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CCleaner Update Compromised: Malware Inside

Posted: September 18, 2017 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, Cloud Security

I hope you haven't updated CCleaner in the last month or so. I know, I know, we're always telling you to apply patches and updates as soon as you can, and that's still solid advice. This is one exception. The problem is that an update for CCleaner that was available from August 15 through September 12 contained malware. Unfortunately, the download servers used by Avast, the company that recently bought CCleaner, were hacked. The hackers replaced the software with one that included malware that is able to steal user data. CCleaner is usually a very good bit of software that scans your computer and helps you clean unneeded files to save space and increase performance. It's estimated that a little over 2.25 million users are running the malware-infected version of the software, which has been nicknamed Crap Cleaner. The good news is that it's pretty easy to become uninfected. All you have to do is install a clean version of the software, which you can do here.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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