Removing Crapware
Crapware (or bloatware) is unwanted software alreay installed on a new PC. This software has started to come bundled with other software you may want on your computer.
For example most software I install on my computers now, I have to pay close attention to, because it wants to install a browser or toolbar or sometimes even virus or spyware protection. My major problem with that is that one, If I had wanted your software you wouldn’t need to trick me into using it and two, more software on a computer leads to more area of attack for some hacker to take advantage of my system.
It isn’t a trend that is going to end anytime soon, companies want to make a little extra money (especially if the product is freeware) and PC manufactures use this to offset cost of the system. I generally believe most people don’t pay attention to the useless software sitting on their computer, but to me it’s just a cluttered mess.
So I wanted to share some ways I’ve removed Crapware (bloatware) from my systems.
- Image MachinesGranted this only works in a business setting, but it’s always the quickest solution for me, especially when you have a ton of computers coming in with the same configuration. I fix a certain machine to my exacting specifications and then image the machine up and down. I prefer to do this on it’s own network and not the general network if possible to not effect the users network. Though note, that if the machines coming in are not the same, you could be in for a world of hurt. Sometimes even same models don’t have the same hardware on the inside. So make sure you know what you are doing prior to trying this method out.
- PC DeCrapifier – www.pcdecrapifier.comThis is one of the tools that I have used to remove the junk on computers, it does a quick scan for the most common Crapware that is installed on new computers and gives you the ability to choose if you want to remove it.
- Autoruns – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspxAutoruns is a more experienced product, and should only be used if you have a professional understanding of what should be and should not be running on your computer. This program will display what is automatically set to run at start up.