iMac Cleaner
iMac Cleaner is yet another Mac PC optimization tool claiming to enhance system performance, clear cache and junk content, and remove unwanted applications. Ironically enough, iMac Cleaner is a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) itself because of the way it sneaks into MacOS systems.
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iMac Cleaner Comes as Part of Software Bundles
Like any other PUA, iMac Cleaner usually lands on a PC as part of a software bundle that combines two or more freeware tools into one installation process. As a result, you may get a whole lot of unnecessary apps alongside the one you searched for in the first place. iMac Cleaner, or a demo version thereof to be more precise, may be one of those apps. While it may sport genuinely useful features, you won’t be able to test them unless you purchase the premium version. However, that only becomes clear after you’ve installed the demo.
iMac Cleaner Adware Application Screen Image from iMac Cleaner website
Potential Implications Relating to PUAs such as iMac Cleaner
The free version of iMac Cleaner may cause slowed down rather than increased system performance due to the tons of ads touting both the pro version of the software and dozens of unrelated sponsored content such as web pop-ups, URLs, and banners. The latter pose yet another challenge to your Mac's processing power. It may get even worse if you do click on those ads. Doing so will bring pay-per-click revenue to the advertisers and additional malware to you. iMac Cleaner's developers do not assume responsibility for any third-party content its ads may redirect you to. Therefore, if you land on a malicious banner sponsored by a third party, you could get into serious trouble.
How Bad It Can Get
Speaking of trouble, you may see various outcomes depending on what kind of stuff you get by clicking on sponsored content. Ideally, no harm will come to you should the sponsored links lead you to reputable vendors. More often than not, however, things are anything but ideal. Instead of genuine software products, you may end up getting rogue antivirus, fake updates, or outright malicious tools across the spectrum. In a nutshell, you may get anything from a browser hijacker to spyware, and even Trojans.
The potential risks associated with software bundling underlines the need for a custom approach to the installation process — you should only pick those apps from the package that you need, leaving the rest unattended.
