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{{short description|Software company headquartered in London, England}}
{{short description|Software company headquartered in London, England}}
{{Multiple issues|section=|
{{more citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{advert|date=July 2017}}
}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Piriform Ltd
| name = Piriform Software Ltd.
| logo = PiriformLtd.png
| logo = PiriformLtd.png
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| genre =
| genre =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2005|09|15}}
| foundation = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2005|09|15}}
| founders = Guy Saner and Lindsey Whelan
| founders = {{ubl|Guy Saner|Lindsey Whelan}}
| location_city = [[London]]
| location =
| location_country = England
| locations =
| locations =
| industry = [[Computer software]]
| industry = [[Computer software]]
Line 25: Line 23:
| subsid =
| subsid =
| caption =
| caption =
| homepage = https://www.ccleaner.com/
| homepage =
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}

'''Piriform Ltd''' is a British [[software]] company based in [[London]], owned since 2017 by [[Avast]]. The company develops cleaning and optimisation tools for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] [[Operating system|operating systems]], including [[CCleaner]], CCleaner Browser, [[Defraggler]], [[Recuva]] and [[Speccy]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.piriform.com/products | title = Piriform Product page | publisher = Piriform | access-date = 10 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.piriform.com/about | title = Piriform company Info page | publisher = Piriform | access-date = 10 November 2007}}</ref> On 22 September 2015, Piriform launched CCleaner Cloud, a tool to maintain computers remotely.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=25 September 2015|title=A first look at CCleaner Cloud - gHacks Tech News|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2015/09/25/a-first-look-at-ccleaner-cloud/|access-date=6 October 2017|website=gHacks.net}}</ref>
'''Piriform Software Ltd.''' is a British [[software]] company based in [[London]], owned since 2017 by [[Avast]] which itself became part of [[Gen Digital]] in 2022. The company develops cleaning and optimisation tools for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[macOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] [[Operating system|operating systems]], including [[CCleaner]], CCleaner Browser, [[Defraggler]], [[Recuva]] and [[Speccy]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.piriform.com/products | title = Piriform Product page | publisher = Piriform | access-date = 10 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.piriform.com/about | title = Piriform company Info page | publisher = Piriform | access-date = 10 November 2007}}</ref> On 22 September 2015, Piriform launched CCleaner Cloud, a tool to maintain computers remotely.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=25 September 2015|title=A first look at CCleaner Cloud - gHacks Tech News|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2015/09/25/a-first-look-at-ccleaner-cloud/|access-date=6 October 2017|website=gHacks.net}}</ref>


== History ==
== History ==
The name Piriform means "shaped like a [[pear]]," possibly referring to the British slang "[[Glossary of British terms not widely used in the United States#P|to go pear-shaped]]".{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}
The name Piriform means "shaped like a [[pear]]," possibly referring to the British slang "[[Glossary of British terms not widely used in the United States#P|to go pear-shaped]]".{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}


⚫
CCleaner was launched in 2004 by founders Guy Saner and Lindsey Whelan. In July 2017, Piriform Ltd was acquired by [[Avast]].<ref name="reuters">{{cite web|author=|date=18 September 2017 |title=Hackers compromised free CCleaner software, Avast's Piriform says|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-security-avast/hackers-compromised-ccleaner-free-software-avasts-piriform-says-idUSKCN1BT0R9 |publisher= |website= [[Reuters]].com| access-date=6 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Sawers|first=Paul|date=19 July 2017| title= Avast acquires Piriform, maker of popular system cleaning program CCleaner|work=[[VentureBeat]].com |url= https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/19/avast-acquires-piriform-maker-of-popular-system-cleaning-program-ccleaner/ |access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref>
CCleaner was launched in 2004 by founders Guy Saner and Lindsey Whelan.

⚫
In July 2017, Piriform Ltd was acquired by [[Avast]].<ref name="reuters">{{cite web|author=|date=18 September 2017|title=Hackers compromised free CCleaner software, Avast's Piriform says|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-security-avast/hackers-compromised-ccleaner-free-software-avasts-piriform-says-idUSKCN1BT0R9|access-date=6 October 2017|publisher=|via=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Sawers|first=Paul|date=19 July 2017|title=Avast acquires Piriform, maker of popular system cleaning program CCleaner|work=[[VentureBeat]]|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/19/avast-acquires-piriform-maker-of-popular-system-cleaning-program-ccleaner/|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref>

In September 2017, researchers discovered that CCleaner was compromised by hackers who inserted a [[Backdoor (computing)|backdoor]] into the software, enabling remote access to infected machines.<ref>{{cite web|author=|date=September 2017|title=CCleanup: A Vast Number of Machines at Risk|url=http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/09/avast-distributes-malware.html|access-date=6 October 2017|website=blog.TalosIntelligence.com}}</ref><ref name="reuters" /><ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/06/ccleaner_megahack_timeline/ "Avast urges devs to secure toolchains after hacked build box led to CCleaner disaster," JohnLeyden, The Register, 6 Oct 2017]</ref>


The [[malware]] was in version 5.33 of CCleaner, prior to the acquisition by Avast. Avast quickly fixed the vulnerability and required version 5.33 users to update immediately. <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-13|title=CCleaner Malware|url=https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/ccleaner-malware|access-date=2021-09-29|website=www.kaspersky.com|language=en}}</ref>
In September 2017, researchers discovered that CCleaner was compromised by hackers who inserted a [[Backdoor (computing)|backdoor]] into the software, enabling remote access to infected machines.<ref>{{cite web |author= |date= September 2017|title=CCleanup: A Vast Number of Machines at Risk| url= http://blog.talosintelligence.com/2017/09/avast-distributes-malware.html|access-date=6 October 2017 |website= blog.TalosIntelligence.com}}</ref><ref name="reuters" /><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/06/ccleaner_megahack_timeline/ |title= Avast urges devs to secure toolchains after hacked build box led to CCleaner disaster| first= John |last= Leyden| work= The Register| date= 6 October 2017| access-date= }}</ref> The [[malware]] was in version 5.33 of CCleaner, prior to the acquisition by Avast. Avast quickly fixed the vulnerability and required version 5.33 users to update immediately.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-13|title=CCleaner Malware|url=https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/ccleaner-malware|access-date=2021-09-29|website= kaspersky.com|language=en}}</ref>


==CCleaner==
==CCleaner==
{{Main|CCleaner}}
{{Main|CCleaner}}
CCleaner is a computer cleaning software featuring MacOS and Windows versions. CCleaner has the option to clean computer browser software including [[Microsoft Edge]], [[Internet Explorer]], [[Google Chrome]], and [[Firefox]] as well as a computer system's temporary files. It has a separate tab to clean the [[Windows Registry|registry]]. (A potential backup of regedit is available.) CCleaner's other tools include editing and uninstalling programs, editing the operating system's startup apps and editing [[Browser plugin|browser plugins]]. It can analyse [[Hard disk drive|hard disks]] individually to determine which files are taking the most space. It can search for duplicate files to help reduce drive storage space. It allows one to quickly access system restore points, and it can wipe clean the free space on individual drives to completely remove deleted files. In addition, CCleaner can automatically update computer software and drivers.
CCleaner is computer cleaning software featuring MacOS and Windows versions. CCleaner has the option to clean computer browser software including [[Microsoft Edge]], [[Internet Explorer]], [[Google Chrome]], and [[Firefox]] as well as a computer system's temporary files. It has a separate tab to clean the [[Windows Registry|registry]]. (A potential backup of regedit is available.) CCleaner's other tools include editing and uninstalling programs, editing the operating system's startup apps and editing [[Browser plugin|browser plugins]]. It can analyse [[Hard disk drive|hard disks]] individually to determine which files are taking the most space. It can search for duplicate files to help reduce drive storage space. It allows one to quickly access system restore points, and it can wipe clean the free space on individual drives to completely remove deleted files. In addition, CCleaner can automatically update computer software and drivers.


CCleaner has its own [[web browser]] called CCleaner Browser. CCleaner Browser is included to optionally install in the CCleaner installer, but it can also be installed from its [https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/browser website]. CCleaner Browser blocks online advertisements, avoids [[Web tracking|tracking]], has built-in security against [[malware]], [[phishing]], malicious [[Download|downloads]], and also avoids unwanted elements like pop-ups or excessive browser [[Cache (computing)|cache]]. The browser is only available for [[Microsoft Windows]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is CCleaner Browser?|url=https://support.piriform.com/hc/en-us/articles/360028862131-What-is-CCleaner-Browser-|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Piriform Support|language=en-US}}</ref>
CCleaner has its own [[web browser]] called CCleaner Browser. CCleaner Browser is included to optionally install in the CCleaner installer, but it can also be installed from its [https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/browser website]. CCleaner Browser blocks online advertisements, avoids [[Web tracking|tracking]], has built-in security against [[malware]], [[phishing]], malicious [[Download|downloads]], and also avoids potentially unwanted elements like pop-ups or excessive browser [[Cache (computing)|cache]]. The browser is only available for [[Microsoft Windows]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=What is CCleaner Browser?|url=https://support.piriform.com/hc/en-us/articles/360028862131-What-is-CCleaner-Browser-|access-date=2021-10-10|website=Piriform Support|language=en-US}}</ref>


CCleaner also develops a tool called Kamo, which feeds [[Web tracking|trackers]] fake information to help stop a '[[Device fingerprint|digital fingerprint]]' (a unique fingerprint that can be used to identify and track people) from being created. This makes websites and advertisers less able to show [[Targeted advertising|targeted ads]], recommendations and price increases.
CCleaner also develops a tool called Kamo, which feeds [[Web tracking|trackers]] fake information to help stop a '[[Device fingerprint|digital fingerprint]]' (a unique fingerprint that can be used to identify and track people) from being created. It supposedly makes websites and advertisers less able to show [[Targeted advertising|targeted ads]], recommendations and price increases.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist|30em}}


{{Piriform Software}}
{{piriform}}
{{Gen Digital}}


[[Category:Software companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Piriform Software| ]]
[[Category:Software companies based in London]]
[[Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Camden]]
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[[Category:2004 establishments in England]]
[[Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions]]
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[[Category:2004 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Software companies established in 2004]]
[[Category:Software companies established in 2004]]
[[Category:Companies established in 2004]]
[[Category:British companies established in 2004]]
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:British subsidiaries of foreign companies]]
[[Category:Avast]]
[[Category:Gen Digital acquisitions]]

Latest revision as of 20:10, 8 October 2024

Piriform Software Ltd.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryComputer software
Founded15 September 2005; 19 years ago (2005-09-15)
Founders
  • Guy Saner
  • Lindsey Whelan
Headquarters
London
,
England
ProductsCCleaner
Recuva
Defraggler
Speccy
CCleaner Cloud[1]
CCleaner Browser
ParentAvast

Piriform Software Ltd. is a British software company based in London, owned since 2017 by Avast which itself became part of Gen Digital in 2022. The company develops cleaning and optimisation tools for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Android operating systems, including CCleaner, CCleaner Browser, Defraggler, Recuva and Speccy.[2][3] On 22 September 2015, Piriform launched CCleaner Cloud, a tool to maintain computers remotely.[4]

History

[edit]

The name Piriform means "shaped like a pear," possibly referring to the British slang "to go pear-shaped".[citation needed]

CCleaner was launched in 2004 by founders Guy Saner and Lindsey Whelan. In July 2017, Piriform Ltd was acquired by Avast.[5][6]

In September 2017, researchers discovered that CCleaner was compromised by hackers who inserted a backdoor into the software, enabling remote access to infected machines.[7][5][8] The malware was in version 5.33 of CCleaner, prior to the acquisition by Avast. Avast quickly fixed the vulnerability and required version 5.33 users to update immediately.[9]

CCleaner

[edit]
Main article: CCleaner

CCleaner is computer cleaning software featuring MacOS and Windows versions. CCleaner has the option to clean computer browser software including Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Firefox as well as a computer system's temporary files. It has a separate tab to clean the registry. (A potential backup of regedit is available.) CCleaner's other tools include editing and uninstalling programs, editing the operating system's startup apps and editing browser plugins. It can analyse hard disks individually to determine which files are taking the most space. It can search for duplicate files to help reduce drive storage space. It allows one to quickly access system restore points, and it can wipe clean the free space on individual drives to completely remove deleted files. In addition, CCleaner can automatically update computer software and drivers.

CCleaner has its own web browser called CCleaner Browser. CCleaner Browser is included to optionally install in the CCleaner installer, but it can also be installed from its website. CCleaner Browser blocks online advertisements, avoids tracking, has built-in security against malware, phishing, malicious downloads, and also avoids potentially unwanted elements like pop-ups or excessive browser cache. The browser is only available for Microsoft Windows.[10]

CCleaner also develops a tool called Kamo, which feeds trackers fake information to help stop a 'digital fingerprint' (a unique fingerprint that can be used to identify and track people) from being created. It supposedly makes websites and advertisers less able to show targeted ads, recommendations and price increases.[citation needed]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Piriform Blog - CCleaner Cloud has Launched!". Piriform. 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Piriform Product page". Piriform. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  3. ^ "Piriform company Info page". Piriform. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  4. ^ "A first look at CCleaner Cloud - gHacks Tech News". gHacks.net. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Hackers compromised free CCleaner software, Avast's Piriform says". Reuters.com. 18 September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  6. ^ Sawers, Paul (19 July 2017). "Avast acquires Piriform, maker of popular system cleaning program CCleaner". VentureBeat.com. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
  7. ^ "CCleanup: A Vast Number of Machines at Risk". blog.TalosIntelligence.com. September 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  8. ^ Leyden, John (6 October 2017). "Avast urges devs to secure toolchains after hacked build box led to CCleaner disaster". The Register.
  9. ^ "CCleaner Malware". kaspersky.com. 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
  10. ^ "What is CCleaner Browser?". Piriform Support. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
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