Avast Browser Cleanup appears to be writing bad registry entries.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I’ve been getting odd registry entries under HKCU that are clearly erroneous, looking like Chinese characters. If I delete them, they will periodically reappear (every few days). In case the picture is not visible, here is an example:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\潣⹭癡獡⹴灩⹭汃敩瑮慐慲敭整獲伮剓来潩慮卬瑥楴杮svas]
“cl”=dword:00000003

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\潣⹭癡獡⹴灩⹭汃敩瑮慐慲敭整獲伮剓来潩慮卬瑥楴杮svas\cache2]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\潣⹭癡獡⹴灩⹭汃敩瑮慐慲敭整獲伮剓来潩慮卬瑥楴杮svas\ext]

I believe the problem is related to Avast Browser Cleanup because I see HKCU\Software\Avast Software\Avast Browser Cleanup, which has the same “cl” data and “cache2” and “ext” subkeys.

I went into the Component settings in Avast Free Anti-virus and the customization for the Browser Cleanup showed the feature unchecked. Regardless, I have now uninstalled the component so we’ll see if it reappears.

2

I have the same issue with my Win7 machine (now broken btw) about a month ago.

3

Could you please check if there’s another reg key in parallel:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Browser Cleanup

If so, you should try to delete the odd registry key - it should not appear again.

Let me know if that worked for you.

4

https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1516888580456-42746.png

https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1516888766164-38571.png

5

I have deleted the weird keys without any adverse effect. But I do recall that it did reappear once after I uninstalled the Browser Cleanup component.

I have not had a recurrence in a while, but I also see that the latest program version is 19.9.2322 (build 17.9.3761.278) dated 12/21/2017. I am waiting until the next program update to see if the keys reappear with the update install.