PC optimizers or clean-up apps should make your PC run faster, more efficiently, and with fewer problems. Just like the name implies, they are a good way to clean Windows. They typically achieve this by running several cleanup and tune-up tasks. In theory, these tasks would otherwise require a deep understanding of the operating system and how it functions. However, I stay clear of some of these optimization apps because they can make my PC worse.
Instead of simply removing temporary files, junk files, or duplicate files, they may cause the computer to lag. In some cases, some of them have had a shady past, and continuing to use them only feels counterproductive.
CCleaner
The Avast-owned PC optimizer
CCleaner is owned by Avast, and right away, you may believe that it is a good thing. If a popular antivirus has a PC optimizer, then it has to be great. Well, not to dash your hopes, but the very fact that Avast owns it is why it made my list of optimizers to avoid.
Avast is on my list of antivirus apps that are actually worse than malware, mainly because it has been known in the past to harvest and sell user browsing data, as reported by the Federal Trade Commission. This already makes me distrust any associated companies or programs; hence why I avoid CCleaner and believe it may be worse for your PC.
However, even if I choose to view CCleaner as a separate entity, it will still be hard to move past the 2017 supply chain attack that was well-documented by WIRED. The software was used to distribute malware and went undetected for a month, affecting over two million people. Clean-up software is built to have deep access into your operating system, making it very lethal if compromised.
Add to this the constant nags I received pushing me to get the paid version. It was clear this was a tool I should stay clear of. In the end, it felt more like bloatware because the pop-ups served no purpose and were very distracting. It made my overall productivity worse.
Advanced SystemCare (IObit)
The do-it-all PC optimizer solution
Advanced SystemCare (IObit) markets itself as an all-in-one optimizer. It includes a registry cleaner, a RAM booster, and driver update functions. On the surface, this suite of features might seem essential, but the reality is that its supposed benefits are often a drawback. For instance, registry cleaners do not actually make Windows faster, making that a largely useless feature for an optimizer.
However, one of the major problems with this software is that it creates a performance paradox. It’s marketed under the guise that it will free up resources, but users on tech forums claim that aggressive background services, such as the Performance Monitor, end up consuming a significant amount of CPU and RAM. This turns the software into a resource drain that will slow down your computer.
While less detrimental to its performance impact, the tool also employs aggressive upsell tactics that feel intrusive. It even pushes you to install IObit Surfing Protection & Ads Removal extensions, which add to the system bloat, creating unwanted clutter on the computer.
Clean Master for PC
A history of controversial and unethical practices
Clean Master for PC is a product of Cheetah Mobile. Beebom reported that the Cheetah Mobile Android apps were removed from the Play Store for misleading advertising tactics. For years, they used misleading advertising strategies to coerce people into downloading the software. These included fake virus warnings in pop-ups. When you clicked the pop-ups, they led to the download page for the app.
However, the controversies surrounding the Clean Master for PC app do not end there. As reported by the SEC, Cheetah Mobile’s CEO and its former president were charged with insider trading. If I can’t trust the people behind a tool, I can’t trust the tool enough to install it on my computer. This is especially the case with Clean Master for PC, a closed-source tool, with no way of verifying the code and how safe it is, particularly regarding privacy practices.
Windows already has built-in optimization features
It is a good habit to regularly clean your computer. Installer leftovers, Recycle Bin files, Windows update junk, temp files, and a lot of other files will accumulate over time, but the question is, do you really need a third-party PC cleaner? Well, Windows 11 makes most of the cleanup apps you know redundant. Storage Sense is the most significant of these features in Windows 11. It’s an automated feature that allows you to set and forget to clean junk files.
You can also use the Microsoft PC Health Check app (not preinstalled) to get an overview of storage, battery performance, and startup time. It gives you an overview of storage capacity, battery performance, and startup time. It also has links to relevant settings for managing specific functions. And you may use the Task Manager as well to monitor and control apps and processes. You can use it to shut down resource-intensive apps. These tools will generally render most clean-up tools redundant. But the real question here is, what would you prefer to use?
