Question 2023: What bloatware have you stopped using?

[Ink]

What bloatware have you stopped using, that others still believe in?

 

[Zero Knowledge]

On desktop. All cleaners except Privazer and Wisecleaner. AV/AM/FW, because H_C and MD is good enough when you add OSArmor or Appguard or VS. Also Windows Spying/Telemetry tools, only use a few telemetry firewall blocklists, gave up on OOShutup. And file erases, just Privazer now with 3 pass delete I used to use BCwipe but I don't need it anymore. And last on desktop PDF reader, use to use SumatraPDF but now I just browse PDFs in browser. When I find a good E-book, I reinstall Sumatra but not often.

Mobile I still use Vpn, NextDns and AV. And on iOS I use Vpn + NextDns. + E2EE apps on both devices. I don't really browse on Mobile/Tablet so besides Chrome/Safari I don't use other browsers.

 

[Dave Russo]

Windows System Restore is for me very useful, first wave ,(if that doesn't work)then run backup restore, and if I can't get things right I reset Pc

 

[WhiteMouse]

• Windows System Restore: the worst feature ever, it has never worked for me. I use it from Windows XP, 7, 8.1, 10 and it failed all the times.
• 3rd party cleaners/uninstallers: it doesn't bring any trouble to me but my computer doesn't get faster so it a waste of time.
• Antivirus: I don't need them, built-in or 3rd party doesn't matter.
• Microsoft Edge: I don't think I need to explain about this, but I'll keep an eye on canary version.

 

[Ink]

Windows System Restore is for me very useful, first wave ,(if that doesn't work)then run backup restore, and if I can't get things right I reset Pc

An old solution for older Windows, for older generation of users. Microsoft launched Windows 10/11 with System Restored disabled by default.

 

[Ink]

Mobile I still use Vpn, NextDns and AV. And on iOS I use Vpn + NextDns. + E2EE apps on both devices. I don't really browse on Mobile/Tablet so besides Chrome/Safari I don't use other browsers.

What apps/services on Android/iOS do you no longer use?

For example; YouTube app.

 

[Moonhorse]

Cleaner i use no more is privazer
Using default windows browser edge
Using default windows antivirus microsoft defender

I think i dont use any bloatware, well someone might say that edge is bloatware but i think the opposite

 

[Dave Russo]

An old solution for older Windows, for older generation of users. Microsoft launched Windows 10/11 with System Restored disabled by default.

Thanks for explanation, I was wondering why it was off sometimes until, Kerish doctor has recommendation to enabling System restore,( I always choose yes) and it works on windows 11

 

[Balrog]

What apps/services on Android/iOS do you no longer use?

For example; YouTube app.

I use Android, I uninstall Gmail, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, News, etc. Plus all the junk apps my service provider (Telcel) installs. I add Adguard and Bitdefender.

 

[TairikuOkami]

Microsoft Defender, bringing any PC to a crawl in 2023, even those, who use Intel 9 CPU and they can not seem to able to figure out the problem.

 

[enaph]

Microsoft Windows

 

[Digmor Crusher]

I use Android, I uninstall Gmail, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, News, etc. Plus all the junk apps my service provider (Telcel) installs. I add Adguard and Bitdefender.

I do mostly the same, however I do use Gmail.

 

[plat]

I use HiBit for some file cleaning-very handy and rapid. Otherwise, I use Windows' built-in command-lines or manual.

I avoid any ASUS software-- Armoury Crate, Tweak, etc. Phew, get that spyware AWAY away away... Edge browser doesn't see this desktop either. I tolerate Windows Defender because in the distant past, I would disable it and the next thing I know, the OS is gently sliding south. But I know from past experience, I don't need it, or any antivirus.

Tried System Restore once long ago and it failed me. So never again. I'll use my USBs with an image or ISO--much more reliable.

 

[South Park]

On Android, I always uninstall or disable social apps I never use like Facebook, or privacy-hostile apps like YouTube, which I replace with NewPipe, etc. On PC I always delete any trialware, esp. those very brief subscriptions to paid AV.

 

[roger_m]

I stopped using registry cleaners years ago, as you never actually need to clean the registry. It is exceptionally rare for cleaning the registry to fix issue you may be having and even rarer for it to increase performance. I only cleaned around ten thousand so called registry errors from my PC and afterwards I noticed no difference in performance. I have Kerish Doctor and AVG TuneUp installed and they both automatically clean the registry in the background. But I see no need to disable this, as neither of these products will delete any needed registry keys, so they won't cause any problems, even if there's not much point cleaning the registry.

I always enable System Restore, as on rare occasions I find it quite useful (when it actually works). I also use a third party antivirus which is lighter than Microsoft Defender.

 

[Balrog]

I do mostly the same, however I do use Gmail.

For the Gmail account i do use Aquamail / Maildroid Pro.

 

[Trident]

I stopped using registry cleaners years ago, as you never actually need to clean the registry. It is exceptionally rare for cleaning the registry to fix issue you may be having and even rarer for it to increase performance.

Highly unlikely indeed, the registry is few files located in C:/Windows/System32/Config
It is always kept in memory so cleaning (and compressing which was also a thing) is unlikely to improve performance. The only benefit is cleaning the registry is autorun items might get unregistered and this may solve an error message on start.

I always enable System Restore, as on rare occasions I find it quite useful (when it actually works). I also use a third party antivirus which is lighter than Microsoft Defender.

Same here when using Windows.