Outdated PC Apps: Time for a Clean Sweep

In the digital age, it’s essential to keep your PC not only up-to-date but also secure. Unfortunately, some of the most commonly used PC apps may be putting your system at risk. Here’s a look at three such apps that might be doing more harm than good.

• CCleaner: A Cleaning Tool Past Its Prime CCleaner, once a staple for PC users, claims impressive numbers with 5 million weekly installs and 35 million gigabytes cleaned monthly. Yet, the risks now overshadow its utility. It’s notorious for removing registry files and junk files—tasks that Windows’ Storage Sense already performs. Worse, CCleaner has suffered three significant data breaches in five years, with the latest in October 2023. Microsoft and security experts have long advised against registry cleaners, which often cause more issues than they resolve.
• Avast/AVG: Antivirus or Spyware? Avast and AVG, once trusted names in antivirus solutions, have seen their reputations tarnished. The Federal Trade Commission fined Avast $16.5 million for selling user data under the guise of providing security. The controversy began in 2019 when Google removed their browser extensions for invasive tracking practices. Further investigations revealed that their antivirus programs were also harvesting user data.
• WinRAR: Redundant in the Windows 11 Era The case against WinRAR is straightforward: it’s simply unnecessary. With Windows 11 supporting .zip, .rar, and .7z file types natively, there’s no need for this third-party app anymore.

Conclusion It’s time to reassess the apps we’ve grown accustomed to. Prioritizing your PC’s performance and security means letting go of outdated or risky software. Stay informed and choose wisely to protect your digital life.