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› UKTH forums › 💻 Computers › 🗨 Antivirus & Firewalls › Windows Defender is flagging CCleaner as a Potentially Unwanted Application
UK Sentinel.Are you using the free version of CCleaner? If so, you’ll probably notice that Windows Defender is now flagging the junk file remover as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) after Microsoft recently updated its antivirus program.
CCleaner optimizes a system by removing unused and temporary files, thereby making it faster and freeing up storage space. It also features a registry scanner for invalid references. You can download CCleaner here and see similar alternatives.
Back in 2017, Piriform, the UK-based firm behind CCleaner, was acquired by Avast for $1.3 billion, which has led to other programs being bundled in with the app, including Avast Free Antivirus, AVG Antivirus Free, Google Chrome and Google Toolbar.
It seems Microsoft has taken exception to the bundling of these programs. In a new threat entry, the Redmond firm has classified CCleaner as a PUA. “While the bundled applications themselves are legitimate, bundling of software, especially products from other providers, can result in unexpected software activity that can negatively impact user experiences,” states the notice.
“While the CCleaner installers do provide an option to opt out, some users can easily inadvertently install these bundled applications.”
Microsoft previously stated that it does not support registry cleaners, advising that such programs should not be used.
Full story: https://www.techspot.com/news/86216-windows-defender-flagging-ccleaner-potentially-unwanted-application.html
In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).
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Just had this problem on a friends laptop, Defender found ccsetup400.exe, ccsetup524.exe and dfsetup213.exe.
But I can understand that bundle installers are marked!
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What did you end up doing ? did you add ccsetup524.exe to the exclusions list ?
I personally run AVAST AV so have not encountered this particular problem ?
In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).
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Just deleted them all, dont like ccleaner as it can destroy things, often (ok only some times) seen it when I had to reinstall windows to get everything working again.
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makes sense, what AV do you use or are you more a Mac person ?
In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).
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Never had bitten fruits in my hands, neither mobiles nor PC.
Since Win7 I only use integrated MS solution and deleted all other free and even payed AV on mine and friends computers.
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Keeps it simple 
In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).
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