FAQs about bloatware and how to remove them

Ever powered up a brand new laptop straight out of the box and realized that there are already a ton of apps installed that you know you’ll never use? That’s bloatware, and it’s a regular occurrence when purchasing new computers.
Superfish
In mid-2014, Lenovo users noticed that something was awry with their web browsers: banner ads were breaking webpage layouts and pop-ups were making surfing unpleasant.

Configuring Windows 10 on your laptop

Did you just buy a new laptop? Then it probably has Microsoft's newest operating system, Windows 10, pre-installed. Windows 10 is packed with some interesting features and a revamped user interface. Even if you are an expert at navigating various menus and apps, you may still need help with Windows 10's approach to computing, so let's get you started with these tips.

The risks posed by Windows 10 bloatware

While you might think that getting free software with your new Windows 10-powered device sounds like a good idea, it’s not. Beyond taking up storage space and diverting processing power, pre-installed software such as trial versions of video games, antivirus programs, and web browser toolbars — collectively called “bloatware” — can make your device vulnerable to cyberattacks.

How to configure your new Windows 10 laptop

First things first, what should you do with your brand new laptop? You go through the Windows 10 setup, and you're all done, right? Not really. Your notebook isn’t ready -- until you do some tweaking. Let's get the ball rolling.

#1 Check for updates

Your new laptop should check for updates automatically, but you can also check manually.

When Pre-installed Apps Create Risks

Have you recently purchased new laptops or computers? Don’t get too excited. A new report proves that pre-installed software such as free trials and web browser toolbars can pose high-security risks. So if you want to maximize your new investment, here are some things you might want to know:

Tavis Ormandy, a researcher from Google's Project Zero, recently discovered that a compromised password management app, Keeper, had been installed with some versions of Windows 10. For a brief period, Keeper's browser extension, when enabled, allowed websites to easily steal login credentials.

Say goodbye to pre-installed crapware

Bloatware, trialware, crapware -- the unnecessary software usually pre-installed by the manufacturer on your brand new PC. Besides being annoying, this type of software also slows down your machine and can tamper with security. Microsoft is fed up with it too, which is why they’ve come up with Windows 10 Signature Edition PCs. Read on to find out more.

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