In fact, most of its functionalities fall under the “system optimization” header. FeaturesĬleanMaster is much more than just an antivirus tool, however. Although this isn’t what many power users would prefer, it automatically scans newly installed apps and is quick to flag any potential sources of danger. CleanMaster flagged the test piece of malware within seconds, although it didn’t warn about some things I had deliberately installed by enabling unknown sources in the security settings. I installed the “Test Virus” application from Itus Mobile Security, which installs the EICAR test virus. However, CleanMaster has previously received the prestigious Best Android Antivirus Product award. So how effective is the antivirus component? Without much in the way of logs, it’s difficult to know. The update frequency can be set to daily, every three days, or every five days, and the program displays the version the app is currently using. The antivirus impressed a little more with its reminders about required updates.

I was also unable to change the type of scan. Although I was able to see what the scan was doing (“checking for malicious apps” and “checking for vulnerabilities” flashed on my screen), I didn’t get any kind of report on which directories and apps had been investigated. The program runs a “Safety Scanning” utility in less than ten seconds. SecurityĬleanMaster does contain an antivirus tool which can be launched by clicking on the antivirus button on the home screen. To see if CleanMaster is beneficial, I dug through its extensive set of features to discover the truth behind the hype.

Although cleanup tools can free up valuable space, they can also drain battery life and impede system performance. Despite 43 million reviews on the Google Play Store-most of which are positive- the jury is very much out on whether optimization apps like CleanMaster help or harm system performance. CleanMaster is one of the most popular junk-cleaning and system optimization tools for Android, featuring everything from social media app notification control to a dedicated WhatsApp scrubber.

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