CCleaner

[buzz456]

Users of a free software tool designed to optimize system performance on Windows PCs and Android mobile devices got a nasty shock this morning when Piriform, the company which makes the CCleaner tool, revealed in a blog post that certain versions of the software had been compromised by hackers — and that malicious, data-harvesting software had piggybacked on its installer program.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/18/avast ... 27m-users/

[ET44C4]

That does not sound good...

[dejoh]

Wow, I use that product a few time a month. Any comparable system with the same results?

[ex-railwayman]

CCleaner only had an average reputation anyway, and as one of the reviewers correctly stated that when you have to go to a 3rd party website to download these updated versions, such as cnet and filehippo, you don't know what you're installing without first running the zip file through about 3 different malware tool functions to see if it is infected, which many PC users obviously don't do these days by default, so, no wonder they end up with all sorts of rubbish on their hard drives and then they wonder how getting infected actually happens, amazingly naive.
And my nephew told me a few years ago, that kids at school have IT lessons nowadays, that teach you how to look after your computers, do these kids not keep that knowledge with them when they leave school and grow up?

Cheerz. ex.

[peterhayes]

Buzz
We need to add here this only affected "32-bit" OS machines. If you were running 64-bit OS there was no issue, and the hack occurred at the installer stage of just one version of CC.
A lot of AV software would have picked it up anyway.
pH

[dejoh]

Wish I saw this first. I've had CCCleaner for about 4 years.
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2017/0 ... -ccleaner/

[NSrailfan6130]

Any comparable free cleaner ?

[Ericmopar]

That's why I only download from the corporation and not these funky outfits like File Hippo or Major Geeks.
I've downloaded 2 programs from CNET and both were infested as well. CNET claims safe downloads... not even close to safe.
Always get stuff from the source. IE download Firefox from Mozilla, CCleaner from Piriform etc and never use torrents.

[ex-railwayman]

Any comparable free cleaner ?

I utilise the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool and update it every month, which can be downloaded from here - https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/downloa ... tails.aspx

I also utilise the built-in default Microsoft Security Essentials as well virtually every day, do you have this on WIN 10???

I have WIN 7, I use the following tools which are all freeware off the internet, you can choose whichever you want accordingly, if you have WIN 10 you may need to download and install a different file, read all the information on each site very carefully. I'm sure others on here will also chip in with other personal preferences they use regularly.

Wise Registry Cleaner - http://www.wisecleaner.com/wise-registry-cleaner.html

Spybot S&D (Search & Destroy) - the old version 1.6.2 is reported to be the better of those available I have had no problems with it whatsoever after 10 months useage. https://www.safer-networking.org/

Malwarebytes - https://www.malwarebytes.com/

I don't use anything else, I have no antivirus installed as I find it lags my PC and actively using all of the other tools it doesn't really offer any more greater protection than what I already have, which I find very sufficient.

Cheerz. Steve.

[trev123]

Windows 10 Defender came up with a message today that I did have the Backdoor:Win32/Floxif.gen!A malware and had isolated it, which was attached to the CC Cleaner setup file. I am going to remove CC Cleaner from my computer and the setup file.

[peterhayes]

Trev
The security issue with CCleaner only occurred on Windows 32 BIT systems not 64 bit like yours!
From across the pond.
pH

[trev123]

Anyway since that malware has been removed I have stopped receiving spam emails up to about 30 to 40 a day. Tough wood.