CCleaner forcefully installed Avast

[samit]

Initially, when I tried to update CCleaner, it showed that persistent Avast banner on the installer. I wasn't able to click install on customize installation. Then, I closed and ran the installer again and this time I was able to untick Avast and complete the installation. But despite I have unticked Avast, it silently got installed in the background. I wouldn't have noticed if windows defender security center haven't shown the warning. Did anyone run into the same issue?

 

[JPLesueur]

Since it was backdoored (reported few months ago) I stopped using this product. Thats sad if they turn this program in a marketing software to promote Avast Antivirus.

It should not be done as this way..

 

[Deleted member 65228]

@JPLesueur Totally agree. I knew this sort of thing would happen. I like Avast and I still like CCleaner despite everything but I really don't like the way this is going.. Next there will be pop-up ads about Avast!

They should have purchased the company and let it be maintained by the same employees without any Avast advertising. I know this is bad for business but why not just add a News section on it which is small like Emsisoft do on their GUI and have a link every now and then to the Avast blog, that'd be so much better than trying to push installations for Avast or distracting someone with a popup.

I liked Piriform because they felt loyal and caring, but now the Avast installation advertisement is enough to destroy that feeling for me. Even if it isn't THAT bad, I just don't like it :/

 

[tim one]

I'm still using CCleaner after the incident because, paradoxically, it should be more secure and monitored.
But actually Ccleaner, having a huge market share, is an easy and concrete way for Avast to convince new users to use its AV.

 

[Deleted member 65228]

We also need to remember about the CCleaner incident that it could have happened to anyone. Therefore switching to another alternate doesn't necessarily mean you'll be safer, unless it isn't connected to the internet for automatic updates/isn't updated. And outdated software can leave you in a less secure boat because of potential vulnerability exploitation if its actively used/installed.

Modern, popular and trusted companies are high-value targets for the sort of attack that happened to CCleaner. A company which provides banking software was attacked twice (once for Petya and I believe once for WannaCry if am correct) to cause a spread of malicious software, so it could have been worse like that. Luckily the CCleaner infection was targeting businesses and was simply collecting intelligence for the start, and it was contained and handled by Avast accordingly and appropriately in a quick time-space.

There is always someone better out there. A team of 100 security specialists can be outsmarted by one single person if that single person is determined and experienced enough, one slip up can lead to a whole crash down of a scenario. It is reality and life... That is what happens in life. You live and learn.

Which is why I still like CCleaner despite what happened. But if they will be advertising Avast everywhere then it's a no-go for me from now on, because while I agree it is a good for business for them, I just don't like seeing that on software I once loved.

 

[TairikuOkami]

We also need to remember about the CCleaner incident that it could have happened to anyone.

I did not mind that, but a forced task recreating after each update hijacking internet connection and now forced Avast, that is the last straw. A bundled software is OK, but Avast is just huge. I will be using only portable version for reg cleaning, until I find a decent replacement. CCleaner has sank as low as IoBit. What a shame.

 

[Danielx64]

Guess what I found? CCleaner Now Offering Avast Free Antivirus in Typical Adware Push

CCleaner Now Offering Avast Free Antivirus in Typical Adware Push
Avast Free Antivirus integrated into CCleaner installer
Nov 20, 2017 11:42 GMT · By Bogdan Popa · Share:
Security vendor Avast purchased Piriform earlier this year, and it was obviously just a matter of time until the company started offering bundles or adding some sort of interoperability between its existing products and the newly-acquired solutions.

And today, it looks like this is exactly what’s happening with secure cleaning app CCleaner, which has started offering Avast Free Antivirus bundled into its installer.

CCleaner had some rough weeks earlier this year when it was discovered that the application was infected with malware, thus compromising a significant number of computers across the world, with users unknowingly downloading the infected update.

 

[zzz00m]

I think if you use a free commercial software product you should expect ads and bundled software (with a reasonable opt-out method) in exchange for getting the software for free.

Otherwise buy the paid version, or use open source.

Would you go to work every day for free, without expecting to be paid?

 

[Danielx64]

I think if you use a free commercial software product you should expect ads and bundled software (with a reasonable opt-out method) in exchange for getting the software for free.

Otherwise buy the paid version, or use open source.

Would you go to work every day for free, without expecting to be paid?

Well in the past this was never done for ccleaner, why didn't we see ads for other product from the same guys back then?

 

[CodaPG]

 

[gonzalo]

which is the safest site to download ccleaner without avast?

 

[Deleted member 65228]

which is the safest site to download ccleaner without avast?

It's bonded to the installer now. Unless you use an outdated installer (which is likely to provide you with an outdated version of the software which would also be bad security practice generally speaking), you can't download the installer which doesn't mention Avast.

You can use the latest official installer and simply un-check to install Avast. It isn't mandatory to install Avast for CCleaner.

 

[TairikuOkami]

which is the safest site to download ccleaner without avast?

If you block outbound connections by default, you should be fine, since it uses an online installer, thus it will be unable to download/install Avast.

You can use the latest official installer and simply un-check to install Avast. It isn't mandatory to install Avast for CCleaner.

I have noticed lately, that even un-checking did not prevent installing an offered software from some trusted software, not in CCleaner though, still it is concerning.

 

[Danielx64]

If you block outbound connections by default, you should be fine, since it uses an online installer, thus it will be unable to download/install Avast.

In general, everyone should be doing that anyway