Here is my story:
Yesterday I updated Ccleaner Free to version 5.40.6411 on a Windows 7 Pro 64 bit system which has Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition installed. A short time later the system froze up and I lost control of both mouse and keyboard. My only option was to hold the power button for a forced shutdown. This happened two more times. The system would boot up and several minutes later it would freeze again. Before the third shutdown I noticed that Windows notified me in the system tray that my antivirus was turned off and I had no protection! I then spotted the Avast icon on my desktop! What the…? How did that get there? Then the system froze again and I forced shutdown. This time I booted into safe mode, checked installed programs and discovered that Avast was indeed installed. I read up on how to uninstall and downloaded the Avast cleaner and dumped it. I rebooted and Bitdefender was running, Windows was satisfied, and no more freeze up.
I use Filehippo App Manager to update my programs and this is the way I always update Ccleaner. I did not notice anything unusual when I installed this time. But I did have another computer to update (also Windows 7). But before this, I did my research on the web and discovered that many people were having this same problem of Ccleaner automatic Avast installs. So on my second computer I tried something different. I went straight to the Ccleaner site and downloaded the installer. I launched it and paid close attention. There was no ticked box or any mention of Avast. I also clicked for custom install and still no mention of Avast. I did not go through with the install though. I canceled because I wanted to check the installer that Filehippo downloaded for me. I opened Filehippo and started the Ccleaner install. On the first window of the installer there it was at the bottom! It was a bar at the bottom shaded in a slightly different color, which I think, had caused me to believe it was just some ad not connected with the install. IT IS NOT! When looking closer this time, I saw the ticked box to install Avast! (Check out attached screenshot)
With my research, I am aware that Avast now owns Priform. This is a very sneaky and underhanded way for Avast to market their product and is just wrong! The box should be UN-ticked by default!
With that being said, what angers me more about this, is the fact that Avast borked my computer and left me unprotected and exposed to viruses! Bitdefender was not only turned off, but Avast failed to install itself correctly!
How can we be expected to give this company our trust? I have used Ccleaner for many years and recommended it to many. I can’t in good faith recommend it as well as Avast anymore. I am now considering other options for cleaning my computer, but I will keep my eye out for how Avast/Priform is going to handle this situation.