What is System Cleanup? Why is System Cleanup running on your PC? How to remove System Cleanup and improve PC security?
System Cleanup is an optimization tool developed by the company MakeFast. It is advertised as the best maintenance application that cleans up disk space and provides for the smooth system performance. However, System Cleanup is classified as a potentially unwanted program that lands on computer systems without users’ knowledge. The main goal of this program is to trick users into purchasing its full version. Beware that all reports generated by this hoax optimization tool are likely to contain misleading information in an attempt to make you more prone to pay for the “professional” version as it will enable you to fix detected issues.
Security researchers recommend that System Cleanup should be removed from the computer as soon as it is noticed.
Threat Summary
Name | System Cleanup |
Type | PUP / Hoax System Optimizer |
Short Description | May pretend to find a lot of errors and junk files on your PC to convince you that you should purchase it’s full version and boost system performance. |
Symptoms | You may start seeing System Cleanup popping up automatically on your PC and running automatic scans that catch errors every time. |
Distribution Method | Bundled downloads. Web pages that advertise it. |
Detection Tool |
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User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss System Cleanup. |
System Cleanup Unwanted Optimization Tool – Distribution Methods and Activity
System Cleanup is a program that is promoted developed by MakeFast company. On its official website the program is promoted as a powerful optimization utility that can improve system performance by cleaning junk files and organizing disk space. However, when we first attempted to access the website of this program by using a Chrome web browser, the following security alert appeared on the screen:
For our research purposes, we decided to proceed and reveal more information about this program and its owners. So here is how the website makefast.us looks like:
Several reports indicate that System Cleanup is a hoax program that acts like a typical potentially unwanted program. Such type of programs tend to land on computer systems with other free applications downloaded from the web. Unfortunately, there are many third-party applications that are configured to deliver extra programs in order to generate profits to its owners. That’s why it is a good security practice to review all details mentioned in apps’ installers. Especially the information listed in the Advanced/Custom configuration step.
As regards the results displayed by System Cleanup they often contain misleading information that aims to make you more prone to agree to buy the professional version of the program as it will allow you to fix them with one click.
For the sake of your system security, it is highly recommendable that you remove this hoax optimizer as soon as possible.
How to Remove System Cleanup – a PUP by MakeFast
Removing System Cleanup should be performed methodologically and properly. One way to effectively remove System Cleanup undesired app is to follow the removal instructions that are underneath this article. They have been created with the main idea to help you remove this app either manually or automatically. The many files created by the app could be hard to find manually. That’s why it is recommendable to combine the steps while removing the undesired app.
- Guide 1: How to Remove System Cleanup from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of System Cleanup on Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove System Cleanup in Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase System Cleanup from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall System Cleanup from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove System Cleanup from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate System Cleanup from Internet Explorer.
- Guide 8: Disable System Cleanup Push Notifications in Your Browsers.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove System Cleanup from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove System Cleanup





Step 2: Uninstall System Cleanup and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:



Step 3: Clean any registries, created by System Cleanup on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by System Cleanup there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:



Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Get rid of System Cleanup from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall System Cleanup and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove System Cleanup via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove System Cleanup files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as System Cleanup, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove System Cleanup from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Erase System Cleanup from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Uninstall System Cleanup from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove System Cleanup from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the System Cleanup will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Eliminate System Cleanup from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications caused by System Cleanup from Your Browsers.
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".