That’s an interesting problem. With cloud information, it depends entirely on the specific service and the software involved. Let’s start by talking about Last Pass
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Removing LastPass data from the cloud
LastPass actually copies the information to both your computer (or computers) and the cloud. You can then use LastPass on many different computers, all with access to that same store of encrypted password information.
If you simply uninstall the LastPass software from your machine, then you’re not telling LastPass to delete anything from the cloud. You’re simply telling it that you no longer want to use LastPass on that computer.
Your information is still stored (encrypted of course) in the cloud on LastPass’s servers, and on any other machines on which you have the LastPass software installed. The software is designed so that you can remove it from one computer and continue using it on other computers, or via the LastPass web site.
To remove your information from the cloud, you need to go to LastPass and actually delete your account. This is completely separate from removing the software from your machine. When you delete your account, what you’re really telling LastPass is to remove all of your information from the servers.
If you have other machines that still have LastPass installed, you would then also uninstall LastPass on those machines to remove the local copies of your information.
Removing other cloud applications
The Cloud is nothing more than a reference to services and technologies provided online over the internet. Using the term “cloud”, besides being marketing buzz-word, conceptualizes the internet itself as a cloud so as to avoid having to detail the reality of it’s massively complex interconnections. Even before the term “cloud” was popular
[/glossary]Most applications that have a computer-installed component work the same way. If you want to stop using the application and remove your information from the cloud and locally, you’re looking for a multi-step process:
- Step one: Delete the online account.
- Step two: Uninstall the software from your machine
- Repeat step two for each machine on which you may have this software isntalled.
That’s “most” applications. The process that you would actually use depends entirely on how the software itself is configured to run. That will vary on the developer, their goals, and the software design.
But you’re quite correct to ask. When using software that keeps information in “the Cloud”, make sure you understand how it works and what deleting the software or the account really imply.
I have a Mac…don’t know if it’s running slow or not. There are a few applications on your site that profess to make your Mac run faster. Are they just advertising, or have you had experience with any of them, and think they’re a good idea to install? I did this with MacKeeper and was sorry afterwards.
thanks,
{email address removed}
You are seeing context sensitive ads. Ask Leo! doesn’t promote any software to speed up your computer. On the contrary, Leo has written article explaining why he believes these kinds of programs often do more harm than good.
What’s the difference between an ad and your recommendation?
What’s the best registry cleaner?
Mac’s don’t have a registry, and I’m not sure how these Mac cleaners purport to work. It seems that like most programs designed to speed up your computer, the thing they do most effectively is to get people to unnecessarily part with their money.
They are just advertising. It’s VERY important to understand the difference between advertising and content on any and every web site.