Is Hotcleaner malware

Logical Ron · Feb 16, 2026

glasskuter said:
Yes.

I said to change any of those Chrome browser settings (startup, new tab, and home page ) IF they had been changed. It's a known fact some browser extensions can change those settings without your knowledge.

Thank you for beaking it down as you did. Sorry but your answer created another question. From what I read Click and Clean is a good well known software or utility that many people use. When you say "yes" to removing Click and Clean. once I do that and check everything and see nothing that has been added or changed I assume it is safe to install Click and Clean again? One last thing, I have not had that warning page come in in several day. I will wait again to see if it comes up so I can get a screenshot, then I will reset Chrome.

glasskuter · Feb 16, 2026

It is your choice to re-install it. I just use common sense. If I am getting unwanted suspicious popups or links from Hotcleaner (or any app) and I have their product as a browser extension, that product would be gone, and stay gone whether it was malware or not. But that's just me.

Logical Ron · Feb 16, 2026

glasskuter said:
It is your choice to re-install it. I just use common sense. If I am getting unwanted suspicious popups or links from Hotcleaner (or any app) and I have their product as a browser extension, that product would be gone, and stay gone whether it was malware or not. But that's just me.

I agree with you about if something is causing an issue it is best to remove it and not install it again. Do you use any kind of Cleaner??

glasskuter · Feb 16, 2026

I do. I have an old v.6 portable copy of ccleaner (back before Avast bought it and screwed it up. No way will I use the new one) and also a portable copy of Glary Utilities. I don't install such stuff because of the nags to buy and don't want anything constantly calling 'home'. Even the portable versions remember any cookies you choose to keep.
I'm happy using either of them and probably use them on a 50-50 split basis.

I also sometime manually clear my browsers cache and cookies from within its settings. I use Edge most of the time, but have FF, too.

Logical Ron · Feb 16, 2026

glasskuter said:
I do. I have an old v.6 portable copy of ccleaner (back before Avast bought it and screwed it up. No way will I use the new one) and also a portable copy of Glary Utilities. I don't install such stuff because of the nags to buy and don't want anything constantly calling 'home'. Even the portable versions remember any cookies you choose to keep.
I'm happy using either of them and probably use them on a 50-50 split basis.

I also sometime manually clear my browsers cache and cookies from within its settings. I use Edge most of the time, but have FF, too.

Thanks for the info. I looked at the portable v6 of Ccleaner and unfortunately the one feature I want and need is the cleaning of the browser when you exit. Only the "Pro" version has that feature and I assume it is only in v7 which like you I will not use. I will have to keep searching for something that will work for me.

Once again thanks for your help!

glasskuter · Feb 16, 2026

Logical Ron said:
the one feature I want and need is the cleaning of the browser when you exit.

Not understanding. If you mean clear cache and cookies when you exit the browser, both FF and Edge have that feature in their own settings. No cleaning tool needed to do that. I would assume Chrome has aa similar feature, too, but I don't use Chrome.

EB2XR6 · Feb 16, 2026

Logical Ron said:
Thanks for the info. I looked at the portable v6 of Ccleaner and unfortunately the one feature I want and need is the cleaning of the browser when you exit. Only the "Pro" version has that feature and I assume it is only in v7 which like you I will not use. I will have to keep searching for something that will work for me.

Once again thanks for your help!

Google "Delete Chrome Browsing Data on Exit", and adjust your Chrome settings.
Much safrer than using extensions.
Some malicious extension writers have waited years before activating malicious code, Google "Malicious Browser Extensions".

Logical Ron · Feb 16, 2026

EB2XR6 said:
Google Delete Chrome Browsing Data on Exit, and adjust your Chrome settings.
Much safrer than using extensions.

Tried that and it doesn't work

EB2XR6 · Feb 16, 2026

Logical Ron said:
Tried that and it doesn't work

Maybe you should switch Browsers. Plenty of other Chrome based Browsers to use.

EB2XR6 · Feb 16, 2026

Logical Ron said:
Tried that and it doesn't work

Try some other Chrome based browsers, Brave and Vivaldi are big on Privacy.

Logical Ron · Feb 16, 2026

glasskuter said:
Not understanding. If you mean clear cache and cookies when you exit the browser, both FF and Edge have that feature in their own settings. No cleaning tool needed to do that. I would assume Chrome has aa similar feature, too, but I don't use Chrome.

Cleaning cache and cookies isn't what I am looking for. I am looking for a browsing history cleaner. However, I have found the best way possible after comparing cleaning toools for the last few hours. I've known that within Chrome you can clean the browseing history and other data. The problem for me is it is about 3 to 4 steps every time I close Chrome. I looked into a shortcut to get to the clean browsing data and if I press Shift ctrl and delete that is the shortcut to open the Chrome cleaning popup, then I just ahve to select the time and press "delete from this device" not one button or auto but it is very doable wihtout an extension or software

Logical Ron · Feb 16, 2026

EB2XR6 said:
Maybe you should switch Browsers. Plenty of other Chrome based Browsers to use.

Thanks for your reply but you are not helping, the topic isn't what browser to switch to, it is about cleaning browser data in Chrome

EB2XR6 · Feb 17, 2026

Have a look at SirCleaner, was mentioned on the forum a while ago.

glasskuter · Feb 17, 2026

How to Automatically Clear Browsing Data When Closing Google Chrome Window: A Step-by-Step Guide - Google Chrome Community

<div>Hi there,</div> <div> </div> <div>In the vast digital landscape, our online activities are tracked through cookies, and our browsing history reveals a lot about our preferences and habits. While these features enhance our user experience, there are moments when we need a clean slate...

support.google.com

Logical Ron · Feb 18, 2026

EB2XR6 said:
Have a look at SirCleaner, was mentioned on the forum a while ago.

Thanks for the reply but I found a fast way to clean my browsing without using another program or extension. ctrl shift and delete brings up the Chrome data cleaning window, then click one button and every thing is done

Feuer · Feb 18, 2026

Logical Ron said:
Thanks for the reply but I found a fast way to clean my browsing without using another program or extension. ctrl shift and delete brings up the Chrome data cleaning window, then click one button and every thing is done

I always use CTRL+SHIFT+DEL

BLeachBit also has Chrome cleaner so you can prepare a bat file to use it for your cleaning process.

Is Hotcleaner malware

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