CCleaner Update - Beware of PUPs

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
240
106
Went to use CCleaner his morning, and it advised me there was an update. Of course, I wanted the free version, so I got to it and downloaded it. But! There were two unwanted pieces of Software piggy backed onto the process. I was not fast enough to stop them.

It loaded and installed Slimware and DriverUpdate, and I had to leave. I came home and Slimware3 had scanned my system and DriverUpdate had a couple of jewels for me. I immediately cancelled them and then went in Program/Features in CP and uninstalled both. They even put their damned icons on my desktop.

They may be legit and safe, but I do not let anything not chosen by me install on my systems. They are gone - but, beware - as far as I am concerned, they were PUPs, and CCleaner has been degraded for allowing that. I guess that's how Piriform gets even for me not buying Pro. :)
 

Morbus

Senior member
Apr 10, 2009
998
0
0
Ever since they released their "upgraded" UI following Windows 8's metro style, it's pretty obvious they're going downhill.

This does not come as a surprise, unfortunately.
 

balloonshark

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2008
7,160
3,625
136
Why did you need to update? The program is not essential and doesn't need updated right away unless you have a really bad bug. Let other people do the post release 'beta testing'. ;)

When ccleaner has a new release it usually takes about a week for them to release their 'slim' version which doesn't include any extras. It can always be found on the builds page. http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,225
126
No offense, corkyg, but weren't you claiming that Flash Player updates had malware PUPs too (besides the "optional offer" shown on the Adobe web page).

May I suggest that your machine / network / router may be compromised (still / again)?

Edit: I downloaded and installed whatever newest version of the "Free edition" CCleaner was available at piriform.com (I think that's the site), and I noticed that there was an "Advanced" button during the install, and then during the install, there was a screen prompting (checked off by default) to install Chrome, and make it your default browser. I unchecked that and installed CCleaner. Nothing else has popped up since.

I can see, if it bundled Chrome, how it might bundle some other "companionware", if you aren't careful installing it.

Edit: I don't normally install CCleaner, but it just popped up a notification that it could "clean 12.2GB of space". How annoying. :(
 
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Berryracer

Platinum Member
Oct 4, 2006
2,779
1
81
I only download the portable version, hence no installer and and no updates.

and be ware not to ever that slim driver updater update any of your drivers. it will demolish your system and require you to format
 

smakme7757

Golden Member
Nov 20, 2010
1,487
1
81
Ever since they released their "upgraded" UI following Windows 8's metro style, it's pretty obvious they're going downhill.

This does not come as a surprise, unfortunately.
A UI update is reason to believe they are "Going down hill".

Why?
 

flexy

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
8,464
155
106
Well I once told CC devs in a "hate mail" what I think about their "metro UI"...

I mean it's not only CC, more software is trying to "adapt" to this abomination with their UIs, which, ironically, IMHO is the worst what Windows 8 has to offer. (Not only Metro/Tiles...also the standard themes with this boring, "flat" look.) I am using Aero Glass fortunately so I don't have to see this any more.
 

ringtail

Golden Member
Mar 10, 2012
1,030
34
91
Why did you need to update? The program is not essential and doesn't need updated right away unless you have a really bad bug. Let other people do the post release 'beta testing'. ;)

When ccleaner has a new release it usually takes about a week for them to release their 'slim' version which doesn't include any extras. It can always be found on the builds page. http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds

Learned something good from you there.

Helpful!

Thanks man

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