CCleaner’s Sketchy Data Collection Feature...

[lochlomonder]

I've been a fan of CCleaner for several years, since I've always found it good for cleaning up extraneous files. However, this article now gives me pause for thought as to whether or not I want to continue using this product.

To be sure, the information may be anonymised but I do like the choice of whether to accept this, or not.

 

[Macboatmaster]

You may or may not be aware that since July 2017 Piriform is owned by AVAST
And as I have said for many years now
Not a utility to be run on default settings
AND IMHO completely unnecessary and indeed inadvisable on 10

 

[Johnny b]

Thanks for the link.

Like the old saying, nothing good lasts forever

 

[flavallee]

The recent changes to Piriform CCleaner (which I regularly use) have also concerned me, so I uninstalled it and then switched to the portable version.

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[2twenty2]

CCleaner portable version here too.

 

[lochlomonder]

You may or may not be aware that since July 2017 Piriform is owned by AVAST
And as I have said for many years now
Not a utility to be run on default settings
AND IMHO completely unnecessary and indeed inadvisable on 10

Yes, I saw Avast had taken them over and I was biding my time to see how it panned out. So far, not-so good. I use it for cleaning up Win 7 machines and previous Windows-based OS's, and I agree with you: Win 10 is a lot better at taking care of things with the built-in apps.

 

[DaveA]

From another site about the portable version

 

[TOGG]

I'm using Win 7 and I haven't updated CCleaner for some time now because Eset Internet Security prevents the download of the newer version as 'a potentially unsafe application'. Eset classifies it as 'Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Google.D' but other AV's might use a different description.

 

[dmccoy]

Here is a good alternative

https://singularlabs.com/software/system-ninja/

 

[DaveA]

dckeks,
Does system-ninja have an option not to do any "Registry" clean up?

 

[2twenty2]

https://betanews.com/2018/08/04/ava...on-of-ccleaner-following-privacy-controversy/

Avast pulls the latest version of CCleaner following privacy controversy

 

[Johnny b]

I just ran System Ninja, junk file cleaning, on my Win 7 Home computer
It's a standalone system and not on the Internet for about 2 years.
I've been using both the default Windows file cleaner and a version of CC I installed about a year ago.
I only searched my C partition, not my database partition

I ran Win file cleaner and then CC before System Ninja.

System Ninja found an additional 375 files, but only amounting to 3.96 mb.
It was very quick.
But since I'm not familiar with the rep of System Ninja and the files found are insignificant in size, I declined to dispose of them at this time.


EDIT:
I decided to test SN against my data base.
Very aggressive so I followed the path of the first 'junk file' and it led to a data base file of a Firefox profile I saved.

IMO, not safe.

I've even reconsidered using CC.

 

[Macboatmaster]

I agree and having had a look at the software and what it deletes - why anyone would consider using it on 8.1 or 10 is totally beyond me.
That said I cannot see the benefits in such programs be they CCleaner, Avast Cleanup or Singular Labs when viewed as a system maintenance tool
When considered as a troubleshooting utility perhaps the situation changes.

IMHO the utility is risky in the extreme, to the user who does not pay proper attention to what is being cleaned
Perhaps even more so than CCleaner ever was

For instance
From Singular Labs site

Temporary Files:
All files with the .tmp file extension are removed from the entire filesystem. Files contained in the predefined “Temp Folders” are also included. These locations include C:Users*AppDatatemp and C:Windowstemp, among others.

Run that on 10 and I forecast possible serious problems in some circumstances.
Here is the correct way to deal with temp files
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/70830-delete-temporary-files-windows-10-a.html

 

[dmccoy]

No registry cleaner option which is why I like it. Have used it for years without any issues as well as many others. Like any program you should understand how to use it properly.

 

[Macboatmaster]

I still maintain that the utility is risky for the average user.
It is a cold hard fact that many people do not READ fully the use guidelines before running the program
It may not have an included registry cleaner option at its initial download but it most certainly includes a number of add-ons ONE of which is a registry cleaner

More to the point the site warns in the following regarding these add-ons

System Ninja has a small number of plugins available that extend its functionality. Microsoft .NET developers can create custom utilities for System Ninja, allowing them to leverage the power of the System Ninja API
Registry Cleaner
A lightweight tool that can detect and remove unnecessary registry keys.

While we will make every effort to fix issues identified with System Ninja’s plugins, please note that they are considered to be unsupported and used at your own risk. Several have been developed by programmers not associated with SingularLabs and we cannot provide warranty on their work.

What I cannot find despite an extensive search is any guidelines - readily available on how to use the software OR indeed any advice on - establishing a means of returning to as was, if something goes wrong after running Ninja.

AND as far as I can see - if a problem does arise support is offered only in the forum of Singular Labs. (Gowland Media)

I most certainly would NOT recommend to anyone on this site the use of software provided by any company that includes in its software the provided plugins - for which they accept no responsibility and do not even produce them.

That said I have not tried the program and have no intention of doing so, but I would urge caution against its use - most especially on 10.
If anyone reading the topic decides to give Ninja a try, then like any other cleaning utility you would be well advised to establish a restore point before running Ninja.