Paphos People

Despite the security options on offer via my browser (ie. in cognito mode, strict mode protection etc.), using the 'Health Check' facility on CCleaner portrays numerous 'trackers' for removal.

Is it a trait for these types of 'cleaners' (aka Avast), to 'imagine'/inflate fictitious numbers to 'support their worth' to the user?
If so how is it possible to identify the real situation & control it, despite Microsoft attempts to stop us?

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I'll be back!

I don't know if they use fictitious numbers etc or not.
I never used anything like C Cleaner for maybe 7 years, I didnt know about it and a friend visiting downloaded it for me and cleaned up thousand of bugs etc, the laptop definitely ran faster after that.
The biggest issue that I had was a problem with my android phone, if I clicked on the button to dial or contacts it would come on then immediately go off again, this was also happening on messaging. So I downloaded avast and ran it, it solved the problem and has never happened since.

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Dave

Switch to DuckDuckGo - look it up

Have been using it for about 3 years!

This situation persists despite doing so, hence my appeal for input on the subject & suspicions about 'discovered' trackers.

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I'll be back!

As far as I am aware. Trackers are created on your personal site every time you put a like on a subject. Like most people before I shut down I use various Antivirus and malware bites to get rid of all unwanted bumf.

Topgun I suspect there is only one way to guard against Microsoft, stop using Windows, I did about 12 years ago.

Microsoft Edge:

Select your tracking prevention level
In Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy and services.
Make sure Tracking prevention is set to On.
Select the level of tracking prevention that's right for you.
Feb 12, 2020

Google Chrome:

Turn "Do Not Track" on or off
On your computer, open Chrome.
At the top right, click More. Settings.
Under "Privacy and security," click Cookies and other site data.
Turn Send a "Do not track" request with your browsing traffic on or off.

Firefox (copied from the website but on my computer there is a heading ''Protections Dashboard'')

Turn Tracking Protection on or off
Click on the Firefox menu button. to open the menu panel.
Click the switch next to Tracking Protection to turn it on. or off.

Hi Alexis,

I've disabled Edge (as I can't find how to remove it)!
Uninstalled Chrome (as I don't trust it)!

Have set Firefox with 'strict level' privacy policy to block all trackers & use DuckDuckGo as my default browser - but CCleaner still 'finds' trackers!

I've subscribed to DuckDuckGo newsletter & think that maybe I also need to add the DuckDuckGo extension as well?

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I'll be back!

Hi Mouse,
What OS did you switch to then, that obviously works for you?

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I'll be back!

Topgun I was absolutely furious with Microsoft for planting a virus in my system and destroying it, so I formatted the had and tried a few live versions of Linux. A live version you down load to a CD, when it boots the CD the os on the hdd is unavailable and safe, so you run a CD. I downloaded debian Linux, over the years I have run various flavours of Linux, it is so easy to change or run multiple os's on multiple partitions, Linux will read and write to most partitions so files and data can be shared across os's, very handy. Linux is nice to use as it doesn't contain all that paranoia stuff 're unlicensed software,,,,,,,,,,,,it open source ! The various flavours of Linux also come in various forms to suit anything from an old 386 laptop to a latest i7.
PS the Microsoft virus was called WGA. My system was genuine but I had installed drivers which did not have a Microsoft digital signature .

In Firefox, top right 'hamburger' icon, select 'new private window' and maybe try that?

Just being pedantic , but you set Duck as your default search engine.

Do you have Malwarebytes on your PC? If not, maybe download the free version and check for any nasties.

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J B

Hi JB,

Yes, I have DuckDuckGo set as my default search engine & have Malwarebytes installed.

Before I tried your suggestion of selecting a new private window in Firefox, I used CC Health Check to remove the (88) trackers found. Hoping to start this test with a clean sheet!

Then went to Firefox, selected 'new private window' & visited a website, logged in,viewed content, then logged out.

Went back to CCleaner & initiated 2nd. 'Health Check', which revealed 7 trackers to be removed

So trackers are still beating my 'defenses'!

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I'll be back!