Microsoft now detects CCleaner as a Potentially Unwanted Application

[koolkat]

July 29, 2020

Microsoft is now detecting the popular CCleaner Windows optimization and Registry cleaner program as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) in Microsoft Defender.

CCleaner is a junk file remover, Registry cleaner, and general Windows performance optimization utility developed by Piriform.

In 2017, Avast purchased Piriform, and there has been some concern among its users about the bundling of Avast products and promotions.

Piriform's actions have come under the scrutiny in the past when they made it so users couldn't disable usage data collection, and it was forcing updates on users even if they specified not to update the program automatically.

In a new threat entry added today to the Microsoft Security Intelligence site, Microsoft is now classifying CCleaner as a PUA:Win32/CCleaner threat.

This page does not provide any information as to why Microsoft is now classifying CCleaner as a PUP/PUA, but Microsoft has stated that they do not support Registry cleaners and that they should not be used.

Furthermore, Microsoft's evaluation criteria state that displaying "misleading" or "inaccurate" claims about files and registry entries would cause a program to fall under the classification of a potentially unwanted program.

Microsoft said that this detection is only targeting the free version as it includes bundled "offers" for other software.

"Our potentially unwanted application protection aims to safeguard user productivity. We detect instances anytime software offers to install other software that is not developed by the same entity or not required for the software to run, no matter the third party,"

Piriform on the other hand has claimed that they believe this is a false positive and are trying to work with Microsoft to remove the detection.

Edited August 10, 2020 by BamSec1
Removed: Link to a site where registration is promoted.

[koolkat]

UPDATE

Actually, CCleaner still does a good cleaning job, as such. If you don’t want to stop using it, but still wish to comply with Microsoft’s advice, take the following two precautions:

1 Watch out for and remove any ticks it puts for installing additional stuff.

2 Refrain from using its (or any other) registry cleaner.

That’s what I have been doing for some time and will continue doing, as I happen to agree with both of Microsoft's objections.

I also agree that a PUA warning is due for the inexperienced users. And it's only a warning, they don't stop you from using it, if you know what you are doing.

According to latest info, Piriform is working on changes to CCleaner, so as to have removed from Microsoft’s PUA list.