Get IObit Advanced SystemCare Pro 5 for free

This is an update of a deal I posted several months back.

How's your system running these days? A little pokier than usual? Occasional crashes or lockups? Think there might be some malware lurking beneath the surface?

Whatever's ailing your PC, a repair/optimization utility might help. Today only, you can score IObit's Advanced SystemCare Pro 5 absolutely free. It normally sells for $19.95 (for a one-year license).

The only bummer here is that this Giveaway of the Day giveaway includes only a six-month license. Of course, that should be more than enough time to get your PC running smoothly again. And at the end, you can always switch over to Advanced SystemCare Free, which is pretty good in its own right.

So, just what is Advanced SystemCare (ASC for short) and why would you want it, free or otherwise? It's a system-optimization tool designed to improve performance, root out problems, and even add an extra layer of security.

There are any number of similar tools out there (some free, some not), but I will profess to liking ASC. I recently ran it on a year-old Windows 7 system, and it not only found and fixed a bunch of Registry errors and the like, but also uncovered a bit of spyware that Microsoft Security Essentials had missed.

ASC can optimize Windows startup, defrag your hard drive, fix broken shortcuts, delete junk files and browser histories, and so on. Its ActiveBoost function manages system resources in real time, promising to improve overall system performance. Then there's TurboBoost, which promises extra speed for work or gaming, depending on which mode you choose.

Wisely, the program sets restore points before making any changes. If you run into trouble, the Rescue Center should get you back in business.

I'm not saying ASC will solve all your system problems, or even that it'll make any noticeable difference. But I do think it's worth a try, especially if your system is more than a year or two old. The longer Windows runs, the more detritus it accumulates, and that leads to slow, unstable performance. ASC might just help.

If not, well, at least you didn't spend $20 on it.

Advanced SystemCare 5 Pro is compatible with Windows XP and later (including Windows 8).

Bonus deal: Starting at 8 a.m. (PT) today, CNET has an exclusive deal on the most adorable portable speaker ever: The GoGroove Panda Pal, on sale for $16.99 shipped. In addition to saving a few bucks, a portion of your purchase price will go to the very worthwhile charity Pandas International. Win-win!

Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers.

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