CCleaner and Avast Bundle: 2026 Update

CCleaner and Avast Free Antivirus in 2026: the short answer

CCleaner and Avast are still part of the same corporate family. Avast bought Piriform, the maker of CCleaner, in 2017, and the 2022 merger of NortonLifeLock and Avast created Gen Digital, which lists CCleaner among its brands.[6][7] The bundle that our 2017 report described was an offer inside the CCleaner installer to add Avast Free Antivirus.[2] CCleaner is not an antivirus, and you can refuse the offer.

We did not find a 2026 page that tells whether the current CCleaner installer still shows this offer. Installers change often, so the safe habit is the same as before: choose custom options, read each screen, and untick anything you did not ask for.

Timeline: from the Piriform purchase to Gen Digital

What changed since 2017

The first change is ownership. NortonLifeLock and Avast merged in a deal announced in July 2021 and completed in September 2022, forming Gen Digital.[7] SecurityBrief reported that the renamed company's brands include CCleaner.[7] So the answer to "does Avast own CCleaner" is now more complex: Avast and CCleaner sit under a bigger parent.

The second change is trust. The FTC says Avast and its subsidiaries sold web browsing data to third parties after promising that their products would protect people from online tracking. The agency's case summary says Avast will pay $16.5 million and may not sell or license browsing data for advertising.[8] Avast says it closed Jumpshot in January 2020.[8]

This does not mean CCleaner collects the same data. It shows why the original complaint, that users should choose what is installed, still matters. A security brand earns trust by making its optional offers easy to decline.

Risks around bundled installers (our analysis)

Our analysis is that bundling is not the only danger when people search for CCleaner. Pay attention to these cases.

• Fake CCleaner downloads. Sites and ads that copy the CCleaner name and push a different program. Our page on fake CCleaner style threats shows what to avoid.
• Tampered installers. In 2017 Cisco Talos found a malicious executable tied to CCleaner and notified Avast.[6] Download only from the official site.
• Pre-ticked boxes. Offers for extra programs are often selected by default. Quick or Recommended modes hide them.[1]
• Clean-up scams. Pop-ups claiming your PC is full of errors are a common route to paid junk software.

Steps to install CCleaner or any free tool safely

1. Use the official site. Type the address yourself or use a trusted bookmark. Avoid download portals and sponsored ads.

2. Choose Custom or Advanced. Our original report advises avoiding Quick or Recommended modes because they hide extra offers.[1]

3. Untick extra offers. Clear the pre-selected "Get Avast Free Antivirus now" box if you do not want it.[1]

4. Read every screen. Slow down on each step. A decline option is often shown in small text or as a link.

5. Check what installed. After setup, open your list of installed programs and look for anything new.

6. Remove extras. Uninstall extra programs and scan the computer. See our removal guides if something behaves oddly.

What is still unknown

• Whether today's CCleaner installer still offers Avast or other products. We could not confirm this for 2026.
• Whether the FTC order against Avast is final. The FTC case page we read lists the case status as pending.[8]
• How many users installed Avast through the bundle. We found no figure.

Our original 2017 report

The text below is our report as first published in 2017. We keep it unchanged for the record; the sections above bring it up to date.

Avast purchased Piriform in the middle of 2017, and it may have led to poor choices made today. Even though CCleaner is a successful system optimization tool for over a decade, it faced a significant downturn once its servers were compromised with the malicious variant of the product[1].

It may be the reason why researchers have spotted that the security company offers Avast Free Antivirus bundled with the CCleaner installer[2]. Despite the fact that it is a widely used marketing method, consumers tend to find it highly inappropriate since potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) are also distributed via the same way.

However, by combining CCleaner and Avast Free Antivirus together, many computer users might bring their system security to another level. Sadly, the chosen distribution method seems to deteriorate the safety services both companies provide[3].

Bundling — method employed not only by Avast but also by shady developers of adware programs

This distribution technique is widely beloved by the contrivers of the potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)[4]. It is quite ironic since the Avast products should protect you from them. Maybe that is the reason why so many experts and consumers contradict with this tactic employed by the security company.

Bundling brings the ability for developers to increase the rate of distribution. However, the computer users are not notified about the additional installation of the Avast Free Antivirus and lose their ability to choose whether they want it or not.

Therefore, if you have recently downloaded CCleaner, note that the Avast Free Antivirus might also be stealthily infiltrated on your system.

Besides, it becomes quite hard to determine the origins of the application offered in the software-bundles and many people might recognize it as an adware program. It may lead to a significant decrease in the consumer trust which the company has earned over the years.

Learn how to avoid the secret installation for the Avast Free Antivirus

You can protect your system from unwanted programs by following a few simple steps each time you download a new application.[5] In this case, once you launch the CCleaner installer, choose Custom or Advanced settings and unmark the pre-selected "Get Avast Free Antivirus now" box.

Note that you should avoid opting for Quick or Recommended installation since it does not disclose the necessary information to prevent the infiltration of the adware and other unwanted programs.

Related guides on 2-Spyware

• Check whether your email appeared in a leak
• Recent data breaches
• Virus and malware removal guides
• How to report phishing