A brand-new Windows computer should be pristine. After all, you haven’t gummed it up yet with software, right?

Leave that to the computer manufacturers who load your new PC with “free” software you don’t want. You might call it bloatware, crapware, shovelware, or crudware, since it’s basically useless to you. There’s a reason for doing it, of course—bloatware offsets the price of super-cheap PCs on retail shelves, even if only by pennies.

I’ve had few major problems with bloatware when buying PCs directly from a vendor. But in retail, it’s a whole other world of garbage. For example, a few years ago, my 75-year-old technophobic father got a new PC to replace his dying Windows Vista system, which he mainly used to print pictures. I couldn’t really recommend spending a lot of money to get it fixed. “Just go find an off-the-shelf PC for under $400; it’ll be fine,” I said.

Hardware-wise, that Acer Aspire X (Model AXC-605G-UW20) he purchased at Walmart was sufficient. The specs all qualified as an upgrade.

(Credit: PCMag, Walmart)

To sell this PC for $399, however, Acer sold out my parents and wasted hours of my family’s lives.

Using TeamViewer remote-control software, I could see that the system was a mess, though all my father had done was install the software for his beloved (but dying) Kodak printer. The desktop was awash with at least 15 icons for needless, worthless crap. Opening up the Uninstall a Program control panel revealed even more. We tried to uninstall the obvious things, but they persisted.

With many of the uninstall routines, the dialog boxes had giant buttons that would say “Uninstall and Get PC XXXXXX” or something similar. If we just wildly clicked where the button was, the uninstall might work—but something else was installed in its place. We had to look carefully for the fine print on the dialog boxes that read “Delete Only” or similar. Tricks and traps abounded.

Back then, I turned to Slim Computer from Slimware Utilities, which kept a database of bloatware and helped identify it on a new Windows PC. It has since been discontinued, but current options include Bulk Crap Uninstaller(Opens in a new window) and Should I Remove It?(Opens in a new window) (The excellently named PC Decrapifier was another favorite, but has also been discontinued.)

(Credit: Reason Cybersecurity)

These utilities point out some bloatware but might not automate removal—in which case you still have to go through the normal uninstall process, which might be filled with tricks and traps to keep your new PC full of bloatware. So you’re on your own to an extent. But there are ways around that.

‘Potentially Unwanted’ Crap

Dad’s then-new Acer PC also came with actual malware, in the guise of “potentially unwanted programs,” or PUPs.

The programs don’t call themselves that; it’s a term used by anti-malware companies such as MalwareBytes(Opens in a new window). It describes software you probably didn’t install on purpose, that you don’t want, and that you’ll likely find unusable. But it’s necessary to say “potentially,” because it’s possible you really wanted to install a toolbar for your browser called “Search Protect” from a company named Conduit(Opens in a new window) or a search engine for your browser called Binkiland.

In reality, that’s about as likely as wanting to be set on fire. Both of those “programs,” among others, were on Dad’s PC. They existed only to take over his browsing experience; each appears on a list of browser hijackers(Opens in a new window) from Wikipedia. Check the list, and delete any you see. The list can and will go on and on, as hijackers make new threats. It’s telling that searching for “Search Protect” or Binkiland brings up absolutely no link for people to download those programs—only to remove the hijackers’ files.

These programs did a number on my dad’s PC. I couldn’t get the installed browsers (IE and Firefox) to go to a website to download new tools to deal with those threats. I had to download the clean-up software to my workstation, then use TeamViewer to do a remote file transfer of the EXE installer to Dad’s desktop.

Also note that at this point, we uninstalled McAfee Security Suite, which came free with the Acer as well. You may not consider antivirus software to be bloatware, but it certainly can be. Acer didn’t put it on there to be altruistic; McAfee paid for placement. McAfee was likely to slow the PC more than other AV products we could install later, and it would eventually cost $79 after the trial was over. No, thanks.

Here’s a rundown of the tools used to clean the hijacking PUPs:

MalwareBytes

The free version of MalwareBytes comes with a trial of the Premium version, so it’s worth running on every fresh installation of Windows. Also, the scans take a lot less time on a new Windows install. After 14 days, you lose features such as real-time protection and anti-ransomware, but it’s worth running up front. Just remember after that two weeks, you should get some real-time anti-malware protection.

Steven Gould’s Cleanup

This donationware(Opens in a new window) does the trick for Windows XP on up.

CCleaner

This Windows cleanup tool can not only scrape away temp files and other detritus, but it can also uninstall apps built into Windows. I’m not talking bloatware but actual apps that Microsoft created to work with Windows. Consider them OS-sanctioned crap. Click on Tools, then uninstall, and you’ll get a list of possibilities to delete. (This suggestion might be controversial: CCleaner got hit with data-collecting malware in 2017, and in 2020, Windows’ own antivirus flagged it as a PUP but seems to have now cleaned up its act.)

I ran each of these tools multiple times, MalwareBytes in particular. It kept finding instances of the PUPs, so we turned to the internet (which we could finally surf again) to find instructions(Opens in a new window) for manually deleting individual PUP files. Which we did, with glee. After cleanups were run, the system wasn’t totally bug-free. But it was certainly cleaner than it had been hours before.

Don’t Do What We Did

Let me make it clear: I do NOT recommend going through the steps above.

If we bought that computer today, it would come with Windows 11. Start with a full reset of the OS using the Windows 11 Reset Tool. It’s the first thing anyone buying a new PC at retail should do after they take it out of the box. This should set the PC back to a pristine state, without bloatware (except the Microsoft-supplied stuff you may not want, such as the Edge browser).

(Credit: PCMag/Microsoft)

Better yet, vote against bloatware with your wallet. Buy a PC from a maker that guarantees a clean Windows install or at least offers it as an option. Microsoft, naturally, has a clean version of Windows on its Surface devices.

Again, that’s clean as defined by Microsoft—you may not want OneNote or Microsoft’s Mail app. But it’s a lot easier to get rid of Windows add-on software than other bloatware. Right-click anything you see in the Windows Start menu and select Uninstall.

Custom-built-PC manufacturers that promise you a bloatware-free installation of Windows include Maingear(Opens in a new window), Falcon Northwest(Opens in a new window), and Velocity Micro(Opens in a new window). Another option is to go with a local reseller. Or, buy a Mac or a Chromebook and avoid Windows altogether. Or to save money, install Linux on your old PC. (That wasn’t really an option for my dad.)

If you’re wedded to using an older version of Windows, the only surefire way to get the same result is to reinstall the OS completely with a totally fresh, clean configuration. That’s not possible with most retail PCs that came with Windows 7, 8, or 8.1. Whether the operating system installer is an image on a partition of the hard drive or comes on a USB flash drive, it’s likely going to install Windows with all the bloatware, fresh as an outhouse, as well.

You can also find the option to download ISO files of Windows 7 and 8.1 and even 10 at the Microsoft Software Recovery site(Opens in a new window). You’ll need to verify a 25-character product key from a retail version of Windows to download and fully activate the operating system. Keys from computer makers—called OEMs, or original equipment manufacturers—won’t work.

(Credit: PCMag/Microsoft)

Why Is This Happening?

You might be wondering why big-name PC makers and software developers are loading all this bloatware with extra “internet wrapper” PUPs on new systems. The answer? Money, of course. As PC sales dwindle, so do software purchases, and companies scramble to make up for their losses.

For more details, read this article by How-To Geek(Opens in a new window). It examined programs from every major download site, including CNET’s Downloads.com, Tucows, FileHippo, Softpedia, Snapfiles, and more. Every site bundled crapware into the desired software. Some of those sites have multiple download “buttons,” some of which are actually ads, on every page, to obfuscate and confuse users into downloading the wrong thing. That story is from pre-COVID 2019, but it’s unlikely anything has changed. PC sales went up a bit during the pandemic but are back in freefall.

Always download software from the original developer’s site—if you can find it. Unfortunately, even Google search results tend to default to download sites such as those listed above.

Years ago, pundit Ed Bott called for a PC “Truth in Labeling Act”(Opens in a new window) to force PC manufacturers to tell users everything that is pre-installed. This is an excellent idea that will never happen. It would also be great if download sites, some of which claim they don’t allow any type of malware(Opens in a new window), would do the same.

Audiobooks and podcasts may become a haven in the event of a SAG strike

Venmo has grown in popularity, and for a good reason, because it is so easy and convenient to send and receive money electronically between you and another person. 

It operates as a digital wallet linked to your bank account or debit card, which enables you to make payments quickly and easily to other Venmo users. The service is popular among younger generations as it provides a simple and social way to split bills or pay back friends for shared expenses.

Additionally, Venmo offers a social feed feature that allows you to see and comment on your friends’ transactions, adding an element of social interaction to the platform. It is available for both iPhone and Android devices.

iPhone: 4.9 stars (at time of publishing)

Android: 4.2 stars (at time of publishing)

However, with all that ease comes much targeting from scammers who want to steal your money, although unlike U.S. bank accounts, Venmo balances are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. 

Let’s review what kind of Venmo scams to look out for and how to protect yourself.

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Is Venmo safe to use?

Venmo uses multi-factor authentication to secure logins and encrypts all transactions to ensure the safety of your personal information. Also, you have the ability to manage your privacy and passcode settings, adding another layer of protection to your Venmo account. As a result, I would say Venmo is generally considered a safe platform to use.

However, it was designed to use with people you know and trust, such as your friends and family members, and not random people you’ve never met. When making a transaction with a person for the first time, Venmo will even ask that you enter the person’s last four digits of their phone number as an extra safety precaution.

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Even with these safety measures, however, people still get tricked by scams on Venmo. A common trick that scammers will use is phishing emails. A scammer will send you an email and claim to be a representative of Venmo and trick you into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details by asking you to send your personal information or click a suspicious link to “update your password” or something of that nature. These emails often mimic legitimate communications.

These kinds of scams can occur via text message or phone call as well, and unsuspecting victims may accidentally give out their banking information or even their Social Security numbers.

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Scammers are using phishing emails to trick you into giving away your information. Here’s what to know.items (CyberGuy.com)

Scammers who are trying to sell you things online, such as on websites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, will also often ask for people to pay them through Venmo. This is because Venmo’s user agreement and terms of service state that the app is meant to be used for transactions between people who know each other personally or have an established business relationship.

Scammers may ask for payment through Venmo because they know that the app lacks buyer protections and dispute resolution options. Venmo transactions are instant and irreversible, which means that if you send money to a scammer, it may be difficult or impossible to get your money back.

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What types of Venmo scams should I look out for?

• Requests for personal information: Venmo will never ask you for personal or sensitive information via email, text message, or phone.
• Rental lease offers: If you’re looking for a place to rent and the landlord asks you to pay upfront via Venmo, don’t fall for it.
• Random prizes or rewards: Sometimes scammers will put up fake competitions and offer to send prize money via Venmo, but will then ask for a person’s Venmo login info to send the money. This is a common scam.
• Overpayment scams: Scammers may overpay you for an item or service and ask you to refund the difference. Once you refund the money, the scammer cancels the payment, leaving you with no money and no item or service.

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How can I avoid being part of a Venmo scam?

• Look at the email address: Look closely at the address of the sender if they claim to be from Venmo. If you Google it and it’s an official email address, then it should come up right away. If it doesn’t, then it’s not really Venmo.
• Watch out for fake accounts: Scammers commonly create fake Venmo accounts claiming to be real people and will then ask family and friends of that person for money. Reach out to a person directly before sending them money.
• Public transactions: Be cautious about making your transactions public on Venmo, as scammers can use this information to target you with phishing scams or other fraudulent activities.

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What to do if you believe you have been scammed on Venmo

1) The first thing you should do is contact Venmo support immediately and report the fraudulent transaction. They can provide guidance and assistance in resolving the issue.

2) Second, if you used your bank account or credit card to fund the Venmo transaction, contact your bank or credit card issuer to report the fraud and dispute the charge.

3) The third step is to change your Venmo password immediately to prevent further unauthorized transactions.

4) Also, if you believe you have been scammed, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to report the fraudulent activity.

5) If you feel your personal data has been stolen, and you want a service that will walk you through every step of the reporting and recovery process, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from this type of fraud is to subscribe to an identity theft protection company.  

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This service will monitor personal information like your Home title, Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. One of the best parts of using some services is that they might include identity theft insurance of up to 1 million dollars to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft by visiting CyberGuy.com/IdentityTheft.

6) Lastly, always report the scammer. If you have any information about the scammer, such as their name, phone number, or email address, report it to Venmo and the authorities.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

While Venmo is a convenient and widely used platform for electronic money transfers, you should remain vigilant against scams by being cautious of phishing emails, avoiding transactions with unknown individuals, and protecting personal information. If scammed, you should report the incident to Venmo, contact your bank or credit card issuer, change your password and file a complaint with the FTC while also providing any available information about the scammer to authorities. 

Do you feel protected against the growing number of scams? What are your tools and tips? Let us know so we can alert others by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tips, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to CyberGuy.com/Newsletter.

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