Is It Safe To Use Ccleaner To Clean My Registry
Some Windows software has go then ingrained into PC users' minds that we don't think twice to recommend them. Unfortunately, this leads to major problems when a popular tool goes rogue.
That'southward exactly what's happened with CCleaner. Once anybody's favorite Windows maintenance utility, its increasingly shady behavior means that y'all should now leave it in the dust.
Hither's why yous can't trust CCleaner anymore, and what to replace it with.
Why Is CCleaner No Longer Safe?
CCleaner, once a tidy app with no history of issues, has had several major problems in less than a year. This is unfortunately not surprising after Avast purchased CCleaner developer Piriform in July 2022. In our opinion, it isn't time to trust CCleaner.
CCleaner Silently Forces Updates
The latest CCleaner controversy comes from ignoring user preferences nearly checking for updates. A user on Piriform's forums noticed that CCleaner had automatically updated on his system without his permission. As it turned out, that'south exactly what happened.
A Piriform staff member responded with the post-obit:
"Since the release of v5.46 we have updated some users to this version to meet legal requirements and give users more autonomy and transparency over their privacy settings."
It's a chip ironic to claim that going into a user'southward system without their permission and making changes is a move based on privacy and transparency. This is peculiarly the case when that latest version of CCleaner has information collection options enabled by default (come across the section below).
Bank check out the below video to see the forced update happen when installing an old version of CCleaner:
If a user says they don't want to become automatic software updates, the app should respect this.
CCleaner's Monitoring
CCleaner'due south biggest recent controversy came in version 5.45. This included a feature called "Active Monitoring," a fairly standard feature that collects anonymized information well-nigh your organisation. You could disable it to plough the feature off---or could you?
As it turns out, if you disabled Active Monitoring in CCleaner, the software automatically re-enabled it after yous rebooted or reopened CCleaner. This is extremely suspicious beliefs. Though Piriform has backpedaled on it by pulling version five.45 from the principal download page for a time, upset users fled in droves.
Additionally, that version of CCleaner was much harder to quit. When you clicked the X to shut the software, it instead minimized to your Arrangement Tray. If you right-clicked its icon, there was no selection to exit CCleaner. This means you lot had to close it using the Job Managing director, which novice users might not know how to exercise.
Thus, CCleaner at present ran constantly in the groundwork, collecting information for Avast. This is despite near people only opening CCleaner when needed, and requesting to not take this information collected.
CCleaner Distributed Malware
Prior to this, Piriform discovered that CCleaner was hacked and distributed malware. The 32-bit version was infected with a Trojan that collected information near systems it was installed on. It besides had the adequacy to run lawmaking on affected systems.
Thankfully, the company caught information technology earlier a widespread assault could happen. But it's pretty embarrassing that a top-tier security company like Avast had such an embarrassing slip-up.
Since its conquering by Avast, CCleaner also shows pop-ups harassing yous to upgrade to the paid version (which has an automatic cleaning feature). And installing CCleaner sometimes shows an offer to install Avast, which you must uncheck to avert.
With all this combined, enough is enough. If you've had your fill up of this obnoxious and shady behavior, information technology's time to say adieu to CCleaner.
How to Uninstall CCleaner
The starting time step is removing CCleaner from your computer. Doing so is easy. Head to Settings > Apps > Apps & features. Scroll through the listing or use the search box to look for CCleaner. Click its name, then choose Uninstall.
What to Replace CCleaner With
The good news is that you actually don't need CCleaner---Windows 10 has near of its functionality built-in, bank check out our guide to cleaning Windows 10. And you can install other tools for the residuum.
Cleaning Junk Files
The longtime Deejay Cleanup tool makes cleaning junk files off your arrangement piece of cake. Launch it by typing its name in the First Carte du jour, then choose the deejay you want to scan. Check the boxes for various types of files to clean, and you lot're all set up.
For a newer interface, y'all can also access the Storage Sense characteristic in Windows ten at Settings > System > Storage. Click Free upwards infinite now under Storage sense to remove various types of unnecessary files.
Clearing Caches
Aside from immigration unnecessary files, CCleaner also cleans the cache of your browser and other programs. Still, you can clear your browser history, enshroud, and other data right inside information technology. Plus, incognito or private modes allow you lot to browse without saving whatsoever information in the beginning place.
Immigration cache to save space isn't a long-term solution because your browser volition recreate it when needed. The cache helps your browser run more efficiently, so y'all usually don't need to clear it unless you meet an issue.
Uninstall Programs and Remove Startup Items
CCleaner's Tools section includes several functions that duplicate born Windows options. To uninstall software, visit the same page you did higher up to remove CCleaner at Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
Managing startup programs is easy with the Job Manager. Press the Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut, or correct-click the Taskbar and choose Task Manager, to open information technology. Switch to the Startup tab and you'll meet everything that runs when y'all log in. Right-click an option and striking Disable to remove information technology from startup.
If you adopt, you tin also manage these at Settings > Apps > Startup.
Discover What'south Taking Upwards Space
CCleaner has a basic deejay analyzer tool that shows you the biggest infinite hogs on your system. Unsurprisingly, you take better options for disk assay.
Other CCleaner Features
The above are CCleaner's major features, only you might want replacements for the other minor functions besides. In each instance, you have options that aren't obnoxious like CCleaner.
Don't worry nigh the Browser Plugins tool---y'all can manage your browser extensions manually. And there are other indistinguishable file finders with more features also.
The System Restore is a duplicate of Windows' built-in functionality, while you lot can utilise other tools to completely wipe a deejay.
Lastly, don't worry about losing the Registry cleaner. Registry cleaners are useless, as even removing thousands of invalid entries won't have the smallest effect on performance. At that place'south a improve chance yous'll suspension something by cleaning the Registry than fixing it, and so go out them alone.
Total Replacements for CCleaner
The above Windows tools and apps should take care of everything you used CCleaner for. But in instance you just tin can't live without a dedicated cleaning app, we recommend alternatives like atomiccleaner or BleachBit.
Have You Dropped CCleaner Yet?
It'due south a shame to see a in one case-revered Windows tool become so far down the drain. Information technology in one case was focused on helping you clean upwards crap, but has turned into a crappy software itself. While Piriform has made changes to the monitoring, these are too little, besides late. And the forced updates are yet another annoying behavior that's more than like malware than a helpful utility.
You should apply a tool that respects your privacy and preferences and isn't susceptible to malware. Accept a look at other popular security apps you lot should replace for more like this.
Nearly The Author 
Source: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/stop-using-ccleaner-windows/
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