# Is there a free equivalent to Windows Washer available?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-equivalent-to-windows-washer-available/250173>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 13, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-equivalent-to-windows-washer-available/250173 "2004-06-13T21:09:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-equivalent-to-windows-washer-available/250173/21 "2004-06-15T12:22:39Z")

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> [@MC$E](#):
>
> Firefox is free, and is easy to install. It also features a built-in pop-up blocker which can be handy for questionable sites. There are extensions available to allow you to do all sorts of amazing things. One of my favorites is ad-block which can eliminate logos, banners, and other images from sites, every time you visit them.

At home we were bombarded by malware and I switched to Firefox when I heard that it avoids a lot of crap by virtue of not being MS—i.e. really common and therefore a popular target. I haven’t had much problem since then (though I did install a bunch of adware & spyware fighting stuff at the same time). I also installed it on a directory that I have hidden just so that it isn’t easy to find for the casual observer.

Personally, I find the tabbed browsing to be absolutely brilliant. I now use Firefox at work for work and slacking. E.g., I’ve been looking up census data for the master plan update and using tabs made it much, much easier.

Even so, I still use the IE Privacy Keeper because it cleans IE while it’s at it, and recently used programs, documents, temp file, recycle bin, etc. so that junk doesn’t end up building up. Also, I discovered that if you download a clip of judo throws, it can end up sitting in the temp file, so I’d assume a clip of, say, Jennifer Garner is lingerie might do the same, so doing the IE Privacy Keeper, or something similar, might help avoid embarassment.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2004, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-free-equivalent-to-windows-washer-available/250173/22 "2004-06-15T12:25:33Z")

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Changing programs is an absolute no go.

I share a computer with others, & they are change-phobic.

_Adding_…yeah, I could swing that.

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