Here is my software setup…
OS - Windows 8.1 Pro (64-bits)
Antivirus - Avast! Free (Up to date, and run as needed)
Firewall - AVS Private Firewall
Malware Scanners - SUPERAntispyware, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Both up to date, and run as needed)
System/Registry Cleaning - CCleaner (Up to date, and run about once a month)
Defrag App - UltraDefrag (Up to date, and run once a month)
Hope this helps.
Thanx for the tip. Did not want to except on article on IObits ethical practices. Went googling to find a LOT more. Looking into replacing this software.
I uninstalled all iobit SW and it seems to be the case. System is not slowed down to a noticeable level. Hm? I thought I had done tests with iobit SW shutdown. Must have had some app running in background I did not identify as being iobit.
Thanx.
They are known for installing other software (Apps, and services) during setup, without your permission, so you might have had that as the problem.
My suggestion is to grab the software i suggested, and do a full system scan with each malware scanner to ensure that your system is clean, then do another full scan with Avast! in order to remove whatever it might find.
Glad you’ve got it sorted 
@ jasoncollege24,
System defarags are actually a waste of time since Windows 8.1 takes care of that all by itself.
@ Rik Packham,
One button fix all programs rarely if ever work.Kepp your system and those programs that protect you
as up to date a possible. Keep the garbage at bay by using a program like Ccleaner and you should have a fairly good running system.
I would add WinPatrol to the mix of programs.
If you decide on the Pro version, this can save you some money: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=19387.msg1195303#msg1195303
@bob3160 tell that to the hard drives that I keep having to defrag, because windows 8.1 doesn’t!
Windows 8.1’s maintenance is not perfect, and does need a bit of help. Perhaps it’s how I use my system, but your statement is surely incorrect in my circumstance. Every month, ultradefrag shows me that at least 2 (usually more than that) out of the many drives I have are not being defragmented by windows 8.1 automatic defrag.
It is a well known fact that what works for one, may not work for another. Defragging is not always a waste of time in these later operating systems. I do agree with your other statement though.
Simple answer, you continue to spend the time to defrag your drives on your systems, and I’ll be happy not to do it on my Windows systems.
If I may chime in, SpyBot S&D isn’t worth the time or the trouble especially if you use the “tea timer” in SpyBot.
Read this about SpyBot S&D http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2412372,00.asp
i don’t ever bother with the team timer, but the app is not entirely a waste. Please keep in mind that various apps are needed in order to catch what others miss. I’ve known spybot S&D to catch some things the others miss, which makes it worth the time, and effort.
Most, if not all, of us use MalwareBytes since it is better than SpyBot. Case in point our malware removal specialists don’t even bother with SpyBot.