Kaspersky Adds App Cleaner to macOS as Leftover Files Raise Privacy and Storage Concerns
Deleting an app on a Mac does not always mean it is completely gone, and Kaspersky is turning that often-overlooked problem into a new feature inside Kaspersky Premium for macOS.
The company has introduced App Cleaner, a tool designed to remove not only unwanted applications but also the caches, preferences, logs and support files they can leave behind after being dragged to the Trash.
The issue is partly about storage, but Kaspersky argues there is also a security dimension. Some leftover files may contain account tokens, saved passwords, usernames, activity logs, document fragments, images, chat data and personal folder paths that remain on the device after the original app has been removed.
Why deleting an app may not be enough
On macOS, users commonly uninstall software by dragging an app into the Trash.
That removes the application itself, but associated files can remain elsewhere on the system. In some cases, those remnants may accumulate over time or occupy more space than users expect, particularly with software such as browsers that generate large caches and support files.
Some components can also remain hidden from the standard macOS interface, making them difficult for users to identify manually.
Kaspersky’s new tool is designed to detect those associated files when an app is removed and can also search for remnants left by applications that were uninstalled previously.
Shared files are treated differently. App Cleaner does not remove components still being used by other software and only deletes them once the final application depending on them has also been removed.
The privacy risk behind digital clutter
Storage is only one part of the problem.
Residual application data can become sensitive if a Mac is compromised, sold or handed to another person without being fully erased.
Depending on the application, leftover data may include credentials, authentication tokens and records of user activity that could potentially be useful to an attacker.
That means a poorly removed application can leave behind traces long after the user assumes it has disappeared.
Mac users clean files more often than apps
The launch comes as Kaspersky research suggests many Mac users are relatively active in managing digital clutter, but app removal is less common.
In a 2026 survey of 7,200 respondents across 18 countries, 56% of macOS users said they clear browser history, cookies, cache and temporary files, while 54% manage or delete unnecessary files such as photos and videos.
By comparison, only 44% regularly remove unused or rarely used applications.
That gap helps explain why application leftovers can accumulate quietly even among users who otherwise make an effort to keep their devices clean.
Cleaning software can create its own risks
There is another complication: users trying to solve the problem may install third-party cleaning tools from unsafe sources.
Kaspersky says its researchers have identified malware disguised as legitimate cleanup utilities and impersonating products such as CleanMyMac, Mole and CCleaner Pro.
That makes software provenance especially important, because a tool installed to remove clutter may itself become an entry point for malware if downloaded from an untrusted source.
“We've seen growing demand for device management tools as users accumulate more digital content. Yet a patchwork of third-party utilities is both inconvenient and risky,” said Irina Ermilova, Vice President for Consumer Product Management at Kaspersky.
“With App Cleaner, macOS users can clean up digital leftovers without installing additional software – keeping their devices secure and clutter-free.”
macOS security is broader than malware protection
The feature also reflects a broader shift in how consumer security tools are being positioned on Macs.
macOS includes built-in security protections, but the threat landscape now extends well beyond conventional viruses to phishing, spyware, ransomware, credential theft and malicious downloads.
Kaspersky recommends users keep macOS and installed applications updated, remain cautious with links and downloads, and ensure security software has the permissions it needs to operate correctly.
The company also advises users to remove sensitive information and sign out of personal accounts before lending a Mac for an extended period, and to perform a full factory reset before permanently selling or giving away the device.
For users, the practical takeaway is simple: moving an app to the Trash may remove what is visible, but not necessarily everything the app left behind.