Skip to main content

Privacy cleanup

Apply Now
Works with any Linux distroWorks with any Linux distribution that can run bash scripts.
  • Multiple actionsThis page belongs to a category, containing some changes with similar goal.
  • Linux onlyThis script improves your privacy on Linux
  • Impact: MinimumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Low
    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Bash (Shell script)These changes use Linux system commands to update your settings.
  • 64 scripts
  • 19 categories
  • IrreversibleYou can restore parts of this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

Overview​

These scripts allow you to increase privacy by deleting collected data about you and your behavior.

Safe for General Use
This script has Normal protection level option. This is recommended for all users to improve without any noticeable impact on the system functionality.

Apply Now​

Choose one of two ways to apply:

Download script​

Download and run the script directly
  • No app needed
  • Offline usage
  • Free
  • Open-source

Normal — Functional Privacy​

  • Recommended for all
  • Safe for daily use
  • No impact on system stability

Read more about Normal and other protection levels

Help

How to apply "Privacy cleanup" using script​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 6 instructions
  1. 1

    Choose protection

    Choose one of the options with different impact levels:

    • Normal​

      Some safe scripts minimal system impact.

    • High​

      Some advanced scripts with high system impact.

    • Maximum​

      Some not recommended scripts with very high system impact.

    Learn more about protection levels

  2. 2

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
  3. 3

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  4. 4

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  5. 5

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  6. 6

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

Apply with privacy.sexy​

Guided, automated application with safety checks
  • Recommended for most users
  • Includes safety checks
  • Shows the code
  • Free
  • Open-source
  • Popular
  • Offline/Online usage
Open privacy.sexy
Help

How to apply "Privacy cleanup" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the category name: Privacy cleanup
    2. Check the category by clicking on the checkbox of the category.

    Applying Normal to limit the impact.

  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Explore This Guide​

  • 64 Privacy settings
  • 7 Main categories
    • These settings are organized into 7 main categories for easy navigation.
    • Main categories may contain subcategories, further organizing related functionality.
  • 19 Total categories

Choose what to protect based on your needs:This script already includes these options.
You can review, apply or reverse each option individually.
Click any option to learn more about what it does.

  • Some settings and commands may require technical knowledge to apply correctly.
  • Most users find the Normal protection above sufficient.

  • Clear terminal history​

    Reading terminal history is one of the attack techniques. The existence of bash history files is defined as an unsecured credential attack tech...

  • Clear third-party application data​

    Scripts in this category clear data for third-party applications installed on the operating system. Third-party applications are not typically ...

  • Clear browser history​

    A web browser (commonly just called a browser) is software that is used to visit websites. The browsing history, cache entries, and other poten...

  • Clear system and kernel usage data​

    Your system (operating system along with other software on it) and kernel store data that may reveal your behavior and can be considered sensit...

  • Clear recently used files list​

    Revealing data about recent files used by a user has privacy risks, such as exposing your actions and files that you wish to keep private.

  • Clear package manager data​

    Package managers store caches, statistics, and logs that may reveal data on how you use the package managers and software downloaded from them...

  • Clear shared caches​

    The scripts in this category bulk delete all cache entries for the given scope. These scripts are designed to affect more than a single applica...

  • Empty trash​

    The trash location is standardized by [The FreeDesktop.org Trash specification](https://web.archive.org/web/20221029151648/https://specificatio...

  • Clear global temporary folders​

    A temporary folder or temporary directory is a directory used to hold temporary files. In Unix and Linux, the global temporary directories are ...

  • Clear screenshots​

    GNOME's default screenshot folder (as seen in Pop!_OS and Elementary OS) is ~/Pictures/Screenshots/. Flameshot also uses the same default fol...

Similar Guides​

Same Goal​

Other guides in Linux See settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
Disable OS data collection
Configure programs

About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
    • Audited and verified using automated security tests

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
    • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process