Avast quickly fixed the vulnerability and required version 5.33 users to update immediately.

The malware was in version 5.33 of CCleaner, prior to the acquisition by Avast. In September 2017, researchers discovered that CCleaner was compromised by hackers who inserted a backdoor into the software, enabling remote access to infected machines. In July 2017, Piriform Ltd was acquired by Avast. ĬCleaner was launched in 2004 by founders Guy Saner and Lindsey Whelan. The name Piriform means 'shaped like a pear,' possibly referring to the British slang ' to go pear-shaped'. On 22 September 2015, Piriform launched CCleaner Cloud, a tool to maintain computers remotely. The company develops cleaning and optimisation tools for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Android operating systems, including CCleaner, CCleaner Browser, Defraggler, Recuva and Speccy. Piriform Software Ltd is a British software company based in London, owned since 2017 by Avast which itself became part of NortonLifeLock (now Gen Digital) in 2022.

Piriform recuva review