CCleaner was once regarded as one of the best disk cleaning tools that allowed users to clean their computers from unwanted files and registries. However, in 2017 a compromised version of CCleaner was released online which when downloaded by user infected their device with malware.
Ever since then, people have had the following questions in their mind: Is CCleaner spyware, does CCleaner contain malware, is CCleanear still hacked, and much more? In this article, I am going to answer all your questions related to the trustworthiness of CCleaner and tell you if CCleaner is safe to use or not.
Table Of Contents
- Quick Summary
- Is CCleaner Spyware? Does CCleaner Have Malware?
- Is CCleaner Still Hacked?
- Is CCleaner Trustworthy?
- Is CCleaner Safe On Android And Windows?
- How To Tell If You Have The Hacked Version Of CCleaner?
- Does CCleaner Have A Virus? Final Verdict
- FAQs
Quick Summary
CCleaner was once compromised in 2017. However, it is now safe and free from spyware or malware. It is owned by Avast so it’s trustworthy. That said, you should only download it from official sources.
Is CCleaner Spyware? Does CCleaner Have Malware?
Ccleaner is not spyware nor does it contain malware, it is a safe software that you can use to clean your PC. However, you will still find articles telling you that CCleaner is not safe to use because it was compromised in 2017. However, those articles are outdated. As soon as the CCleaner team found the security breach they worked on it and neutralized the threat.
Is CCleaner Still Hacked?
No, CCleaner is not hacked anymore. As I said earlier, it was hacked in 2017 and since then they have made their software really secure. It is currently safe to use and you can download it from its official website.
If you are using an older version of the software then you can update it or you can uninstall the old version of the software and install a new one.
I have also shared the facts about CCleaner’s trustworthiness and cleared the air around it being a spyware or malware in this video on our YouTube channel.
Is CCleaner Trustworthy?
Yes, the CCleaner app is safe to use. Also, it’s owned by Avast so it is trustworthy as well. However, you should download it from trusted sources only. Overall, you can use CCleaner without worries. Just get it from safe places and update it regularly.
Is CCleaner Safe On Android And Windows?
As I already said, CCleaner is generally safe to use. Now, I’ll prove it to you. For this test, I have downloaded the CCleaner app on Android from the Google Play Store and on my Windows 11 PC from the official CCleaner website.
I first tested it on Android, I installed the Kaspersky antivirus app on my phone and ran a scan. I didn’t use Avast because CCleaner is owned by Avast itself. As expected, Kaspersky detected no threats which means CCleaner is safe on Android.
On Windows, I ran the scan using the Windows Defender program. Here also, the antivirus did not detect any virus or malware.
This test proves that CCleaner is safe on Windows and Android. However, you must download the latest version of the CCleaner app from official sources as I did in my test.
How To Tell If You Have The Hacked Version Of CCleaner?
If you have an old version of CCleaner on your computer then chances are that it may be compromised. Implement the following tips to tell if you have the hacked version of CCleaner.
Check The Source: Ensure you have downloaded the CCleaner software from the official website or the Microsoft Store. If it is downloaded from somewhere else then it could be compromised.
Verify The Software Version: Ensure you have the latest version of CCleaner. Outdated versions are more likely to be compromised. Look if you have CCleaner version 5.33.6162 and CCleaner Cloud version 1.07. 3191 because these were the versions that were affected by malware attacks.
Use Anti-Virus Software: Run a full scan of your computer with an antivirus program to check for any potential threats on your device.
Look for Signs of Compromise: If your system has a compromised version of CCleaner then you might notice unusual behavior on your device. Look for signs such as slow performance, unexpected pop-up ads, unknown software, etc.
Check for Official Statements: If there has been a security breach incident then the company will usually provide information and instructions on how to address the issue as they did in 2017. So look for official statements or news regarding CCleaner.
If you have the compromised version of the CCleaner installed on your device then you can uninstall it from your device.
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Does CCleaner Have A Virus? Final Verdict
To conclude I’d like to say that CCleaner is a trusted disk cleanup tool. Yes, it did face a security breach in 2017 that raised concerns about its safety. However, it’s important to note that CCleaner has taken significant steps to address the issue and improve security.
As of now, CCleaner is considered safe and trustworthy. It is not spyware, doesn’t contain malware, and is no longer hacked.
Users can confidently download it from official sources. To ensure your CCleaner is legitimate, follow the steps mentioned by me in the article above. If you suspect a compromised version then it’s advisable to uninstall it from your device.
FAQs
Is CCleaner Secure?
Yes, generally it is safe to use.
Does CCleaner Make Your PC Faster?
Yes, but marginally by cleaning temporary files on your computer.
Will CCleaner Remove Spyware?
No, it is not an antivirus or anti-malware tool so it cannot remove spyware.
