Cleaning out Java cache--helpful?

A new comp I was setting up for someone got a trojan (omfg was the file name) in the java cache. I have seen a program (ATFcleaner) that cleans this out as part of its normal "disk cleanup."

My questions:
1. Is this something that I should have a program such as CCleaner clean out?

2. Is this cache something that gets updated/cleaned out automatically?

3. Would cleaning it out lessen the risk of catching a virus, or is this simply a matter of closing the door after the horse has escaped, and that this trojan would have gotten its way onto my comp regardless of my clearing out the cache?

 

If java is not updated, then these infections, specifically, Vundo, use the exploit to infect.

First thing is to update Java, then remove infection.

CCleaner does not help remove or prevent this kind of infection, it's not equipped to do so. There are only a couple of tools available for complete removal.

 

Thanks for replying. OK lemme make sure I understand you-- as long as Java is updated to the latest version, these things won't affect it? That seems simple enough. Or are you simply saying that older versions of Java are more likely to be affected, just like older versions of Firefox are more likely to get exploited?

CCleaner doesn't hit this file by default, but it does let you have it empty non-system files if you customize it/select specific files. Off the top of my head I don't believe that Java is in the Windows folder, so I would think that it can be customized to do this.

 

Updated Java keeps you protected against this one specific infection, that's it. It does nothing for the other 99,999 infections out in the wild.

 

Gotcha. Thanks.