Aboutt this blog

This blog is to chronicle my lessons in Journalism II. All posts are tagged and sorted.

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Shiny computer scrubbing programs!

Today we are installing Ccleaner, Malwarebytes, and PC Decrapifier. I've used all but the last one, so I'm googling the various things it wants to uninstall on my computer.

PC Decrapifer brought up my new acer netbook's netflix app and mywinlocker suite, one of which I didn't recognize at all. A google led me first to Acer's website, which said:

MyWinLocker Suite is a preinstalled program available on selected Acer products to help you protect your private data. It includes two applications: Yo-Safe, a password-protected virtual drive, and Shredder, a secure tool to remove files.

The Yo-Safe virtual drive acts as an extra hard drive in your system. You can access it only with your password, so the stored files are kept safe.

EgisTec Shredder is a data shredding software to help you delete your sensitive data permanently. EgisTec Shredder is a limited trial version. The first time you launch the program, a pop-up window will notify that you are running a trial version.

Seemed decent, until I clicked the next link:

In short, it is Trialware; Spamware; "I didn't ask for it yet it came w/the system"-ware.

Lovingly brought to you from Acer (in my case) and EgisTec: 

I decided to uninstall it. This has not gone smoothly. As of the writing, it's opened up two unclickable tabs at the bottom of my screen.

I fear the worst.

Remember me and my darling little netbook.

4 comments:

  1. Can you maybe clean it out with some of your other programs? :S *fingerscrossed*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Looks like it surrendered, in the end. Victory is mine!

      Delete
  2. Crapware can be very persistent. CCleaner can also help.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It died a death after some digital stabbing. Windows 8 has been nothing but a pain so far.

      Delete