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Bloatware
When you buy a new device, you expect it to come in a pristine state and work perfectly. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Devices can come with pre-installed bloatware that reduces performance and violates your privacy. Find out how to remove it.
,Bloatware is software you don’t want that burdens and slows down your device. These are programs that are preinstalled on new devices, come bundled with other downloads, or are injected into your system through malicious sites.
,There are two main ways for bloatware (or Potentially Unwanted Programs – PUP) to reach you. It usually comes pre-installed by vendors, manufacturers or carriers. There can be a few reasons for this:
(1) Software developers pay providers to install their products on your device.
(2) Manufacturers provide the user with maintenance applications (e.g., Lenovo Solutions Centre) that also collect user data.
(3) Software or OS updates can push branded solution centers, trialware, or just random add-ons.
Not all bloatware is bad. Some pre-installed media suites or control centers can be useful, and some are very easily removable.
Another type of bloatware comes from the web. It can come from malicious websites or be downloaded together with programs you want from third-party webpages. It can also hide in software bundles. This bloatware is more dangerous as it often contains adware or malware.
Why bloatware is a threat?
Firstly, bloatware can significantly slow down your computer. If you have lots of these programs loading in your device start-up or performing operations in the background, they can eat up your RAM. This is where you should uninstall bloatware, when it begins to affect your device’s performance. Malware or adware presents more severe issues. Apart from showing pop-up ads while using your computer (even when you’re not online), it might also spy on you. Others programs might not be malicious but still accidentally leave you vulnerable. One of the more prominent examples is the Superfish program by Lenovo, which made users more susceptible to hacker attacks and spying.
How do I identify bloatware?
Here are a few red flags which will help you identify bloatware, meaning you’ll be able to identify it easily:
(1) The app is difficult to uninstall. Bloatware is usually not that easy to remove. It persistently pops up in your app list even after you’ve uninstalled it. It might also redirect you to dodgy websites when you try to remove it, or delete sections hidden somewhere deep inside the app. Some bloatware apps are impossible to get rid of.
(2) You don’t recognize the app. If you don’t remember installing a particular piece of software on your device, it’s potentially a sign of bloatware.
(3) It aggressively offers you to purchase some additional features. Some bloatware relies on intrusive and aggressive marketing tactics, so naturally they flood you with such suggestions to get your money.
(4) Your browser started to display annoying pop-ups. In some cases, it might even redirect you to malicious websites, manipulate your browser settings, and change your homepage.
(5) It’s almost useless. Usually you wouldn’t install such an app voluntarily.
