Bloatware is generally considered harmless, but what about when these unnecessary apps turn into a security risk? A recent report shows that a pre-installed app in some versions of Windows 10 had an alarming plugin flaw:

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.

A newly bought PC with a heap of unwanted pre-installed trialware is a nightmare for us all. Once it’s on your computer, it will either keep urging you to upgrade to a more expensive version or bombarding you with loads of ads, some of which could compromise security.

You may be surprised to know how many unnecessary files, or what we’d call “clutter,” are stored on your PC, causing it to perform at less than its peak. The good news is you can get rid of it easily with Windows 10’s new declutter tools. But first, you need to know exactly what clutter is, how it can harm your machine, and how to clean it up.

It started out being called ‘bloatware’ but as consumer’s patience wore thin it was eventually replaced with the title ‘crapware’. In short, it’s the software that manufacturers load onto new hardware before purchases in an attempt to drive customers to new products.