Name: Windows Defender Flags CCleaner as 'Potentially Unwanted Application'
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Windows Defender Flags CCleaner as 'Potentially Unwanted Application'

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PCMag editors select and review products . If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.(Image: CCleaner)Microsoft’s Windows Defender antivirus software is—perhaps ironically—flagging , a junk file remover, as a “Potentially Unwanted Application."The alerts occur when scans certain installers for the free and 14-day trial versions of CCleaner. The same installers can bundle third-party software from CCleaner’s parent company, antivirus provider Avast.&nbsp;&nbsp;But according to Microsoft, these other applications are not required to install and run the junk file removing program. “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,” Redmond says in its .&nbsp;The other applications CCleaner can try to install include , —which Avast also owns—along with Google Chrome and Google Toolbar.&nbsp;(Avast gets a fee from Google for distributing the Chrome browser.)“While the CCleaner installers do provide an option to opt out, some users can easily inadvertently install these bundled applications,” Microsoft claims in the notice.&nbsp;An example of the bundling, but Avast says this image is outdated (Credit: Microsoft)The company also provided screenshots that illustrate how the alleged bundling works. On install, CCleaner uses a plugin to contact Avast.com and download an additional file called Microstub.exe. “When it is launched, it provides a preselected option to install Avast Free Antivirus,” Microsoft claims.“If users choose to continue, the bundled antivirus product installs in the background. Existing , including Microsoft Defender Antivirus, might be turned off or uninstalled during this process,” the company added.&nbsp;However, Avast says Microsoft's description of the bundling is inaccurate. Users are simply asked whether to accept or decline installing the antivirus products, not automatically opted in."Aside from Chrome, these are handled via an accept decline opt-in," Avast said, noting the screenshots supplied by Microsoft are outdated. We've reached out to Microsoft for comment on the discrepancies.The example of the bundling provided by Avast (Credit: Avast)Being classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) doesn’t mean CCleaner is . However, the Windows Defender flag is still not a great look for the , and may prompt some users to remove the product from their computers.&nbsp;In response, a CCleaner spokesperson said: “Our products and our partners’ products are genuine and so we are in discussions with Microsoft to resolve this issue as soon as we can.”We downloaded CCleaner today, and noticed the installer was not bundling other applications during the setup process. Editor's Note: This story has been updated with comment from Avast.Why You Need AntivirusSign up for SecurityWatch newsletter for our top privacy and security stories delivered right to your inbox.This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our and . You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!AdvertisementEditors' Choice

PCMag editors select and review products . If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.(Image: CCleaner)Microsoft’s Windows Defender antivirus software is—perhaps ironically—flagging , a junk file remover, as a “Potentially Unwanted Application."The alerts occur when scans certain installers for the free and 14-day trial versions of CCleaner. The same installers can bundle third-party software from CCleaner’s parent company, antivirus provider Avast.&nbsp;&nbsp;But according to Microsoft, these other applications are not required to install...

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Michael has been a PCMag reporter since October 2017. He previously covered tech news in China from 2010 to 2015, before moving to San Francisco to write about cybersecurity. He covers a variety of tech news topics, including consumer devices, digital privacy issues, computer hacking, artificial intelligence, online communities and gaming. You can reach him at michael_kan@pcmag.com

Windows Defender Flags CCleaner as 'Potentially Unwanted Application'

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