CCLeaner - is it good or bad?!

Hi,

I Use CCleaner and it has caused no issues and should not with any of those programs.

I don't use the Registry Cleaner function and if I did I would certainly Create a Restore

Point before using and also use the CCleaner backup process. Problem is some of the

Registry issues that might be caused do not show up immediately.

Cleaner function  - yes

Registry Cleaner function - not recommended

CCleaner also has a Support Forum where others might help.

Piriform Software Forums - CCleaner and others.

http://forum.piriform.com/index.php?act=idx

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Here's a tip you didn't ask about :

Low cost 3rd party software firewalls are pretty much problems waiting to happen. They all have

compatibility issues and offer only a few enhanced controls. In fact their issues often actually lower

the overall security instead of raising it. The Windows Firewall has no compatibility issues and is

extremely secure if you know enough to bypass most of the hype. Quality software firewalls cost

thousands. Most routers have hardware firewalls built in and those are considerably better additions

for the buck than any cheap/low cost software firewall.

How to Change the Windows Firewall Notification Settings in Windows 7 - also see the related articles

section at the just before the reply section.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/523-windows-firewall-change-notification-settings.html

How to Manage Windows 7 Firewall.

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-manage-windows-7-firewall

How to Use Windows Firewall With Advanced Security in Vista (also Windows 7)

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/92748-windows-firewall-advanced-security.html

What's new in the Windows 7 Firewall?

http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Whats-new-Windows-7-Firewall.html

Here is what I use and recommend : (These are all Free versions and very effective.) 

Avast and Prevx have proven extremely reliable and compatible with everything I have

thrown at them. Microsoft Security Essentials and Prevx have also proven to be very

reliable and compatible. Use MSE and Prevx or Avast and Prevx however not all 3.

Avast Home Free - stop any shields you do not need except leave Standard, Web, and

Network running.

Prevx - Home - Free

Windows Firewall

Windows Defender (not needed if using MSE)

IE - Protected Mode

IE 8 - SmartScreen Filter ON  (IE 7 Phishing Filter)

I also have IE to always start with InPrivate Filter active if IE 8.

(You occasionally have to turn it temporarily off with the little Icon on LEFT of the + bottom

right of IE)

Two versions of Avast are available 5.x and 4.8x

Avast 5.x - Home - Free - Stop the Shields you do not use (except File, Web, Network, &

Behavior) - double click the Orange Icon in Notification Area - Real Time Shields - click the

Shield you want to stop - STOP. To stop the Orange Icon from showing an error indicator -

click the Orange Icon - Upper Right - Settings - click Status Bar - uncheck the Shields you

disabled - click OK

http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Avast 4.8x - Home - Free - stop any shields you do not need except leave Standard, Web,

and Network running. (Double Click Blue icon - details next to OK. - upper left Shields -

Terminate those you do not use.)

http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download#tab4

Or use Microsoft Security Essentials - Free

http://www.microsoft.com/Security\_Essentials/

Prevx works well along side Avast or MSE

Prevx - Home - Free small, fast, exceptional CLOUD protection, works with other security

programs. This is a scanner only, VERY EFFECTIVE, if it finds something come back here

or use Google to see how to remove. 

http://www.prevx.com/   <-- information

http://info.prevx.com/downloadcsi.asp  <-- download

PCmag - Prevx - Editor'a Choice

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2346862,00.asp

Also get Malwarebytes - free - use as scanner only. If you ever suspect malware, and that

would be unsual with Avast and Prevx running except for an occasional low level cookie

(no big deal), UPDATE it and then run it as a scanner. I have many scanners and they

never find anything of note since I started using this setup.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Hope this helps.

Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.