I'm just curious what makes people use malicious software like Opera or CCleaner despite the wide variety identical or more advanced alternatives. You can even use the Lynx command-line browser if you like it, I won't judge you . If you like being a cash cow for data mining or cryptocurrency, no one can stop you.

 

Sorry to bring you this news because at a bad time. But all lemonade is made from lemons.

Let's make some lemonade from this situation...

It's time to up your recovery game. System Image backups. By 'System Image', I mean a full 1:1 copy of everything on your system on the day of the backup. I don't know of the equivalent in iOS (I'm a Windows guy). When faced with an untraceable glitch, errors, and/or rising frustration(s), guessing, uninstalling things, even installing possible solutions may be a time-sucking, slippery slope to nowhere.

As your own IT guy, the first (Or last) line of defense is backups. Putting yourself almost 85-100% of where you were before system failure occurred is far preferrable to this below...

*I personally don't think it's a PUP, it looks like more of an incomplete log/error report. From where?...dunno.

However, in the event of an issue, you should be able seamlessly transfer all files created since your last backup on your currently flawed system (By saving them offline), and add them to your freshly installed, most recent backup, effectively putting you 100% back in the game with maybe one hour downtime. Make that happen in your life.

Again, I know this is all 20-20 hindsight stuff, but when you have (Or one day will have) meetings, clients, project deadlines, other technical/personnel issues, etc, one has zero time to hunt down cryptic browser codes.

*(Tip) Create a full System Image once a week (Or whenever you update/upgrade products or OS). I store my backups on both removable storage and online storage in case the internet goes down while my biggest client is in-studio already having a baby-fit.

Stick to this script and you can defeat many catastrophic computing failures within the hour, and move on.

I hope I did not offend you, I just wanted to get you stoked on recovery being a valid technical solution when formal repair options fall short.

Edit: OP figured it out already. I'll leave this for future reference.

 

Yeah ive asked myself that question too, Do most people use these 3rd party Cleaner Software because of convenience reasons like set it up for multiple tasks to routinely do? as far as cleaning/clearing i would not imagine it being superior to what came with your operating system. I'm generally curious too Ive used both i didn't see it do anything to warrant keeping it. Seems more like a liability after hearing all these shady things people have seen by using them.

 

CCleaner is poison. Too much of it can kill your computer!

 

It's pretty simple, because most of it is just prejudice, rumors from forums that have nothing to do with reality. You see, Opera is now even labeled as malware. You can activate or deactivate the "Crypto Wallet". I think most people don't even know what they're talking about and just repeat everything. Lots of rumors, little foundation.

Debunking misinformation about Opera’s browsers
https://blogs.opera.com/security/2023/07/debunking-spyware-misinformation

Alternative to CCleaner: Ashampoo® WinOptimizer 28 [25 €] www.ashampoo.com/en-us/winoptimizer

 

Last edited: Oct 9, 2025 at 3:35 PM

I find ccleaner hasn't been reliable or trustworthy for quite some time, it deletes files you need and want to keep. I use an older version 3 of it. if anyone needs these you can get it from http://www.oldversion.com/windows/ccleaner-3-0 for a list of all versions from the latest down to version 1.06 from 2004. also https://archive.org has a lot of old software that still works perfectly on Win 10+11.

 

Last edited: Oct 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM