. These entries target actual files, not only recent-history records.
- Choose the automatic trigger
The shown Auto erasing on options are Startup of computer and During shutdown of computer. This screen does not provide an arbitrary daily clock-time selector.
- Review the scheme and verify a run
Review Wiping Scheme and any schedule-status visibility setting. Use Import Schedule or Export Schedule when transferring a routine, and recheck its paths on the destination PC before relying on it.
Test with disposable sample data and verify the first actual startup or shutdown cleanup. Do not treat the scheme name or number of overwrite passes as proof that every storage device is fully sanitized.
Hide, Lock, or Protect Local Files
Use the Local Disk task that matches the result you want: hide an item from ordinary browsing, block opening it, or keep it readable while restricting changes. Each list also provides the corresponding way to restore access.
Hide or Unhide Files, Folders, and Drives
- Choose the item in Hiding File
Open Local Disk > Hiding File. Select Hide File(s), Hide Folder, or Hide Drive for the intended target.
- Review the hidden state
Check the managed list and Status, then inspect normal browsing to confirm the intended item is hidden. Start with a noncritical sample rather than an entire working drive.
- Use Unhide to restore visibility
Select the managed item in Hiding File and choose Unhide. Use Refresh when needed, then verify that the item is visible and opens normally.
Lock or Unlock Local Files
- Add the target in Locking File
Open Local Disk > Locking File. Use Lock File(s), Lock Folder, or Lock Drive and select the intended local target.
- Check the locked state and access
Review the selected path and status. Close the management window as appropriate and test opening the sample through the normal Windows workflow.
- Use Unlock when access is needed again
Return to Locking File, select the managed item, and choose Unlock. Refresh the list and confirm that normal access has returned.
Prevent Changes or Deletion
- Choose the target in Protecting File
Open Local Disk > Protecting File. Select Protect File(s), Protect Folder, or Protect Drive for the intended target.
- Verify readable but protected access
Review the status and test a noncritical sample. Confirm the content remains readable while the changes or deletion you intended to restrict are blocked.
- Use Unprotect before changing the content
Select the managed item and choose Unprotect when editing or deletion should be allowed. Check the status and normal access again.
These are local access controls on the protected PC, not a portable password-protected attachment. Unhide, Unlock, and Unprotect do not recover content that has already been shredded.
Open Private Content in My Disks
- Choose the private-content category
Open Private Disk > My Disks. The Mount Disk view groups My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, and My Videos.
- Open the configured location
Select Open for the required category. Where Browse is available, review the configured location before changing it.
- Review access and finish the session
Use Advanced Setting when you need the options offered for the private area. Close private documents and Explorer windows when finished, and review the access state in the app; closing one document is not proof the whole area is locked.
The pictured screen opens configured private content. It does not show a new-disk creation wizard or disk-size settings.
Manage Password, Email, and Security Settings
Open General > Settings for the management controls. Keep a working management password and a known way to reopen the app before relying on hidden or locked files.
Change the Management Password
- Open Change Password
In Settings > Change Password, locate the management-password section. The illustrated trial restricts password changes until registration; use the controls available in the installed version.
- Enter and confirm the new password
Enter the same intended value in New Password and Confirm Password, then select Change in the password section when available. Do not use the trial sample password as a private credential.
- Keep the password and verify management access
Store the new password securely and confirm that you can reopen the app and manage a sample protected item. For access problems, use the installed help/recovery route or contact GiliSoft support.
Set the Notification Email
- Locate the separate Change Email section
Open Settings > Change Password and use the Change Email area below the password fields. The settings screenshot shows both sections.
- Enter and confirm an accessible address
Fill in New email and Confirm email, then select Change in the email section. Review Notify to email as needed for the notification setup.
- Review the notification settings
Check the configured address and, when using wrong-password alerts, review the separate Self Protect settings. Email configuration does not restore deleted or shredded files.
Review the Disk, File, and Folder Exclude Lists
- Open Exclude List and review the scope
Choose Settings > Exclude List. Inspect Disk Exclude List, File Exclude List, and Folder Exclude List separately.
- Update only the intended exclusions
Use Add or Remove in the file or folder list for the intended paths. Review the separate Default controls before restoring defaults; the pictured disk section has its own Default control.
- Recheck cleanup and deletion targets
Verify the exclusions and still review the targets in manual cleanup, Schedule, and File Shredder. An exclusion list is not a backup or an undo operation.
Configure Wrong-Password Responses
- Open the Security area of Self Protect
Choose Settings > Self Protect. Review the Security area separately from Invisible (Stealth) Mode.
- Choose the intended response
Review the email-alarm and temporary-login-ban options. The screenshot states more than five wrong passwords and a ten-minute temporary ban; check the wording in the installed version rather than assuming configurable thresholds.
- Keep a reliable way to manage access
For email alerts, review the notification address. Keep the management password and help/recovery information available before relying on lockout behavior.
Configure Stealth and Shortcut Options
- Keep a working way to reopen the app
Confirm your management password and a known launch method before hiding program entry points. Use the Self Protect screenshot to locate the separate Invisible (Stealth) Mode area.
- Select only the entry points to hide
In Settings > Self Protect, review Hide itself from the desktop, Hide itself from start menu, Hide itself from quick link, and Disable shell menu.
- Verify reopening and reverse unwanted changes
Check that the chosen entry points behave as intended and that your retained method still opens Privacy Protector. Return to Self Protect and clear an option when you want that entry point available again.
Shred selected files and folders
Choose Local Disk > File Shredder only for content you no longer need. This is a deletion workflow, not a way to hide or temporarily lock a working document.
- Add the selected content
Use Add Files or Add Folders. Keep the target list limited to the intended disposable items.
- Review every target
Check the file/folder paths and keep required backups. Use Remove or Clear to correct the list before starting.
- Use Safe Delete for the selected operation
Review any Advanced Setting offered by the installed app, confirm the intended action, and wait for completion.
Ordinary overwriting is not a blanket sanitization guarantee for SSDs or flash drives, and deleting one copy does not remove backups or synced versions. For drive disposal, use a storage-appropriate sanitization workflow rather than relying only on an individual-file cleanup result.
Check the result before wider use
- History cleanup
- Verify the selected local records and separately confirm that retained documents remain available.
- File protection
- Review status and test Unhide, Unlock, or Unprotect on a sample so you know how to restore the intended local access.
- Automatic cleanup
- Check each scheduled path and the chosen event. Verify the first run before leaving the routine unattended.
- Secure deletion
- Keep required backups and confirm the intended target before using Safe Delete or any drive-wiping action.
Troubleshoot cleanup and file-access problems
| Problem | What to check next |
|---|---|
| Browser history remains or returns | Close the browser, check the intended profile and supported categories, then review synced account history separately. |
| Files remain hidden or locked | Use the corresponding Hiding File or Locking File list. Select the intended item and use Unhide or Unlock, then review its status. |
| A file is readable but cannot be changed | Check whether Protecting File is active. Use Unprotect when editing or deletion should be allowed again. |
| Password changes are unavailable | Review the trial notice and registration state. The illustrated trial limits password changes; use the supported controls in the installed version. |
| The cleanup routine did not run | Review startup/shutdown trigger selection, history categories, scheduled file paths, and the first event test. Do not expect a clock-time trigger that is not configured. |
| A path is unexpectedly affected | Stop before further erasure, review target selections and Exclude List, and check whether the path was added to Schedule. Exclusions do not undo completed deletion. |
| A required file was shredded | Use an independent backup if one exists. Do not treat Unhide, password email settings, or the history list as a way to restore shredded data. |
For management-password or access problems, use the help/recovery route offered by the installed version or contact GiliSoft support. Keep the configured email and product information available without exposing the password publicly.
Privacy Protector FAQ
Does clearing recent-file history delete my documents?
Clearing the recent-file list removes records of opened documents, not the documents themselves. Recycle Bin, temporary-file cleanup, the Schedule file list, and File Shredder are separate deletion choices. Review those targets independently before using Erase or Safe Delete.
Why does browser history still appear after cleanup?
Close the browser before cleaning and confirm that the intended browser and categories are listed and selected. Open programs can keep records in use or recreate them. Check the correct browser profile, and review synced or account-level history separately if records return.
How do I make hidden, locked, or protected files available again?
Open the corresponding Local Disk section and select the managed item. Use Unhide in Hiding File, Unlock in Locking File, or Unprotect in Protecting File. Check the item's status and normal access afterward. These controls change local protection; they do not restore files that were deleted or shredded.
Can I schedule cleanup for an arbitrary time every day?
The supplied Schedule screenshot shows Startup of computer and During shutdown of computer as its automatic triggers. It does not show a daily clock-time selector. Choose the event you need, review selected history categories and any file paths, and verify the first automatic run.
What should I do if I forget the main password?
Use the recovery or help options available in the installed version, or contact GiliSoft support with your configured email information. Keep the password and recovery details securely before relying on hidden or locked files. The email settings are not a way to recover shredded files, and this guide does not promise a universal password reset.
How do I open my private documents, pictures, music, or videos?
Open Private Disk > My Disks and choose Open for My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, or My Videos. Review the configured location with Browse where available and use Advanced Setting for the options offered by the installed version. The illustrated Mount Disk view opens configured private content; it does not show a new-disk creation wizard.
Does cleanup erase records from online accounts or make browsing anonymous?
No. This workflow removes selected records on the Windows PC. Websites, cloud accounts, other devices, and network services may keep separate records. Account history and synchronization require their own settings.
Are history cleanup, file shredding, and free-space wiping the same?
No. History cleanup removes selected local records. File shredding targets selected files and folders, while free-space wiping targets remnants of already-deleted data; drive wiping is a separate operation. Verify the exact target and keep required backups. Ordinary overwriting is not a blanket sanitization guarantee for SSDs or flash drives, and it does not remove other copies or backups.
Is Privacy Protector free, and why are password controls limited in the screenshot?
A Windows trial download is available. The illustrated trial screen restricts password changes until registration; check the installed trial for current limits. The Buy Now buttons in this guide show the lifetime license for 1 PC at $39.95 and link to the official purchase page. Set your own management password when that control is available.
