Windows 10: CCleaner "status" as "safe to use"?

Hi.

Not so long a go, Piriform/Avast had some serious issues with Free CCleaner (from user point of view) for e.g. forcibly running in the background, updating itself without user interaction etc. Now they seem to introduce some "Software Updater" functionality which I absodefinitely will *not* use.

My question goes, if I'd like to have CCleaner for cleaning, is it now "safe" to use ie. have those "backdoor" functionalities been disabled / removed OR should I:

1) just let Windows to maintain itself?
2) use some other tool(s) - which one(s) or
3) something else (what)?

Some interesting discussions (again) on-going on Piriform site:
https://forum.piriform.com/topic/535...ersion/?page=1

What is your "maintenance" tool / process if any?

//t

:)

 

CCleaner Safe?

I love to use CCleaner to remove temporary files and cookies but is the registry cleaner acctually safe to use? Would I be best off avoiding using it?

 

CCleaner

> Is it safe to install ccleaner on my pc?

Depends...

Piriform (the maker of CCleaner etc) was bought by Avast in July 2017 and there was this nasty incident...

• Avast Clarifies Details Surrounding CCleaner Malware Incident
• https://blog.avast.com/update-to-the-ccleaner-5.33.6162-security-incident

All CCleaner versions are bundling Avast AV and/or various Google products such as Google Chrome, a Google toolbar and possibly other products....

Microsoft Community has seen quite a few of related threads.

Recently more and more threads are popping up in the Piriform/CCleaner forum which hint at even more questionable methods...

Here are a few recent example threads:

• Problem with installer bundle offer? By
  
  nukecad, yesterday at 01:33

• Providers of CCleaner
  are forcing installation of Avast Antivirus By
  ecbritz, yesterday at 09:33

• CCleaner v5.38 installing Avast Free Antivirus
  By
  SMalik, Thursday at 05:37

IMO, CCleaner is not unproblematic and has to be treated carefully.

I, personally, would not recommend CCleaner to inexperienced and/or not so tech-savvy persons...

Suggestion to inform yourself before installing CCleaner (or any other product) and to always, always keep your eyes wide open during installation (watch out for any bundled softwares etc etc).

You also might want to read this article (in case you don't use an ad blocker: ignore all advertisements):

https://www.howtogeek.com/172820/beginner-geek-what-does-ccleaner-do-and-should-you-use-it/

WRT to CCleaner on Windows 10:

According to
this post Windows 10 blocks older versions: "CC v5.27 and older, (or somewhere around there) are no longer deemed safe by MS and automatically blocked when starting."

HTH,

Julia

 

Latest CCleaner Version Released


@Brink

New Update for CCleaner




Tuesday, February 13, 2018 CCleaner v5.40




The Piriform team would like to announce the latest release of CCleaner for Windows.
This update adds more cleaning for Edge and a screen where you can review your subscription status. Additionally, the Avast offer in the CCleaner installer is no longer shown if you have previously declined it.
If you have suggestions for what you'd like to see next in CCleaner, please drop by our forums and let us know in our suggestions area.
Browser Cleaning

• Edge: Added new 'Set aside tabs' cleaning rule

Windows Cleaning

• Added warning for 'Old prefetch data' cleaning rule

General

• Minor user interface improvements
• Minor bug fixes