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Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software



 
 
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  #106  
Old October 19th 17, 11:49 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 12:11:44 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote:

On Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:05:26 -0000 (UTC), Blake Snyder
wrote:


I have been using the CCleaner registry cleaner for so long that I can't
even say how many years it has been. Probably since I first heard about
Ccleaner, and never once have I see it be a problem that I could attribute
to me cleaning the registry.



Four points:

1. As registry cleaners go, CCleaner's is perhaps the safest.

2. "Safest" doesn't mean it's completely safe. There is still a risk
in using it.

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.


Read the section "Beware the Registry Cleaner" in
http://www.howtogeek.com/113382/how-...9-tips-tricks/
Note that it says "The Windows registry contains hundreds of thousands
of entries; removing a few hundred (at most) won't give you an
increase in performance. Registry cleaners can accidentally remove
important registry values, however, so there’s risk with little
reward."


Maybe 10% (if that) are "important". The rest are completely
irrelevant entries that would make a forensic expert's field day. Sht,
it would probably make an incompetent psychotic stalker want to party.

Can you explain why after you install all your drivers and all
your software the registry is under 20MB (which includes mostly
trash), and two or three years later, same drivers, same software it's
grown to 45MB even after running a cleaner and compacting the database
?
It's why more and more people prefer portable apps, they keep
relevant data in tiny ini or cfg files inside the program's folder.
I've been running registry cleaners for over 15 years now.
Never had a problem.
As to CCleaner, no one has explained yet how the malware was
planted in it. Or which government was behind the backdoor.
"Amazingly" the US government still recommends Avast, but not
Kaspersky. Duh.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
Ads
  #107  
Old October 20th 17, 01:45 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
p-0''0-h the cat (coder)
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 114
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:49:51 -0200, Shadow wrote:

Can you explain why after you install all your drivers and all
your software the registry is under 20MB (which includes mostly
trash), and two or three years later, same drivers, same software it's
grown to 45MB even after running a cleaner and compacting the database


Yer 'aving me on. Right?

C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hkcr

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 280335
Keys: 183779
Size: 27,667,106 bytes


C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hkcu

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 141057
Keys: 40818
Size: 12,312,255 bytes


C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hklm

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 1103322
Keys: 443601
Size: 133,047,025 bytes


C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hku

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 251288
Keys: 82490
Size: 21,025,435 bytes



Sent from my iFurryUnderbelly.

--
p-0.0-h the cat

Internet Terrorist, Mass sock puppeteer, Agent provocateur, Gutter rat,
Devil incarnate, Linux user#666, ******* hacker, Resident evil, Monkey Boy,
Certifiable criminal, Spineless cowardly scum, textbook Psychopath,
the SCOURGE, l33t p00h d3 tr0ll, p00h == lam3r, p00h == tr0ll, troll infâme,
the OVERCAT [The BEARPAIR are dead, and we are its murderers], lowlife troll,
shyster [pending approval by STATE_TERROR], cripple, sociopath, kook,
smug prick, smartarse, arsehole, moron, idiot, imbecile, snittish scumbag,
liar, total ******* retard, shill, pooh-seur, scouringerer, jumped up chav,
lycanthropic schizotypal lesbian, the most complete ignoid, joker, and furball.

NewsGroups Numbrer One Terrorist

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By Appointment to God Frank-Lin.

Signature integrity check
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I mark any message from »Q« the troll as stinky

  #108  
Old October 20th 17, 02:49 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On Fri, 20 Oct 2017 01:45:02 +0100, "p-0''0-h the cat (coder)"
wrote:

On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:49:51 -0200, Shadow wrote:

Can you explain why after you install all your drivers and all
your software the registry is under 20MB (which includes mostly
trash), and two or three years later, same drivers, same software it's
grown to 45MB even after running a cleaner and compacting the database


Yer 'aving me on. Right?

C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hkcr

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 280335
Keys: 183779
Size: 27,667,106 bytes


C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hkcu

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 141057
Keys: 40818
Size: 12,312,255 bytes


C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hklm

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 1103322
Keys: 443601
Size: 133,047,025 bytes


C:\Users\pooh\Desktop\RUru64 hku

Ru v1.2 - Registry size usage reporter
Copyright (C) 2013-2016 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - www.sysinternals.com

Values: 251288
Keys: 82490
Size: 21,025,435 bytes


194 million bytes.
Kudos !!! Nice size "ini" file.
If you have 200 drivers/programs installed, that's almost a
million bytes per item.
Don't suppose you clean it , IOW, remove the profiling and
datamining stuff once a week ?
Or compact it ? If you delete an entry, M$ still keeps an
"invisible" copy, which is only removed by "compacting".
Give it a try. You can always roll over, I mean, install a
backup if something goes south.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
  #109  
Old October 20th 17, 03:43 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Spamblk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software


Ken Blake wrote in
:

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.


Not quite true. The registry amongst other things stores device IDs of every
USB device plugged in (privacy implications). An ordinary registry edit can't
remove these IDs even though you would think plugin devices, being temporary,
would only create read-write entries in the registry. I use Uwe Sieber's
programs such as driver clean to delete these protected entries. As the
registry is a binary file, it is not possible to be sure there are no
recoverable "deleted" entries in it. The only way to really clean the registry
is a program that can reconstruct the entire registry skipping over invalid,
deleted or hidden entries. Of course deleting hidden entries may cause a lot of
problems. That's not an argument against registry cleaners. Its an argument for
a better registry that gives users the final say on its contents.


  #110  
Old October 20th 17, 04:20 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Spamblk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software


Shadow wrote in :

Can you explain why after you install all your drivers and all
your software the registry is under 20MB (which includes mostly
trash), and two or three years later, same drivers, same software it's
grown to 45MB even after running a cleaner and compacting the database
?
It's why more and more people prefer portable apps, they keep
relevant data in tiny ini or cfg files inside the program's folder.
I've been running registry cleaners for over 15 years now.
Never had a problem.


The logic of a registry is to have a central repository for information that is
common to all, or a number, of programs being run on that system. For example a
machine's hardware information. So it wouldn't make sense for every program
install to create an INI file with your graphics card information. That would
mean lots of INI files needing changes if updating your graphics card.

That however in my view does not invalidate the use of INI or CFG files for
settings specific or unique to a single program. I don't see an advantage of a
registry for that, particularly a binary registry.

Having a central registry containing settings for every and each program also
helps certain "installers" (small EXE programs that will download a program so
nice and easy for you) to scan and phone home if any rival program on your
system and much other information besides. They could still do it scanning for
INI files - it would take longer and may flash the hard drive activity LEDs
something that could be noticed.

Under Linux's WINE Windows compatability layer, the registry files are in
plaintext. Under WINE I've run Xnews, various versions of Firefox, Opera, Libre
Office, Notepads, PDF viewers, Irfanview, Faststone Viewer, The Gimp, etc and
the total size of the registry is 1.2 Megabytes.
I can see with a plaintext
editor what is going on. Re the discussion on XXCOPY/XXCLONE, I could see
pixielab's program creating a key at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Pixelab\XXCOPY
and view the entry in plaintext.

Portablefreeware.com frequently flags programs regarding their stealth
attribute. "Stealth" in this case meaning whether a program leaves traces of
its presence in the registry.

  #111  
Old October 20th 17, 07:08 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Mike S[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 496
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On 10/19/2017 12:11 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:05:26 -0000 (UTC), Blake Snyder
wrote:

I have been using the CCleaner registry cleaner for so long that I can't
even say how many years it has been. Probably since I first heard about
Ccleaner, and never once have I see it be a problem that I could attribute
to me cleaning the registry.


Four points:

1. As registry cleaners go, CCleaner's is perhaps the safest.

2. "Safest" doesn't mean it's completely safe. There is still a risk
in using it.

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.


snip

#4, don't use any registry cleaner that doesn't allow you to undo
the changes you make.

How do I restore (ccleaner) registry backups?

Right-click on the .REG file created and select 'Merge'.
By default these files will be saved into your 'My Documents' folder.

https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/fa...gistry-backups
  #112  
Old October 20th 17, 03:31 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
(PeteCresswell)
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,933
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

Per Ken Blake:
removing a few hundred (at most) won't give you an
increase in performance. Registry cleaners can accidentally remove
important registry values, however, so there’s risk with little
reward."


To me, the ultimate registry cleaner is having an image of a known
"Good" system, keeping a log of changes, and re-imaging from the "Good"
image/applying changes if/when the situation warrants.

Implicit in that, of course, is the discipline of not keeping Data on
the System partition...
--
Pete Cresswell
  #113  
Old October 20th 17, 04:33 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
David_B
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 92
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On 20-Oct-17 3:31 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Ken Blake:
removing a few hundred (at most) won't give you an
increase in performance. Registry cleaners can accidentally remove
important registry values, however, so there’s risk with little
reward."


To me, the ultimate registry cleaner is having an image of a known
"Good" system, keeping a log of changes, and re-imaging from the "Good"
image/applying changes if/when the situation warrants.

Implicit in that, of course, is the discipline of not keeping Data on
the System partition...


"PC MightyMax 2016 is an award winning Registry Cleaner and error repair
tool trusted by over 8,000,000 users worldwide. PC MightyMax 2016 is the
safest and most advanced registry cleaner available, and will thoroughly
scan your computer for problems in about four minutes. PC MightyMax 2016
can then create a system restore point and repair all of the problems
found."

http://www.pcmightymax.net/

I tried it back in 2004. I have a deep suspicion that it was/is a scam.

--
David B.


  #114  
Old October 20th 17, 04:39 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Ken Blake[_5_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,221
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 23:08:45 -0700, Mike S wrote:

On 10/19/2017 12:11 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:05:26 -0000 (UTC), Blake Snyder
wrote:

I have been using the CCleaner registry cleaner for so long that I can't
even say how many years it has been. Probably since I first heard about
Ccleaner, and never once have I see it be a problem that I could attribute
to me cleaning the registry.


Four points:

1. As registry cleaners go, CCleaner's is perhaps the safest.

2. "Safest" doesn't mean it's completely safe. There is still a risk
in using it.

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.


snip

#4, don't use any registry cleaner that doesn't allow you to undo
the changes you make.



Although I'm against using any registry cleaner, if you must use one,
I agree with your point.

However, note that if a registry cleaner's result is bad enough, you
won't be able to boot, and a backup you have won't be of much use.
  #115  
Old October 20th 17, 06:09 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Paul[_32_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 11,873
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

Ken Blake wrote:
On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 23:08:45 -0700, Mike S wrote:

On 10/19/2017 12:11 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:05:26 -0000 (UTC), Blake Snyder
wrote:

I have been using the CCleaner registry cleaner for so long that I can't
even say how many years it has been. Probably since I first heard about
Ccleaner, and never once have I see it be a problem that I could attribute
to me cleaning the registry.
Four points:

1. As registry cleaners go, CCleaner's is perhaps the safest.

2. "Safest" doesn't mean it's completely safe. There is still a risk
in using it.

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.

snip

#4, don't use any registry cleaner that doesn't allow you to undo
the changes you make.



Although I'm against using any registry cleaner, if you must use one,
I agree with your point.

However, note that if a registry cleaner's result is bad enough, you
won't be able to boot, and a backup you have won't be of much use.


If you backed up the actual registry files, you can put
them back "offline". Simply boot your installer CD/DVD to
Command Prompt, and "copy" them in.

Restore Points also contain copies of the registry files.
First you copy the "empty" registry files into the OS
offline. That gets the OS booting again. Then you use
rstrui to revert via a Restore Point, to a previous point
in time, with a full set of registry files. So in principle,
simply setting a Restore Point before doing something stupid,
is enough. But for the people who have damaged their
machines badly enough, that no Restore Point has ever
worked, it would be a bad idea to rely on this method alone.

If you're going to mess with the Registry, you should
at least have some idea how much work it is to "fix"
the mess later :-)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/...indows-xp-from

Paul
  #116  
Old October 20th 17, 08:15 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
J. P. Gilliver (John)[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,679
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

In message , David_B
writes:
On 20-Oct-17 3:31 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Ken Blake:
removing a few hundred (at most) won't give you an
increase in performance. Registry cleaners can accidentally remove
important registry values, however, so there’s risk with little
reward."

To me, the ultimate registry cleaner is having an image of a known
"Good" system, keeping a log of changes, and re-imaging from the "Good"
image/applying changes if/when the situation warrants.


To be fully comprehensive, that log would have to include not only
software installations, but also updates - and probably even just
settings changes.

Thus the maintenance of such a log becomes more or less a full-time job.

Implicit in that, of course, is the discipline of not keeping Data
on
the System partition...


Now on that, we do agree!

"PC MightyMax 2016 is an award winning Registry Cleaner and error
repair tool trusted by over 8,000,000 users worldwide. PC MightyMax
2016 is the safest and most advanced registry cleaner available, and
will thoroughly scan your computer for problems in about four minutes.
PC MightyMax 2016 can then create a system restore point and repair all
of the problems found."

http://www.pcmightymax.net/

I tried it back in 2004. I have a deep suspicion that it was/is a scam.

Pretty much, by the sound of it: I suspect from the amount of puff that
it's a paid-for product, as well.

Of course, they won't have heard from any of their "over 8,000,000
users" who have broken their system to the point that it won't boot to
use the restore points it has made. (Unless they have Paul's notes on
how to, but then they wouldn't be daft enough to fall for it.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

This was before we knew that a laboratory rat, if experimented upon, will
develop cancer. [Quoted by] Anne ), 1997-1-29
  #117  
Old October 20th 17, 08:28 PM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
David_B
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 92
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On 20-Oct-17 8:15 PM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , David_B
writes:
On 20-Oct-17 3:31 PM, (PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Ken Blake:
removing a few hundred (at most) won't give you an
increase in performance. Registry cleaners can accidentally remove
important registry values, however, so there’s risk with little
reward."
Â*To me, the ultimate registry cleaner is having an image of a known
"Good" system, keeping a log of changes, and re-imaging from the "Good"
image/applying changes if/when the situation warrants.


To be fully comprehensive, that log would have to include not only
software installations, but also updates - and probably even just
settings changes.

Thus the maintenance of such a log becomes more or less a full-time job.

Â*Implicit in that, of course, is the discipline of not keeping Data on
the System partition...


Now on that, we do agree!

"PC MightyMax 2016 is an award winning Registry Cleaner and error
repair tool trusted by over 8,000,000 users worldwide. PC MightyMax
2016 is the safest and most advanced registry cleaner available, and
will thoroughly scan your computer for problems in about four minutes.
PC MightyMax 2016 can then create a system restore point and repair
all of the problems found."

http://www.pcmightymax.net/

I tried it back in 2004. I have a deep suspicion that it was/is a scam.

Pretty much, by the sound of it: I suspect from the amount of puff that
it's a paid-for product, as well.


IIRC, it was quite expensive.

Currently $49.95

https://pcmightymax.net/order_new/order/2k9.php

Of course, they won't have heard from any of their "over 8,000,000
users" who have broken their system to the point that it won't boot to
use the restore points it has made. (Unless they have Paul's notes on
how to, but then they wouldn't be daft enough to fall for it.)


I scraped my computer and bought another one!

--
David B.
  #118  
Old October 21st 17, 12:22 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Mike S[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 496
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On 10/20/2017 10:09 AM, Paul wrote:
Ken Blake wrote:
On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 23:08:45 -0700, Mike S wrote:

On 10/19/2017 12:11 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:05:26 -0000 (UTC), Blake Snyder
wrote:

I have been using the CCleaner registry cleaner for so long that I
can't
even say how many years it has been. Probably since I first heard
about
Ccleaner, and never once have I see it be a problem that I could
attribute
to me cleaning the registry.
Four points:

1. As registry cleaners go, CCleaner's is perhaps the safest.

2. "Safest" doesn't mean it's completely safe. There is still a risk
in using it.

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.
snip

#4, don't use any registry cleaner that doesn't allow you to undo
the changes you make.



Although I'm against using any registry cleaner, if you must use one,
I agree with your point.

However, note that if a registry cleaner's result is bad enough, you
won't be able to boot, and a backup you have won't be of much use.


If you backed up the actual registry files, you can put
them back "offline". Simply boot your installer CD/DVD to
Command Prompt, and "copy" them in.

Restore Points also contain copies of the registry files.
First you copy the "empty" registry files into the OS
offline. That gets the OS booting again. Then you use
rstrui to revert via a Restore Point, to a previous point
in time, with a full set of registry files. So in principle,
simply setting a Restore Point before doing something stupid,
is enough. But for the people who have damaged their
machines badly enough, that no Restore Point has ever
worked, it would be a bad idea to rely on this method alone.

If you're going to mess with the Registry, you should
at least have some idea how much work it is to "fix"
the mess later :-)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/...indows-xp-from


Â*Â* Paul


Very good points Paul. Linux Live CDs can also be used. e.g. (although
this backup wasn't made by ccleaner it demonstrates a gui approach.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbN0eWR9HMs
  #119  
Old October 21st 17, 12:52 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On Fri, 20 Oct 2017 16:22:21 -0700, Mike S wrote:

On 10/20/2017 10:09 AM, Paul wrote:
Ken Blake wrote:
On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 23:08:45 -0700, Mike S wrote:

On 10/19/2017 12:11 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:05:26 -0000 (UTC), Blake Snyder
wrote:

I have been using the CCleaner registry cleaner for so long that I
can't
even say how many years it has been. Probably since I first heard
about
Ccleaner, and never once have I see it be a problem that I could
attribute
to me cleaning the registry.
Four points:

1. As registry cleaners go, CCleaner's is perhaps the safest.

2. "Safest" doesn't mean it's completely safe. There is still a risk
in using it.

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.
snip

#4, don't use any registry cleaner that doesn't allow you to undo
the changes you make.


Although I'm against using any registry cleaner, if you must use one,
I agree with your point.

However, note that if a registry cleaner's result is bad enough, you
won't be able to boot, and a backup you have won't be of much use.


If you backed up the actual registry files, you can put
them back "offline". Simply boot your installer CD/DVD to
Command Prompt, and "copy" them in.

Restore Points also contain copies of the registry files.
First you copy the "empty" registry files into the OS
offline. That gets the OS booting again. Then you use
rstrui to revert via a Restore Point, to a previous point
in time, with a full set of registry files. So in principle,
simply setting a Restore Point before doing something stupid,
is enough. But for the people who have damaged their
machines badly enough, that no Restore Point has ever
worked, it would be a bad idea to rely on this method alone.

If you're going to mess with the Registry, you should
at least have some idea how much work it is to "fix"
the mess later :-)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/...indows-xp-from


** Paul


Very good points Paul. Linux Live CDs can also be used. e.g. (although
this backup wasn't made by ccleaner it demonstrates a gui approach.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbN0eWR9HMs


ERUNT creates a complete backup of the registry, and you can
restore by simply executing the ERDNT.EXE in the backup folder it from
a DOS prompt. (DOSBOX in Linux or a bootable DOS USB made with
something like Rufus).
I've used it in the past to restore unbootable systems trashed
by bad M$ updates.
No idea if it works on Vista or worse...
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
  #120  
Old October 21st 17, 01:31 AM posted to alt.comp.os.windows-10,alt.comp.freeware,alt.windows7.general
David_B
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 92
Default Hackers hid malware in CCleaner software

On 21-Oct-17 12:52 AM, Shadow *LIED*!!!

On Fri, 20 Oct 2017 16:22:21 -0700, Mike S wrote:

On 10/20/2017 10:09 AM, Paul wrote:
Ken Blake wrote:
On Thu, 19 Oct 2017 23:08:45 -0700, Mike S wrote:

On 10/19/2017 12:11 PM, Ken Blake wrote:
On Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:05:26 -0000 (UTC), Blake Snyder
wrote:

I have been using the CCleaner registry cleaner for so long that I
can't
even say how many years it has been. Probably since I first heard
about
Ccleaner, and never once have I see it be a problem that I could
attribute
to me cleaning the registry.
Four points:

1. As registry cleaners go, CCleaner's is perhaps the safest.

2. "Safest" doesn't mean it's completely safe. There is still a risk
in using it.

3. Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against
the use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

4. The problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it the
substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no benefit
to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad bargain.
snip

#4, don't use any registry cleaner that doesn't allow you to undo
the changes you make.


Although I'm against using any registry cleaner, if you must use one,
I agree with your point.

However, note that if a registry cleaner's result is bad enough, you
won't be able to boot, and a backup you have won't be of much use.

If you backed up the actual registry files, you can put
them back "offline". Simply boot your installer CD/DVD to
Command Prompt, and "copy" them in.

Restore Points also contain copies of the registry files.
First you copy the "empty" registry files into the OS
offline. That gets the OS booting again. Then you use
rstrui to revert via a Restore Point, to a previous point
in time, with a full set of registry files. So in principle,
simply setting a Restore Point before doing something stupid,
is enough. But for the people who have damaged their
machines badly enough, that no Restore Point has ever
worked, it would be a bad idea to rely on this method alone.

If you're going to mess with the Registry, you should
at least have some idea how much work it is to "fix"
the mess later :-)

https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/...indows-xp-from


Â*Â* Paul


Very good points Paul. Linux Live CDs can also be used. e.g. (although
this backup wasn't made by ccleaner it demonstrates a gui approach.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbN0eWR9HMs


ERUNT creates a complete backup of the registry, and you can
restore by simply executing the ERDNT.EXE in the backup folder it from
a DOS prompt. (DOSBOX in Linux or a bootable DOS USB made with
something like Rufus).
I've used it in the past to restore unbootable systems trashed
by bad M$ updates.
No idea if it works on Vista or worse...
[]'s


You are a Usenet Troll and a *LIAR*, Shadow!

 




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