In any case, according to reports from Techradar, Avast was recently in talks with Microsoft about why this trusted app has been flagged in the first place. The fact that Microsoft flags the software has less to do with CCleaner and more to do with Avast’s marketing methods. We would still recommend CCleaner to anyone who wants to give their computer a thorough cleaning of unneeded files, cookies and other system-cloggers. This is par for the course for many programs on the market, but not for CCleaner, which predates many of the most popular security programs you can download today. Ever since Avast took over management, the app has also been accused of collecting user data when it previously did not. Tap or click here for an app that will spot fine print gotchas for you.īut that’s not the only thing CCleaner has gotten flack for. If you don’t want this to happen, you’ll have to opt-out by clicking Decline during setup. During the initial setup, if you don’t pay attention to fine print, all of these apps will be automatically installed on your device. But Microsoft objects to the somewhat shady way they’re presented to you. These programs themselves, like CCleaner, aren’t malicious at all. Since then, the company has started bundling CCleaner with a suite of other security programs - including Google Chrome browser, Google Toolbar, and Avast Free Antivirus plus AVG Antivirus Free. Back in 2017, CCleaner was purchased by Avast, an antivirus developer.

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