CleanMyPC

The developers of CleanMyPC market their creation as a useful tool that optimizes and cleans the operating system, leading to more efficient performance. Though, this program is just a fake registry cleaner that utilizes false system warning messages to convince its potential victims that their systems have issues and need optimization. The malware's strategy then includes persuading users to buy the offered software that is supposed to solve these problems. In other cases, users download and install CleanMyPC unknowingly when hackers bundle it with other programs' setup files. Due to this stealthy distribution method, and to CleanMyPC's other suspicious features, malware researchers classify it as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

CleanMyPC claims to optimize systems by cleaning up junk files and unwanted programs, removing unnecessary browser extensions and cleaning the system registry. However, as already mentioned, users who wish to use its full potential have to buy the full version and pay for the activation. Unfortunately, programs like this one do not have any of the claimed functionalities, so they cannot fix any real issues, even if such exists. Provided scan results and system alerts are fake, while the true purpose of CleanMyPC is to spread other PUAs, like browser hijackers and adware threats.

PUAs typically serve sponsored ads and banners which tend to promote untrusty services and products or redirect users through fake search engines. However, most PUAs can also access and extract sensitive user information, which is then sold to third parties. Without any doubt, such apps should be removed right away as they may lead to financial losses, privacy issues, and even identity theft.