Avast Cleanup for PC - BETA released

[Captain Awesome]

Hello everyone,

We’ve got great news for you today: Avast Cleanup, our PC-cleaning software, is undergoing some big changes. It’s sporting a brand-new design, includes exciting new features, and best of all, is now also standalone, which means you can use it even without downloading our antivirus first.

Of course, it’s going to need a good beta-testing to ensure we get your thoughts, opinions, and insights so we can make the best it can be. So please don’t hesitate to send us your feedback.

It’s important to note there will be three versions of Avast Cleanup standalone: the trial version, which gives you 14 days to try the full Cleanup experience. Afterwards, you’ll automatically begin using the ‘free’ version, which will only allow you to perform browser cleaning functions. To get full functionality back, you’ll need to buy the paid version.

FEATURES

CLEAN: Clean your browser’s cache, search history, browsing history, and the cookies you’ve been gathering from your time surfing the Web. We also detect add-ons and search engines with poor reputations (or, with a small retention rate among our users) and help you get rid of them. In the trial and paid versions of Cleanup, you also have access to junk cleanup, where we get rid of all the unused junk files on your PC.

OPTIMIZE: In the trial and paid versions of Cleanup, you can tweak the system settings and boot-up options to minimize your computer’s start time. We can also help you get rid of unused applications and clean your registry.

SCHEDULE: Keep your PC in tip-top shape automatically by setting schedules for lightweight, unobtrusive scans every day, week, or month. You also can activate real-time junk protection, which will get rid of leftover files anytime you uninstall a program.

CHANGES

NEW: STANDALONE – Avast Cleanup can now be used independently from our other products, meaning anyone can download and get their PC in shape without needing to have our antivirus installed.

NEW: USER INTERFACE – A more straightforward experience means it’s easier than ever to clean, optimize, or set a schedule for your automatic cleans.

NEW: Browser Cleanup — Avast Cleanup now has browser-cleaning functions to get rid of cookies, clear the browser cache, and erase your browsing and download history. We also detect bad add-ons and search engines, and help you get rid of them.

NEW: Boot-Time Optimizer — By adjusting your PC’s settings and disabling or postponing certain applications, Cleanup can now help your PC startup faster.


HOW TO INSTALL:

Download here: http://cleanup.tools.avast.com/tools/cleanup/avast_cleanup_setup.exe
When the file is downloaded, run the executable to install the Cleanup Beta

HOW TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK:

If you find any specific issues, please start a thread on the beta forum and let us know right away. For general discussion and thoughts, just leave us a message on this thread. Or you can use the feedback form in the Cleanup beta.

KNOWN ISSUES

-The scheduler isn’t working at the moment
-Real-time monitoring isn’t functioning right now
-There’s no progress bar yet

Thank you for contributing to the development of our software, and we look forward to hearing your thoughts, suggestions, and issues — although hopefully there won’t be too many of that last one.

Thank you,
The Avast Team

 

[Jack]

Here are some screenshots of this product.

It’s important to note there will be three versions of Avast Cleanup standalone: the trial version, which gives you 14 days to try the full Cleanup experience. Afterwards, you’ll automatically begin using the ‘free’ version, which will only allow you to perform browser cleaning functions. To get full functionality back, you’ll need to buy the paid version.

Interesting approach... really wonder how many people will actually pay for this "system optimizer".

 

[Ink]

Background Info - Let's see how Avast transformed GrimeFighter into it's current name, Cleanup for PC:

• Jumpshot was acquired by Avast in 2013 - Press Release
• GrimeFighter was available as a standalone paid app and in Avast 2014 - Avast Blog
• GrimeFighter was replaced by Avast Cleanup in 2015 - Avast Blog

Spoiler: Avast GrimeFighter in 2013/2014

Avast GrimeFighter provides an as-needed solution to clean and speed up your system by removing bloatware, trialware, adware, and other unwanted files so that your computer is running in its most optimal state. Avast GrimeFighter offers an array of benefits that are unique from other available optimization tools:

• Our “sedation” process allows Avast GrimeFighter to boot directly into a custom Linux environment to make changes to a "sleeping" system's Windows installation. This allows us to easily wipe away trialware, adware, and bloatware which can be difficult for other tools to reach when the Windows system is actually running.
• Avast GrimeFighter’s strong focus on user experience not only makes it easy to use, but also enjoyable and entertaining. Even for non-experienced computer users, Avast GrimeFighter is a great tool to keep computers clean without spending hours optimizing their systems manually.
• The Avast GrimeFighter engine is powerful in and of itself, but it is also greatly enhanced by cloud technology. Because Avast GrimeFighter’s intelligence is in the cloud, every user gets the benefit of real-time, community driven results from other users.

With so much to offer Avast GrimeFighter has been included in the release of Avast Antivirus 2015 as a paid add-on feature.

Spoiler: Avast Cleanup 2015 vs old GrimeFighter

How is Cleanup better than the old GrimeFighter program?

The performance optimization tool released with Avast 2016 has the following enhancements and improvements:

• Easy to remember system requirements: if your PC can run Avast Antivirus, it can run Cleanup.
• System scan and clean happens within the Avast user interface. No reboot to Linux needed to clean files and settings.
• New features include the Registry scan which removes obsolete files from uninstalled programs
• No more license hassles, just purchase and activate from within the Avast program and you are ready to optimize your PC.

Avast Cleanup is a new optimization tool which replaces the old GrimeFighter product that clears disk space and speeds up your system.

Avast Cleanup is an optimization tool that supplements your Avast Antivirus protection. Cleanup scans your system to identify unwanted files and programs that can be removed or disabled so that your computer runs in an optimal state.

Not to be confused with similar product names:

• Avast Cleanup for Android can be downloaded for FREE from the Google Play Store.
• Avast Browser Cleanup is can be downloaded for FREE and available in Avast Antivirus for Windows.

Perhaps it's a personal preference, but I would stick to CCleaner. Good luck to those beta testing Avast Cleanup.