Compare Software
Side-by-side comparison of data collection practices, proven by binary analysis.
CCleaner Online Installer
Gen Digital Inc. (Piriform)
17 findings
Avast Free Antivirus Installer
Gen Digital Inc. (Avast Software)
15 findings
Grade Breakdown
Findings by Category
| Category | CCleaner | Avast |
|---|---|---|
| Analytics & Third-Party | 0 | 1critical |
| Browser Tracking | 0 | 1 |
| GDPR / Privacy Regulation | 3critical | 2critical |
| Hardware Fingerprinting | 2 | 1 |
| Kernel Interception | 0 | 2critical |
| Network Endpoints | 1 | 1 |
| Policy Adherence | 2 | 1critical |
| Positive Findings | 3 | 0 |
| Pre-Consent Collection | 2critical | 2critical |
| Regulatory Actions | 0 | 2critical |
| Telemetry | 2 | 1 |
| Tracking & Identifiers | 2 | 1 |
| Total | 17 | 15 |
Key Differences
Avast integrates Google Analytics with a hardcoded API secret in plaintext; CCleaner uses only first-party analytics.
Avast deploys kernel-level DNS interception and deep packet inspection across 17 protocols; CCleaner has no network interception.
Avast fires 5+ pre-consent requests including IP geolocation and GA events; CCleaner fires 1 (Shepherd config).
Avast has an FTC enforcement action ($16.5M) for selling browsing data; CCleaner has no regulatory action.
Both are Gen Digital products sharing the same asw:: framework, Shepherd A/B testing, and analytics.avcdn.net infrastructure.