Clean up your Windows right-click menu with CCleaner

Clean up your Windows right-click menu with CCleaner

Tired of the laundry list in your right-click menu? Easily fix it with a new feature in CCleaner.

Lots of tools claim to be useful for your PC. Whether an application cleans out junk files, duplicates, or other nasties, a lot of the time it wants to take a spot in your right-click menu. Supposedly, this is "for your convenience," but most of us know what's convenient and what's just more bloat for Windows.

CCleaner released a recent update that added a feature that allows you to clean out random application shortcuts from the right-click menu. This is useful for those apps that either didn't give you a choice in the matter, or those that used some sneakiness to make the option go unnoticed. Additionally, it's much better (and likely safer) than manually digging through the registry.

This right-click menu is overcrowded.Nicole Cozma/CNET

So if you're tired of having a right-click menu that's just too bloated, here's how to remedy the issue:

Already have CCleaner? Great! Just make sure it's the latest version before you skip to the steps or you won't have the necessary utility options. If you don't have it installed, it's time to grab a copy of CCleaner that will serve you well during the foreseeable future.

CCleaner menu.Nicole Cozma/CNET

Step 1: Open CCleaner and click on the blue toolbox on the left-hand side labeled Tools, then click on the button labeled Startup.

Context menu management in CCleaner.Nicole Cozma/CNET

Step 2: Next, click the tab for the Context Menu and select an entry you want to edit.

Tip: If you want to select multiple lines, just hold down the Ctrl key while you click each entry.

Step 3: Decide whether you want to delete or disable the entry. Disabling will leave the shortcut available for later use if you change your mind.

Which programs will you be removing from your right-click menu? And also, how many of your entries are for applications that didn't give provide an option to stop them from being added to the list?

(Via Ghacks)

Editors' note, February 19, 2015: This How To post was originally published on July 26, 2012, and has been updated to include new information.

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How to find out if your Lenovo is infected with the Superfish adware and remove it

How to find out if your Lenovo is infected with the Superfish adware and remove it

There's no need to panic. It's a relatively simple process to remove Lenovo's "Superfish" adware. Here's what you need to know.

Sarah Tew/CNET

Users on Lenovo's forums have discovered that the Chinese company has been preloading some consumer PC models with a software called Superfish Visual Discovery. In short, the software tracks your searches and browsing habits (even on secure sites) and uses this information to place additional advertisements on the sites you visit. It's unclear what models have come preloaded with the software, although users have reported finding it on Lenovo Y50, Z40, Z50, G50 and Yoga 2 Pro models.

Ideally this is the screen you will see.Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNET

LastPass has created a Web tool that makes it easy to check to see if your computer is infected. You can check by simply clicking on this link. To manually check for the Superfish adware and uninstall it, head to the Windows Control Panel, select Programs and click Uninstall a Program. Search the list forVisualDiscovery. If it is there, click the program and select Uninstall.

Screenshot by Rob Graham

You're not finished yet, though, there is one more step. You must also uninstall the Superfish certificates. Start by clicking the Windows Start button and typing certmgr.msc in the search box. Launch the certmgr.msc program, click on Trusted Root Certification Authorities, followed byCertificates. Search through the certificates for anything mentioning Superfish Inc. Once you have found the certificates, right-click them and select Delete.

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How to save a file to Dropbox from anywhere on iOS

How to save a file to Dropbox from anywhere on iOS

Using the share extension on iOS 8, you can now upload a file to your Dropbox account from anywhere on iOS.

Uploading a photo using the Dropbox share extension.Jason Cipriani/CNET

The ability to upload nearly any file to Dropbox on your iOS device has been sorely absent. Outside of the dedicated app allowing you pick and upload a photo from within the app, uploading files was near impossible unless a third-party app supported Dropbox.

A recent update to the Dropbox app changes this dynamic, however, by allowing you to upload files from anywhere using iOS 8's share extension.

Before you can begin sending files to your Dropbox account, you'll need to download the latest updatefrom the App Store.

Enabling the share extension for the first time.Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Once that's over with, you only need to enable the Dropbox extension from a share sheet. The easiest way to do so is the launch the Photos app, select a photo and tap on the Share button.

Scroll the bottom row of icons to the left, until the More button is present. Tap on it, then slide the switch located next to Save to Dropbox to the On position. Before pressing Done, take the time to rearrange your sharing options if you so desire.

Back on the Share sheet will be the Dropbox icon. Tapping on it will ask you to select where you'd like to save your file. Once you start using it, previous locations will show up in a list making it easier to repeat the process without much work.

The next time you tap on the share button when a file is involved, Dropbox will be waiting, begging for your attention. And attention it will undoubtedly get.

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