Microsoft goes to war with some Windows 'tune-up' apps

[Batu69]

Windows Defender will now delete misleading disk cleanup programs

On Windows, there’s an ever-growing number of utilities designed for cleaning up your directories and thereby maximizing hard drive space. Some even intend on optimizing memory and processing speeds along the way.

 

While Microsoft doesn’t typically acknowledge these types of cleanup software, it is starting to call out some of the more deceptive tools disguised as cleaner/system-tuner resources. While being advertised as enhancements to your PC’s performance, the reality is that some of these programs are more likely to eat away at your computer speeds. Alternatively, some of these apps even charge money after revealing an extensive list of hindrances on your PC’s efficiency.

 

Now Microsoft is saying that any programs guilty of these crimes will be marked as “unwanted software,” meaning that — assuming you’re on Windows 10 — the company’s built-in Windows Defender will automatically remove them from your downloads. This is according to a post published on the Malware Protection Center blog, on which Microsoft clarifies that the aforementioned subset of these programs leaves its customers with “arbitrary and fear-based” purchasing decisions.

 

More specifically, it’s widely known that some of these programs detect a Windows system file variant, prefetch (.pf) files, as malware. In reality, though, these files are conceived by the operating system itself to reduce the load times of certain apps. Rather than improving on performance as advertised, these programs can actually be quite detrimental to your computer’s health.

 

The way this works for Windows Defender is remarkably straightforward. By developing an objective criteria for how malware programs “back up their claims, so that you have the ability to assess what the program found and deems to be errors,” users can determined if they would “like to take the program’s recommended actions.”

 

Essentially, this means that if the programs meddle with your system files, absent a necessary explanation for doing so, Defender will strike back with an equally terminal blow.

 

Article source

[luisam]

I have been using Windows since version 3,1 and actually, I haven't seen yet the FIRST application that really speeds up Windows, once it gets slow. "Cleaning" registry has just some esthetic effects, like changing your dirty socks for a clean one; it won't make you run faster. Some of these apps might even crash your system or make inoperative some application. Some apps promise you increase your internet connection rate; I haven't ever got even a differential increase and that's quite obvious: the only way to get a better speed is subscribing to a better plan with your ISP.

There are some free apps, quite efficient removing useless temporal files and clearing caches but you don't need any sophisticated "tuner" to do that.

Probably the only application that might have some benefic effect is the defragger and we already have one as a system tool. And again, some defraggers pretend to "reorder" the filing system to a "more logical structure", or so they say. Last time I tried one of those on my 2Tb HD, decided to cancel it after 2 hours when it reached an incredible 5%! Probably might have taken it about 2 days to finish the procedure.

On the other hand, be sure that Microsoft will face countless legal demands worldwide from the producers of these tuners and cleaners. Just remember the case of Enigma Software's SpyHunter.

[VileTouch]

they're right, all these are snake oil. the ONLY one that really really makes your computer faster is downloadmoreram.com .and it's free!

[edwardecl]

Hmm, I can see this helpfulness being abused by Microsoft unless there is a opt out or it asks you before taking action.

Knowing Microsoft it will be forced on with no requester and will delete things like Windows privacy tools because it modifies system files to stop it phoning home. Microsoft never do things for peoples best interests.

A better solution would be to lock system files from change, and bring up a UAC type requester each time a program wishes to write to a system file, and include what the program is writing and perhaps offer to backup the file. That would actually be helpful and cover every program rather than just a select few which you know those program makers will just recompile or change the installer to get around anyway.

[luisam]

43 minutes ago, VileTouch said:

they're right, all these are snake oil. the ONLY one that really really makes your computer faster is downloadmoreram.com .and it's free!

"This isn't a scam, there isn't a virus, it's just a joke website. Made in jest, keep smiling"

[straycat19]

Windows Defender is disabled on all my systems.  As far as cleaners go, there have been many of them tested by computers gurus, like Fred Langa, and reports published.  Most of them are junk and some have even been successfully sued and had to reimburse the users (TuneUp Utilities).  But on the other hand there are some that do an adequate job of cleaning out the junk, primarily from temporary file and cache locations.  Occasionally I run JV16 PowerTools and let it scan my registry and sometimes it finds useless leftovers (not counting all the MRUs that are constantly replaced and updated and which deleting is useless) and I clean it out.  Doesn't mean the computer is going to run faster.  Autoruns is also good at bringing to light items in the registry that point to non-existent programs that indicate they are part of the startup.  Everyone should know there is no program in the world that will clean windows as thoroughly as doing a format and clean install and starting over.  That is why I recommend the use of VMs.  I keep a backup of the original installation and anytime I want to start over I just replace the VM.  I actually have minimal software installed on my host machine, just a firewall, VPN, and TOR.

[CODYQX4]

Now how about banning Yahoo and Ask Toolbar?

[mirassol]

If i got it correctly Microsoft Defender will delete Windows 10 soon as it detects it. Very wise indeed.

[steven36]

Stuff like registry cleaners  they can do more harm than good .Ive not used them very much since i  stop using XP and i  have not used any in past few years. But it should be a users choice if they want mess up there PC .

 

We dont need a mommy or daddy making our choices for us , Most of us are grownups, some of us even have kids that's grown. Its a known fact though Microsoft hates stuff like CC cleaner witch  free up hhd space  and have benefits because it also removes there spying data and they also  hate W10FWC  witch can block there spying because i read this over at Microsoft ..People who work for them hate these.

 

Also they hate 3rd party apps that can replace there modern apps in the sandboxed part of windows 10.

 

its a communist 10 o/s  they should change the name of it.  In the end if it blocks peoples programs people will just install another Antivirus and Microsoft lose Antivirus market share .

 

 

[luisam]

Windows Defender is classified rather poor among all anti-virus available. So why people use it? Because it's free, it's "Microsoft" and already preinstalled when they start up Windows 10. Average Windows 10 user doesn't know much about computers, virus, malware etc so they are happy with WD... until someone explains them why they are getting all those adware, spyware and similar stuff. So, MS should be more concerned about makig a good antivirus. Recognize and remove all those rogue software is a good step.toward improving WD.

So lets hope they won't pretend to use WD to block legitimate 3rd. party apps

 

[Kalju]

9 hours ago, VileTouch said:

they're right, all these are snake oil. the ONLY one that really really makes your computer faster is downloadmoreram.com .and it's free!

http://www.downloadmoreram.com/ - it should be in "Giveaways" and with added notice "100% Discount."
Giveaway is valid 2 days 48 hours 62 minutes.....

It is really good!

[straycat19]

4 hours ago, Kalju said:

http://www.downloadmoreram.com/ - it should be in "Giveaways" and with added notice "100% Discount."
Giveaway is valid 2 days 48 hours 62 minutes.....

It is really good!

 

It is worthless, it only gives 32 GB and I already have 64 GB in all my desktops.  Might help my laptops because they only have 16 GB.  I have also heard that if you plug a 120 volt power supply into a 220 volt socket that your computer will run twice as fast, so am thinking if I put a dryer plug on it and plug it into the 330 volt dryer tap then I should be able to get at least 12-15 MHz from my processor.

[VileTouch]

2 hours ago, straycat19 said:

 

It is worthless, it only gives 32 GB and I already have 64 GB in all my desktops.  Might help my laptops because they only have 16 GB.  I have also heard that if you plug a 120 volt power supply into a 220 volt socket that your computer will run twice as fast, so am thinking if I put a dryer plug on it and plug it into the 330 volt dryer tap then I should be able to get at least 12-15 MHz from my processor.

omg, that one's a bit risky. i totally forgot about voltage differences when moving to a different country and fried a switch when i connected my home theater (landlord was not amused...oops!)

[visualbuffs]

15 hours ago, Batu69 said:

Windows Defender will now delete misleading disk cleanup programs

On Windows, there’s an ever-growing number of utilities designed for cleaning up your directories and thereby maximizing hard drive space. Some even intend on optimizing memory and processing speeds along the way.

 

While Microsoft doesn’t typically acknowledge these types of cleanup software, it is starting to call out some of the more deceptive tools disguised as cleaner/system-tuner resources. While being advertised as enhancements to your PC’s performance, the reality is that some of these programs are more likely to eat away at your computer speeds. Alternatively, some of these apps even charge money after revealing an extensive list of hindrances on your PC’s efficiency.

 

Now Microsoft is saying that any programs guilty of these crimes will be marked as “unwanted software,” meaning that — assuming you’re on Windows 10 — the company’s built-in Windows Defender will automatically remove them from your downloads. This is according to a post published on the Malware Protection Center blog, on which Microsoft clarifies that the aforementioned subset of these programs leaves its customers with “arbitrary and fear-based” purchasing decisions.

 

More specifically, it’s widely known that some of these programs detect a Windows system file variant, prefetch (.pf) files, as malware. In reality, though, these files are conceived by the operating system itself to reduce the load times of certain apps. Rather than improving on performance as advertised, these programs can actually be quite detrimental to your computer’s health.

 

The way this works for Windows Defender is remarkably straightforward. By developing an objective criteria for how malware programs “back up their claims, so that you have the ability to assess what the program found and deems to be errors,” users can determined if they would “like to take the program’s recommended actions.”

 

Essentially, this means that if the programs meddle with your system files, absent a necessary explanation for doing so, Defender will strike back with an equally terminal blow.

 

Article source

 

 

 

I only used ccleaner ace utilities and  yamicsoft.. 

 

those bad guys never trust example : tuneup utilites (avg) etc. etc

 

it will make your pc sluggish and unstable specially on cleaning the prefetch file and registry

 

the time i run registry cleaner and junk file cleaner was after i uninstalled a software. thats the real

 

ccleaner i run every 3 days im fine with it

 

 

microsoft GOODJOB