CCleaner v5.45 Introduces Data Collection with No Way to Opt-Out

[canada_dry]

This BS is why I moved to linux several years ago... no more CCleaner, no more Malwarebytes, no MCAFEE, no forced updates, no forced telemetry...

[DEADBEEFC0FFEE]

This has literally nothing to do with the OS. You're simply hijacking the thread to rant about your love for Linux.

[SenpaiSilver]

CCleaner isn't bundle with Windows so you could choose to not install it. It's not really needed anyway.

[itscompiling]

Is there something malicious about Malwarebytes now?

[overcast]

You forgot no more desktop software, and no more games.

[sahaskatta]

It's 2018. Not sure if it's really necessary to use something like CCleaner on Windows 10. The built in disk cleanup and defrag tools have been perfectly sufficient.

[accrual]

I've found CCleaner convenient for clearing multiple browser histories and other caches all in one place, even if individually there is a native way to do so. I also don't usually find a pressing need to upgrade based on the change log. [0]

Perhaps the negative response will encourage the developers to add a working option to disable the telemetry. For now, the previous version without data collection (v5.44) is still available on the file hosting site FileHippo. [1]

[0] https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/version-history

[1] https://filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/85770

[saintPirelli]

I agree, and so is the built in data collection.

[AdmiralAsshat]

I've had one running as a nightly scheduled task on my Windows 7 laptop for about ten years. Its primary purpose was to securely erase all the stuff in my Recycle Bin as well as wipe search history, application history, etc.

More of a privacy thing than a space-saving thing, really.

[Yizahi]

There was no need for this malware since Win2k. Windows installer manages pretty well and 3rd party ones too. On win7 I uninstalled amd video driver, installed nvidia driver using their own intallers and stuff simply worked, without any "cleaning". Same with other big applications, e.g. MSVS, MSOffice etc.

Yes, Windows (7, 8, 10) have some curious folders that tend to fill up with something, like winsxs and Installers, but you can't just delete stuff there anyway, it is needed by OS, so malware like CCleaner won't help there.

[craftyguy]

Does this mean ccleaner will remove itself as it is now crap? (IIRC the original name was 'crap cleaner')

[invalid_]

Well it is on Microsoft Windows, so users are already accustomed to a corporation collecting their data without the possibility to opt out. CCleaner is just adding to the pile..

[SketchySeaBeast]

It's not terribly surprising to see CCleaner decided to make last year's accidental malware part of the core product.

[IloveHN84]

What a bad move..

[AdmiralAsshat]

The version of CCleaner currently on my Windows 7 PC is easily five years old at this point. I keep thinking I need to update it, but then another scandal like this happens and I just leave it alone once more.

[Zaheer]

Any recommendation for alternatives?

[tunap]

An older vesion of CCleaner* &/or BleachBit.

*Unsure of versioning, one that came before Avast bought Piriform. Additionally, all Piriform products will most likely follow suit... Defraggler, Recuva, Speccy etc.

[binomialxenon]

I'm not sure exactly what your needs are, but Bleachbit seems be pretty similar in features.