Microsoft flags CCleaner as Potentially Unwanted Application, deletes its files

[eXDj]

I UNINSTALLED cclener now,this program more destroys your windows.reg are the most important,no program was invented to make your windows better,only back-up it is SAFE !

 

[Cortex]

The future doesn't look good for other companies such as iOBIT

 

[Arequire]

include Chrome including Flash

I'd argue the fact that Flash was integrated into Chrome negates its classification.
Also according to Google, back in 2014 80% of desktop users visited at least one site a day needing Flash, so one could argue that, formerly, it met Microsoft's "required for the software to run" purpose.

 

[silversurfer]

Microsoft Explains Why Windows Defender classifying CCleaner Installer as PUA

Apparently, Windows Defender in Windows 10 is classifying CCleaner Installer as Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA). And Windows 10 is locking other Piriform product installers such as Recuva, Defraggler, and Speccy from running. Microsoft has come up with an explanation of why it has flagged...

techdows.com

Microsoft said “bundling of software, especially products from other providers, can result in unexpected software activity that can negatively impact the user experiences. To protect Windows users, Microsoft Defender Antivirus detects CCleaner installers that exhibit this behavior as potentially unwanted applications (PUA)”.

 

[Julian RO]

And now what's next? Avast marked as a PUP?

 

[jackuars]

And now what's next? Avast marked as a PUP?

On a lighter side, probably all antivirus as PUP, they are unwanted because Microsoft might think Windows defender is the best.

 

[SeriousHoax]

And now what's next? Avast marked as a PUP?

I would definitely do that because if I'm not wrong then Avast installer comes bundled with Google Chrome so it should be detected as a PUP too if the installation of Chrome is ticked automatically.

 

[jackuars]

Good job, if PUA detection of Windows improves, it will hopefully give a warning to developers to stop bundling their software's with unwanted applications.☠

It's important that PUA detection is turned on automatically by default in Windows, because atleast 70% of Windows users are newbies and are happy clickers when installing softwares.

Many good antivirus suites already include PUA detection, but it's mostly not turned on automatically. However KSC Free allows CCleaner to be installed, by automatically unchecking the bundled offer. Are they using Unchecky in the background? Anyway kudos to Kaspersky for that! ✌

 

[SeriousHoax]

So here's the detection from last night.

Just now I downloaded the Ccleaner installer again and this time it's not detected by WD anymore. Because the Ccleaner team made changes to their installer. Nowhere in the initial installer wizard, bundled software installation is mentioned anymore. It's clean and all options are related to Ccleaner only.

Before it used to be like this:

Now after the change, the mention of bundled software comes in the second step and clearly asks the user whether they want to install that particular software or not. Just, like I said in one of my previous comment, this behavior is acceptable. As long the user is asked about it, it's ok.

I checked the digital signature timestamp of the latest installer. It is from last night. So Ccleaner made this change last night after the news of detection went public earlier.

I have to say Bravo Microsoft They decided it's time to be aggressive against such practice and in no time Ccleaner/Avast have learned their lesson. Hopefully this will make Avast to fix this in their Avast AV installer too.
Good job Microsoft
But there are many other software who does this and they aren't gonna change their behavior anytime soon.
Eg: PotPlayer:

One of the reason being PUP protection not enabled by default. If Microsoft do that all of them will be forced to make changes.

 

[Chipicao]

And now what's next? Avast marked as a PUP?

Should be great and a good move also. Avast is not a good AV Company. I don't trust on them.

I know, there are a lot of people using them. But i don't care... They have a big data, and they sell data from users to 3rd, and guess what... receiving spam when you have Avast Account.. Data Selling!?

I recommend anyone to stay away from Avast / AVG.

 

[LDogg]

Not really surprised after hackers managed to change legit files to then release malware and Avast to buy it, sort of tells the same tale really.

~LDogg

 

[show-Zi]

This is just my personal opinion, OneDrive and Cortana, which we do not plan to use, are also close to PUA.
To the extreme, Microsoft and Avast may not be so different in what they are doing.

 

[Julian RO]

Should be great and a good move also. Avast is not a good AV Company.

I agree. Their AV is bundled in a lot of freeware programs, like uTorrent, aTube Catcher etc.

I would definitely do that because if I'm not wrong then Avast installer comes bundled with Google Chrome so it should be detected as a PUP too if the installation of Chrome is ticked automatically.

Yep, that's right.

 

[Cortex]

I've just updated a handy program Burnaware free, it comes with two click to install additions, Opera, & an unknown protection add-on. Now I know those are there & they keep the program free, I could opt to pay if I chose to - For me the thing is is developer has to make money & I have choices, the check boxes were clear, & as I rarely work for nothing why should the developer?

 

[blackice]

This is just my personal opinion, OneDrive and Cortana, which we do not plan to use, are also close to PUA.
To the extreme, Microsoft and Avast may not be so different in what they are doing.

I thought that about OneDrive until I started using it. And if my wife didn’t use it for work I’d feel that way again haha.

 

[show-Zi]

I thought that about OneDrive until I started using it. And if my wife didn’t use it for work I’d feel that way again haha.

What I thought was that we should be well aware that the PUA definition is Microsoft's intent. In other words, it is not the user who judged "undesirable".

I don't think the Windows update that causes failure or trouble is a "desirable" application.

 

[TheBlueCreeper512]

The future doesn't look good for other companies such as iOBIT

The future never looked good for iOBit especially after that Malwarebytes debacle...

I think like some people here, that Microsoft should be more aggressive about PUPs, but not go so far as to block every single app that Microsoft doesn't like, there should be a balance, and that balance is difficult to achieve, because no matter what you do, which direction you choose to go down, there always will be people criticizing your decisions, like if Defender starts detecting Avast Antivirus as a PUP, some people will think that this is a good move by Microsoft, not only was Avast bundling software but the company itself is very shady. And then there is the people that are at the complete opposite of the spectrum, maybe they use or likeAvast AV and they don't Defender to flag it. So I think personally that Microsoft is starting go down the right path with Defender and PUP protection.

 

[ChoiceVoice]

microsoft is on the pathway to being sued for abuse of monopoly. this happened before with IE. likewise, you can't have a built-in antivirus that flags non-malicious software that microsoft deems "unwanted". think about it, it is a built-in AV, meaning that it is essentially the windows operating system that is picking and choosing what will be allowed to run. they are unwittingly gaming their operating system to ban targeted software companies. and in the case of ccleaner, it is a software competitor that has a rival antivirus. it will be interesting to see how this develops in the future and whether someone will take on that juggernaut as netscape navigator did.

 

[MacDefender]

This is just my personal opinion, OneDrive and Cortana, which we do not plan to use, are also close to PUA.
To the extreme, Microsoft and Avast may not be so different in what they are doing.

That actually makes Windows 10 the PUA for bundling it!

 

[Ink]

This is just my personal opinion, OneDrive and Cortana, which we do not plan to use, are also close to PUA.
To the extreme, Microsoft and Avast may not be so different in what they are doing.

Neither tamper with the Registry nor intentionally make the OS less stable.

Both are first party services by Microsoft, not a sponsored deal between 2 parties.

Also, Cortana has moved away from the Desktop environment and towards Microsoft 365. On Google Android and iOS, their Assistants are dominant.