I expect some people will already know about this but I have been seething about it for days ....

THIS

WOW, thanks for the Heads up Mad,
Terrible news about CCleaner, I usually don't update that often, I go by the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" but now after reading the article from your Link, I will now wait even longer before updating CCleaner.3

I didn't know about this either, Mad. I don't update very often and won't be doing so for the foreseeable future.

The real problem is Avast... it is offered as a pre-checked option when you update. The only way to get rid of it is with their uninstall tool at the website. Winfrey and I have both expressed our extreme displeasure and she has gotten a non-response.

You can easily stop the monitoring when you restart by unchecking it in the startup items. I have the latest update, unchecked the Avast option and have no problems at all.

Good to know, Drac.

Thanks, Draclvr !! Never thought of that ( ) but have done it now and am much happier

I've never liked Avast - but I've always liked CCleaner. So when Avast took it over I kept on with it.

I just hope Avast doesn't instigate any more unwelcome alterations !!

If you still have an older version somewhere, especially from before Avast bought Piriform, use the old version. Since version 5.33 was infected with a backdoor trojan, don't use that one.

I don't know if an older version will work with the current iteration of the ever-changing Windows 10.

I don't have an older version, Jenny100.

Hopefully there are no Trojans in the current version

Every one should write to customer service and complain.. I was told in the written response that if enough people complained to them they might(MIGHT) make it so you had to check Avast for it to download instead of it being already checked.
I let them know how disappointed I was that this happened and that I USED to trust their site.. silly me!

Try an older version from the Internet archive.
This one seems to be from May 2017 (ccsetup530.exe)
https://web.archive.org/web/20170520230819/http://www.piriform.com:80/ccleaner/download/standard

March 2017 (ccsetup518.exe)
https://web.archive.org/web/20170308084049/http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup518.exe

or pick your date from
http://web.archive.org/web/*/piriform.com

or one of these
http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup514.exe (Feb. 2016)
http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup530.exe
http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup531.exe
http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup532.exe

You can read about versions and what was supposed to be updated in each one here
https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/version-history

A lot of the changes have to do with cleaning your web browser and such -- not important if you only use ccleaner as a registry cleaner.

The current version works quite nicely once you reject Avast and get rid of the monitoring in your Startup programs. The information from Jenny above is really good if you want to try an older version though.

I understand people's issues with the monitoring piece and the inability to actively shut the application down, but there is a potential give and take here that I don't think is being taken into consideration.

Early strategies of many companies was to offer a free, albeit pared down version of their software as a way of pulling people into purchasing the full version. The thought was that those who continued to use a trial version were negligible and technically supported by those that purchased the full version. When you think about it, from a licensing and intellectual property perspective, by using a product for free, your letting others pay for your use.

People have gotten accustomed to using a number of applications that were perceived as "free," but were really part of a marketing strategy that in today's market-competitive world is no longer sustainable. So, here's the trade off - we get to use applications without paying money, the cost is allowing our use of the application and potentially our surfing habits to become data points in the larger analysis that's used to further develop that product or others. Data is the currency of the 21st century, like it or not.

Avast's approach to this was aggressive, but not any more aggressive than all the "free" Android and Apple apps that require access to most of your incoming and outgoing data on smartphones or they won't install.

Good points, Trail. I paid for CCleaner long ago just as I did for WinPatrol and Roboform even though there are free versions available. I am not of the mind that I should be able to take advantage of some excellent software out there for nothing.

As you say, Avast has taken their marketing to a higher level to a point where they are having a negative effect on people. I do not like Avast, never have, and will not use it. Last time I uninstalled it from a machine for someone, it was taking up so many resources, the computer was barely usable. I'm sure they have remedied that since then, but the bad taste is still in my mouth from that experience. And when you make the software which you foisted on me impossible to uninstall without going to your website to download a special uninstaller, you have further made sure I will NEVER use your product. Yes I noticed the pre-checked download of Avast, but many others did not.

Jenny100

Thanks for that. For the time being I have just used my Winpatrol to remove the "active monitoring" from Start Up files.
But I've kept a copy of your post in case I decide to go any further.
[Much appreciated ]

Trail_Mystic

Thanks for your input and I understand the point you are making. However, I already use the "paid for" versions of most of the security related stuff I use and for the moment don't wish to buy any more

I wouldn't touch Avast with a bargepole.
Maybe it was OK once, but not anymore, and certainly not when they trick people into installing spyware.

Which is why I'd recommend using a version of ccleaner from before Avast bought Piriform (if you use ccleaner at all).
So-called "Free" software was bad enough when it installed an unwanted toolbar, but at least a toolbar is obvious and usually not hard to get rid of.

Did you know that when you install an antivirus you're giving it permission to decrypt all your encrypted traffic -- whenever you buy something online, pay a bill online, do online banking, etc. -- your antivirus decrypts that information for scanning. You have to be able to trust whatever antivirus you use, and I certainly wouldn't trust an antivirus that acts like spyware.

Withdrawn !!

Announced Here

Well, well, well! Looks like Winfrey's and my complaints were among a lot of other complaints. Kinda surprised that they took any action... I'll reserve judgement until I see what they do.

"A lot of the changes have to do with cleaning your web browser and such -- not important if you only use ccleaner as a registry cleaner."

I'm one of those who only uses CCleaner as a registry cleaner so rolling back to v5.44 is fine with me.
[I always have Browser Monitoring and Active Monitoring turned off anyway whatever the version.]

I was horrified when I first learned Avast had acquired CCleaner - and their recent handling of it has been totally shocking !!

I can't say it's shocking at all. Avast has always been pretty aggressive and this shows they haven't changed their tactics. One of the reasons I won't touch their anti-virus with a 10 foot pole.

Well I certainly find it shocking behaviour for their part, Draclvr !!

I've never liked Avast but of course I don't actually know as much about them as you. Not being much of a techie myself

Mad, I got the WORST non-answer from them on my complaint today. Needless to say, I was polite, but not necessarily kind in my response. The guy made it sound like they are just trying to do good in the world, blah, blah, blah. Really pi**ed me off!

Winfrey, I'll send you the text of both his and my responses by email.

Sounds about par for the course !!!!

That answer you got that P**d you off was not a very Professional answer, shows that the Avast company has gone downhill..... To think they were so good at one time, such a shame.