cleaner

A couple of Android apps masquerading as cleanup tools actually had a sneakier mission in mind.

Uncovered last month by Kaspersky, two apps named Superclean and DroidCleaner posed as software that claimed to clean up your Android smartphone or tablet. Instead, these two were actually pieces of malware designed to snoop on your conversations by infecting your computer.

The programs worked by downloading files that automatically execute after plugging an Android device into a Windows PC, according to Kaspersky's blog. After executing, the malware would trigger the audio recorder function in Windows, write the information to a file, and … Read more

For most computer users, the idea of having malware or adware creeping onto your machine has become an accepted fate that comes with being online. More-tech-savvy users can manage to stay clean for a while but, like the flu, everybody gets it eventually. Whether it was through a questionable e-mail sent by a friend or from a moment of weakness when you clicked on that video link promising playful kittens, suddenly you find your beloved computer starting to behave strangely. It might be a quick process; it might not happen right away, but you will know right away something is … Read more

App Cleaner for Mac is a simple application that uninstalls applications and all associated files. It is available from many download sites, although not from the App Store, and it installs easily. App Cleaner for Mac is a free download.

While most apps will uninstall from a Mac without a problem, there are a few apps that will not, and that leave orphan files or folders hanging around chewing up disk space. App Cleaner for Mac is a simple way to get rid of these applications and files. To use App Cleaner for Mac, you simply drag an app icon … Read more

Samsung revealed yesterday (albeit, with little detail) its latest robotic vacuum cleaner -- the Smart Tango Corner Clean -- just a week before a potential CES debut.

For those of you with visions of a Samsung-made Rosey the maid robot from "The Jetsons" zipping about your home, well, we're not quite there yet. However, due to the inclusion of appendages, the latest robotic vacuum from Samsung might give pause to prospective buyers of Roomba or Neato devices. … Read more

Dedicated uninstallers make up one of the most useful yet underrated classes of Windows utilities. A good one not only improves on the built-in uninstaller found in the Control Panel by removing programs the Windows tool won't, sometimes by forcing matters, but also cleans up the leftover files, folders, and even registry keys that uninstalled programs often leave behind. Your Uninstaller Pro from URSoft does all that and also includes useful extras like a File Shredder, Disk Cleaner, Startup Manager, and Trace Eraser. It also has some smart features that keep it from removing crucial programs. The trial version … Read more

SlimCleaner is a free utility that cleans, optimizes, repairs, and updates your PC based on the latest threats and issues. Antivirus programs have been doing that for years. But SlimCleaner pioneered the use of Cloud-based reporting and actual user feedback in designing its system cleaning and optimizing tools. SlimCleaner's unique color-coded Community Ratings system can help you decide which settings, programs, and processes are the best choice for your system by showing you at a glance what's safe, what's suspicious, and what's gotta go. It includes some useful disk tools as well as easy access to … Read more

Cleaning a TV screen seems easy. Windex, right? Wrong. Most modern HDTVs have special coatings on their surface that can be ruined by strong cleansers.

But at some point, every HDTV screen needs a good cleaning.

Here's how.… Read more

ARO 2012 is the latest version of a longstanding Registry cleaner and optimizer. The look is familiar, but ARO 2012 offers several upgrades over previous versions, such as improved browser cleaning and user-friendlier settings as well as new tweaks that can yield better NTFS performance, faster startups, and improved CPU utilization. ARO 2012 also backs up and optimizes the Registry. You can schedule automatic cleanings, too.

ARO 2012's installer informed us that it would scan our PC as soon as it closed. The first scan is always important with software like ARO since it establishes a baseline, and ours … Read more