The Short Version
- Archives: Windows 11 24H2 handles common formats natively, but not encrypted archives.
- Cleanup: Storage Sense and Disk Cleanup cover routine junk removal.
- PDFs: Acrobat Reader is free for viewing, annotating and signing, but not for editing text or images.
- File transfer: LocalSend and PairDrop solve the same problem under different assumptions.
- Antivirus: Defender is built in and steps aside automatically if you install a rival.
Archives: WinRAR and 7-Zip Are Optional, Until They Aren't
The author says he stopped installing WinRAR and 7-Zip because Windows 11 now reads and writes ZIP, RAR, 7z and TAR files. Microsoft's support page backs the core of that claim. Microsoft says Windows 11, version 24H2, supports ZIP, RAR, 7z and TAR archive formats, and users can extract with the Extract All command or by dragging files out of the archive.
The history is useful. The feature isn't new. Native RAR and 7z reading arrived through the optional KB5031455 preview update in late 2023. BleepingComputer reported that update added support for 11 new archive formats, including .rar, .7z and several tar variants, though password-encrypted files weren't supported yet. Microsoft built it on the open-source libarchive project.
That encryption gap is the key caveat, and it still stands. Microsoft's current FAQ says Windows 11 24H2 doesn't support operations on encrypted archive files. It recommends non-Microsoft tools such as 7-Zip or WinRAR for creating or decompressing encrypted archives. So the author's "niche" label for password protection is fair for many people, but it's a hard stop for anyone who needs it.
On the author's second niche feature, splitting archives into parts, Microsoft's page doesn't mention it either way. I couldn't confirm it from Microsoft documentation. One third-party blog says multi-volume archives still need a dedicated tool, but I'd treat that as unverified.
Practical rule: if you only extract downloads and zip folders to email, skip the install. If you receive password-protected RARs or need to encrypt archives, keep 7-Zip or WinRAR.
CCleaner: Windows Already Does the Boring Parts
The article's case against CCleaner is that Windows covers most of what it offers. Microsoft describes Storage Sense as a Windows 10 and 11 feature that frees disk space automatically. It removes temporary files, Recycle Bin contents and offline OneDrive content. Per Microsoft Learn, it's enabled by default and runs when disk space is low.
Administrators can tune it. Microsoft lists these options:
- A daily, weekly, monthly or only-when-low-space schedule.
- Retention thresholds for the Downloads folder and Recycle Bin.
- A threshold for offloading cloud-backed files.
- Management through Intune, the Policy CSP or Group Policy.
On a personal PC, you can find the controls under Settings > System > Storage > Storage Sense. Microsoft also notes that the older cleanmgr.exe (Disk Cleanup) overlaps with Storage Sense and historically served a similar purpose.
Two caveats apply. CCleaner does more than temp-file cleanup, with browser-data cleaning, startup management and bulk uninstalling among its features. And the article's privacy criticism is a reputation claim, not a finding I could verify here. I couldn't retrieve CCleaner's own policy page, so I can't say what the company currently states about data handling. Anyone worried about it should read the policy directly.
PDFs: Reader Is Free, Editing Is Not
The author dislikes Acrobat's storage footprint and upgrade nagging, and prefers PDFgear. Adobe's own page frames the split clearly. Acrobat Reader is free for viewing, annotating, filling forms and signing. Adobe says text and image editing isn't available in Reader and requires an Acrobat Standard or Pro subscription.
So the PDFgear pitch is really about editing and conversion, where Reader doesn't compete. I couldn't verify PDFgear's features or pricing, so treat the author's "completely free" description as his claim.
He also recommends PowerToys Peek for quick PDF previews. Microsoft's Peek documentation lists images, Office documents, videos, web pages, Markdown, text and developer files as previewable. It doesn't name PDFs explicitly. That doesn't prove Peek can't preview them, but I couldn't confirm it from the docs. Test it before you uninstall anything. Per Microsoft, you select a file in File Explorer and press the activation shortcut, which defaults to Space starting with PowerToys 0.95.
LocalSend vs. PairDrop: Different Tools, Different Assumptions
The author moved from LocalSend to PairDrop because it runs in a browser and can work across networks. Both claims match the projects' descriptions, with trade-offs.
| LocalSend | PairDrop | |
|---|---|---|
| Install needed | Yes, on each device | No, browser-based |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Any modern browser |
| Internet required | No, local network only | Not for same-network transfers |
| Cross-network | No, per its FAQ | Yes, via temporary public rooms or paired devices |
| Encryption | HTTPS transfers, optional PIN | Peer-to-peer connection |
LocalSend's FAQ says it uses your local Wi-Fi and that data never leaves your network. PairDrop's project page describes temporary public rooms and persistent pairing for internet transfers, with a TURN server used for some devices behind NAT. In practice, LocalSend suits a household or office with repeated transfers and no internet dependency. PairDrop suits one-off sends where installing software is a nuisance.
One correction: the article text gives the address as "pairdop.net". The project is PairDrop, so check the spelling before you type it.
Antivirus: The Boldest Claim, and the Most Conditional
The article's strongest statement is that nobody needs third-party antivirus. Microsoft's documentation supports a narrower point. Defender Antivirus is included in Windows 11 and provides real-time, behavior-based and heuristic protection, with automatic updates. Microsoft also says that if you install and turn on another antivirus app, Defender turns off automatically, and it turns back on if you remove that app.
That has two practical consequences:
- You don't need to install a second product "just in case." Running two real-time scanners is the performance problem the author describes.
- Check which product is active in Windows Security before you assume you're covered. A trial antivirus preinstalled by the PC maker may have quietly replaced Defender.
What the documentation doesn't establish is that no one benefits from third-party security. Managed business devices, regulated environments and specific threat models are different from a personal laptop. The article itself hedges with "keep your PC updated" and "don't do anything silly", which is advice, not a guarantee. I also found no support for the claim that antivirus products generally cause harm. Treat that as opinion.
What To Do on Your Next Setup
- Test the built-ins first. Extract a RAR and a 7z in File Explorer on 24H2 and see if it's enough.
- Leave Storage Sense on. Adjust the schedule and Downloads threshold under Settings > System > Storage.
- Pick a PDF tool by task. Reader for viewing and signing, a paid or alternative editor for real edits.
- Choose your file-transfer tool by network. LocalSend for offline local transfers, PairDrop for one-off or cross-network sends.
- Open Windows Security and confirm one active antivirus product.
Bottom Line
The article's real point is sound: install apps for a specific need, not out of habit. Windows 11 has closed much of the gap for archives and cleanup. The exceptions are encrypted archives, PDF editing and offline local transfers, and those are where dedicated apps still pay off. The antivirus advice holds up best as "don't stack security products", rather than as a rule that nobody needs one.