What to Do if You Think Your CCleaner Download Contains Malware?

If you're concerned that your recent CCleaner download may have been compromised with malware, there are several steps you can take to verify its integrity and ensure your system's safety.

Firstly, check the version of CCleaner installed on your system. If it's not up-to-date, it's possible that the malware was installed during the update process. Make note of other relevant system information such as admin privileges, whether your system is 64-bit or 32-bit, and the MAC addresses of your first three network adapters.

Next, review the list of currently running processes on your system to ensure there are no suspicious programs running in the background. Additionally, check for any recently installed software, including Windows updates, that may be related to the malware.

The malware itself collects information about infected systems, including the modified CCleaner version, admin privileges, and other system details. This information is used to send reports back to the command and control (C2) server and fetch the final payload.

Fortunately, Piriform has released a new version of CCleaner that addresses this issue, and users can download it for free from August 15 until September 12. CCleaner has been downloaded over 2 billion times, with 5 million downloads per week.

While the full extent of the malware's impact is still unknown, it's clear that many users may have been affected. Avast, which acquired Piriform a few months ago, is investigating how files from their servers were modified before being released to the public.

In light of this incident, it's essential to stay vigilant and monitor your system for any suspicious activity. Malwarebytes will detect the presence of malware-infected CCleaner versions by flagging specific registry values that are not created by clean versions of the software.

To verify whether you were affected, check for the presence of the following values under the registry key: MUID, TCID, and NID. If these values are present, it's likely that your system has been infected with the malware.

It's important to note that this incident predates Avast's acquisition of Piriform and highlights the importance of supply chain security in software distribution.

In conclusion, if you suspect that your CCleaner download contains malware, take immediate action by checking your system for suspicious activity and updating your software to the latest version. Remember to stay informed about cybersecurity threats and take proactive measures to protect your digital assets.

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