How to Tell the Difference between Real & Fake Registry Cleaners

Registry cleaning software can make a huge difference in the performance of a computer, but it is crucial to be careful when you are deciding on which program to use.

There are countless registry cleaners available online that were actually designed to harm your computer rather than help it. Because of this, it is necessary for computer users to understand exactly what a registry cleaner is and how to tell a real one from a fake one.

What is a Registry Cleaner?

PC registry cleaner softwares remove corrupt and unnecessary data from the registry of any Windows operating system. At the prompting of the user, they will perform a full scan of the registry and compile a list of all files that may be unneeded.

The user is then given the opportunity to look over the list of files and manually select which ones to delete.

This process can be vital for proper computer functionality, especially if a computer is exhibiting symptoms of having corrupt files such as taking an extremely long time to load programs.

What does a Fake Registry Cleaner Do?

Rather than serve a useful function, a fake registry cleaner will actually cause a computer to slow down. These fake cleaners are typically designed by hackers with the intention of either disrupting your computer experience or stealing your personal information.

In many instances, inexperienced computer users will fall prey to a hacker’s fake registry cleaner by clicking on an advertisement that states that their computer needs a registry scan.

When the unsuspecting victim downloads the offered free registry cleaner program, they end up infecting their computer.

In most cases, the computer had nothing wrong with it to begin with, but it will soon begin exhibiting many of the symptoms of a registry issue. Fake registry cleaners can also be included in malware and scare-ware packages that may target multiple aspects of your computer, so it is vital to always run an anti-malware program along with your anti-virus program for better protection.

How do I know if I Need a Registry Cleaner?

If your computer is running slowly but you have not downloaded any programs from the Internet and your virus scan comes up clean, then it is highly probable that your computer’s registry is bogged down with unnecessary files.

By obtaining and running a legitimate registry cleaner, you will be able to remove the unwanted files and speed up your computer’s performance. It is also possible that your virus scanner will miss issues that a registry cleaner will find and fix.

How can I Find a Legitimate Registry Cleaner?

Several companies offer free and low-cost registry cleaners, but it can be difficult for the average computer user to know the difference between legitimate cleaners and fake ones. Before you download a registry cleaning program, you should visit a reputable software review website.

Be aware that fake program developers will probably saturate the Internet with bogus reviews, but they will all be on small websites that you have probably never heard of. Ignore all reviews that have not been posted by a well-known resource for software information.

Reporting Fake Registry Cleaners

In many cases, it will be next to impossible to determine who created a fake registry cleaner. Due to this, your only recourse may be to post your own review about your bad experience. You can also contact the website provider for the page that gave you the fake cleaner, and they might decide to take the website down.

About the Author: Bradley Barks is an online marketer and published blog author – he loves keeping up on what’s new when it comes to Internet trends and safe, effective tools.