Privacy, Data, SmartScreen and Installer Notes
What UniClean stores on your PC, what it does and does not send over the network, why Windows SmartScreen may warn, and how the installers behave.
UniClean works on your own PC. This page lists what it stores, what network activity is possible, why Windows SmartScreen may warn when you run the installer, and how the installers behave.
What UniClean stores locally
| Item | Where | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
| uniclean.db | Data folder | Settings, audit log, vault index, install traces, names of removed apps |
| vault.key | Data folder | Vault key, wrapped with DPAPI on Windows |
| vault\ | Data folder | Encrypted archives of removed items |
| logs\ | Data folder | Daily audit log text files |
| tools\ | Data folder | Vendor removal tools you added |
| icons\ and tmp\ | Data folder | App icons and temporary files |
The data folder is %LOCALAPPDATA%\UniClean, or UniCleanData beside the executable in portable mode.
Network activity
- The UniClean program contains no HTTP client, no update checker and no telemetry.
- Smart Suggestions and everything else are computed on your PC. No cloud model is used.
- When you click a link, for example a vendor download page or a Microsoft Store page, the app asks your system to open it. The app limits these to https, Microsoft Store and Windows settings links.
- The installer may download Microsoft Edge WebView2 if it is not already on your PC.
What the audit log contains
Time, operation id, action, target path or registry key, risk tier, dry-run flag, outcome and details, plus the state of each path before and after. That means file paths and program names. Nothing is uploaded, but an exported CSV or JSON file contains that information, so be careful where you share it.
Windows SmartScreen
The UniClean installer is not code-signed, because no signing certificate is configured in the build. Windows SmartScreen can therefore show a "Windows protected your PC" warning for software it does not recognise. That is a caution about the missing publisher signature, not an analysis of what the file does.
- Only run an installer you downloaded from the UniClean listing on UniSoftware.app.
- If the listing shows a checksum, compare it with the file you downloaded before running it.
- If you decide to continue, SmartScreen shows a "More info" link that reveals a "Run anyway" button.
- If you are unsure, do not run it.
Installer notes
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Installer types | NSIS setup (.exe) and MSI, both 64-bit (x64) |
| Install scope | Per-machine: needs administrator rights and installs for all users |
| WebView2 | Downloaded by the installer only if missing |
| Operating system | Windows 10 and Windows 11 (per the project documentation) |
| Updates | No built-in update check: a new version means a new download |
Because the data folder is outside the install folder, uninstalling or reinstalling UniClean does not delete your vault. If you want it gone, delete the data folder yourself after you are sure you no longer need any vault item.
Use at your own risk
Removing software can break other programs or leave a PC unprotected. Back up important data and create a Windows restore point first. UniClean is Beta software: only its everyday (Safe tier) uninstall and restore flow has been tested by its developer, so treat its advanced features as advanced and read every confirmation.
Related: Getting Started.
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