Does the CCleaner make sense - an assessment

If you want to speed up your system, wipe your tracks or free up storage space, the use of CCleaner can make sense. We'll tell you if the tool is really that harmless.

CCleaner Warnings: How Safe is the Tool?

• The CCleaner is not only one of the most popular downloads at CHIP. The tool is extremely easy to use and does its job reliably. However, there are critical voices warning about the software.
• Even Microsoft has already warned against the CCleaner. In the worst case, the tool would create errors instead of fixing errors, so that a completely new installation of Windows would be necessary.

CCleaner: Useful and dangerous functions at a glance

• The CCleaner is divided into three areas. In the "Cleaner" category, you can primarily delete unnecessary browser and system files. However, you can usually do no damage here. Only laypersons should stay away from the options under the item "Advanced".
• In the "Registry" category, the CCleaner searches for errors in unnecessary entries. These are usually found in large numbers. However, removal does not create storage space and the system is not accelerated. Microsoft sees the problem of the CCleaner especially here. If your system is otherwise running smoothly, no complications are usually to be expected.
• In the "Extras" you will find further options to optimize your system. In addition to the autostart entries, you can also edit browser plugins. The search for duplicates and the hard disk wipe are also dangerous categories for laypeople, in which something can go wrong quickly.
• Conclusion: The basic function of the CCleaner is the category "Cleaner". Here you can let off steam and delete several gigabytes of unnecessary data. All other functions should be used with caution in some cases. The CCleaner mainly blurs your digital traces and frees up storage space, making your computer hardly faster.

In the next practical tip we will show you what is behind the CCleaner function "Safely delete free memory".