VisualPing extension for Chrome is affected by CCleaner

[Jbionic]

Hi there,

I am running CCleaner Free v.6.11.10455 on my Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.3996 notebook equipped with Chrome browser v. 121.0.6167.86 (Official Build) (64-bit) with VisualPing extension v.4.6.1 in it

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/visualping/pemhgklkefakciniebenbfclihhmmfcd

The extension was never affected by cleaning performed by CCleaner until recently, however following the recent update of extension  I noticed that VisualPing's job list started to lose all of its jobs. It took me a while to figure out what's causing the trouble, but finally I've found that this occurs after CCleaner is run.

I know a similar issue has been observed before for some other programs, such as exiftool utility. I even had to add the exclusion rule to my CCleaner: C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Temp\par-6a62696f6e6963\

I wonder what exclusion I shall envisage for VisualPing in order for its job list remain untouched by CCleaner, if anybody can advise please? Thanks in advance.

Edited January 28 by Jbionic

[lmacri]

8 hours ago, Jbionic said:

I am running CCleaner Free v.6.11.10455 on my Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.3996 notebook equipped with Chrome browser v. 121.0.6167.86 (Official Build) (64-bit) with VisualPing extension v.4.6.1 in it...

Hi jbionic:

I don't use Google Chrome so I can't test on my own computer, but just note that a similar issue occurred in the past with Firefox browser extensions - see my 03-Aug-2020 post in circcc's Problem with Firefox 79. That bug was eventually fixed in CCleaner v5.70 but I no longer allow use CCleaner to clean my Firefox browser and use the built-in settings in my Firefox browser to clean my browsing history on exit.

While you're waiting for feedback from someone who uses Chrome could you please post back and let us know if there's any reason why you're using an old CCleaner Free v6.11.10455 (rel. 02-May-2023) instead of the latest CCleaner v6.20.10897 (rel. 17- Jan- 2024)?  See the version history at https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/version-history.  I would suggest you update to the latest CCleaner and see if the issue with your VisualPing extension persists since there may have been changes to the way that newer versions of CCleaner clean the Chrome browser that could avoid the problem you are describing.

I don't know if it's relevant, but I also noticed that you are using an Insiders / Preview build of Win 10 v22H2 [KB5034203 (OS Build 19045.3996) Preview, released 23-Jan-2024]. The current stable build of Win 10 v22H2 is 19045.3930 (released 09-Jan-2024). Any reason why you are testing beta builds of your Windows 10 OS?
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3930 * Firefox v122.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23110.3-1.1.23110.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.6.8.311-1.0.2249 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * CCleaner Free Portable v6.20.10897

[Jbionic]

10 hours ago, lmacri said:

 

While you're waiting for feedback from someone who uses Chrome could you please post back and let us know if there's any reason why you're using an old CCleaner Free v6.11.10455 (rel. 02-May-2023) instead of the latest CCleaner v6.20.10897 (rel. 17- Jan- 2024)?  See the version history at https://www.ccleaner.com/ccleaner/version-history.  I would suggest you update to the latest CCleaner and see if the issue with your VisualPing extension persists since there may have been changes to the way that newer versions of CCleaner clean the Chrome browser that could avoid the problem you are describing.

 

Thanks. This is just to confirm that updating CCleaner to latest version 6.20 does not resolve the problem with VisualPing's job list. So the question remains. I'd appreciate further recommendations. The problem has been also shared with VisualPing's support team. Hopefully, their technicians will be able to respond shortly.

[lmacri]

14 hours ago, Jbionic said:

This is just to confirm that updating CCleaner to latest version 6.20 does not resolve the problem with VisualPing's job list...

Hi jbionic:

I don't have Chrome installed on my computer and I I know very little about the Visualping Chrome extension other than what I read at https://visualping.io/chrome-extension/, but my best guess that the job list of web pages the user wants to monitor for changes is stored somewhere within the settings for that browser extension (e.g., somewhere like the hidden C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\...).

If CCleaner is clearing the job list for monitored websites from your Visualping extension settings then please confirm that when you go to Custom Clean in CCleaner and disable all options (checkboxes) under Chrome that a Custom Clean does not wipe your Visualping job list.  Once that is confirmed then enable one or two options at a time (e.g., Internet Cache, Session, etc.) for cleaning under Chrome until you isolate the one option that wipes your Visualping job list when checked. 

ASIDE: For the old 2020 Firefox extension issue discussed in Problem with Firefox 79,  extension settings were wiped when CCleaner v5.69 cleaned the Internet Cache of Firefox 79.  In that case the problem was narrowed down to cleaning of the storage-sync-v2.sqlite, storage-sync-v2.sqlite-shm and storage-sync-v2.sqlite-wal files in the hidden Firefox use profile folder at C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\.

Note that if you click the "Analyze" button in Custom Clean that you can double-click on each category in the scan results to see a detailed list of every file that will be removed for that category.   You can also right-click anywhere in the white space below your scan results and choose "Save to text file" to export every item in the scan results before you actually click the "Run CCleaner" button.

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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3930 * Firefox v122.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23110.3-1.1.23110.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.6.8.311-1.0.2249 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * CCleaner Free Portable v6.20.10897

[Jbionic]

7 hours ago, lmacri said:

Hi jbionic:

I don't have Chrome installed on my computer and I I know very little about the Visualping Chrome extension other than what I read at https://visualping.io/chrome-extension/, but my best guess that the job list of web pages the user wants to monitor for changes is stored somewhere within the settings for that browser extension (e.g., somewhere like the hidden C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\...).

If CCleaner is clearing the job list for monitored websites from your Visualping extension settings then please confirm that when you go to Custom Clean in CCleaner and disable all options (checkboxes) under Chrome that a Custom Clean does not wipe your Visualping job list.  Once that is confirmed then enable one or two options at a time (e.g., Internet Cache, Session, etc.) for cleaning under Chrome until you isolate the one option that wipes your Visualping job list when checked. 

ASIDE: For the old 2020 Firefox extension issue discussed in Problem with Firefox 79,  extension settings were wiped when CCleaner v5.69 cleaned the Internet Cache of Firefox 79.  In that case the problem was narrowed down to cleaning of the storage-sync-v2.sqlite, storage-sync-v2.sqlite-shm and storage-sync-v2.sqlite-wal files in the hidden Firefox use profile folder at C:\Users\<yourusername>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\.

Note that if you click the "Analyze" button in Custom Clean that you can double-click on each category in the scan results to see a detailed list of every file that will be removed for that category.   You can also right-click anywhere in the white space below your scan results and choose "Save to text file" to export every item in the scan results before you actually click the "Run CCleaner" button.

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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3930 * Firefox v122.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23110.3-1.1.23110.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.6.8.311-1.0.2249 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * CCleaner Free Portable v6.20.10897

Hi Imacri,

Thanks for your guidelines. I confirm the problem is related to the Internet Cache. To verify that I've unticked the check-box next to the Internet Cache, as shown on the attached screenshot, and then run the cleaning. Upon checking the VisualPing's job list I found that it had been unaffected by cleaning. Re-enabling the checkbox for Internet Cache cleans the job list for VisualPing. 

To obtain the log file I had to re-import the pre-settings for VisualPing's job list. The complete list of what was changed in the Internet Chache of my Google Chrome as a result of re-enabling the job list  for VisualPing is attached. Please check the attached log-file and advise regarding further steps.

 

Regards.

log.txt

Edited January 30 by Jbionic

[Jbionic]

The curious thing about it is that I first thought that the target files that affect VisualPing's job list reside somewhere in the below list

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\Cache_Data\data_0    44 KB
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\Cache_Data\data_1    264 KB
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\Cache_Data\data_2    1,032 KB
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Cache\Cache_Data\data_3    4,104 KB

 

By some reason my first test, for which I added the above 4 items to the exclusion list, didn't affect VisualPing. However my second test showed that preserving the above 4 items as exclusions doesn't change anything, meaning that VisualPing's job list is gonna be empty anyway. I don't get it why this happens in such a weird way. 

 

Edited January 30 by Jbionic

[Nergal]

2 hours ago, Jbionic said:

I don't get it why this happens in such a weird way. 

 

Because the extention is saving in, probably, the worst possible location.  Cache gets cleaned by everyone often, or should, not just ccleaner users but everybody.  I'd admonish the developers about locating important files in the cache.

It's like saving crucial data to the temp folder or the recycle bin

[APMichael]

8 hours ago, Jbionic said:

... I confirm the problem is related to the Internet Cache. ...

There are a few extensions that lose their data after the "Internet Cache" has been cleared.

Please try whether one of these workarounds works for you:
https://community.ccleaner.com/topic/32310-winapp2ini-additions/?do=findComment&comment=336417
https://community.ccleaner.com/topic/32310-winapp2ini-additions/?do=findComment&comment=310357

[lmacri]

On 28/01/2024 at 01:43, Jbionic said:

I am running CCleaner Free v.6.11.10455 on my Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.3996 notebook equipped with Chrome browser v. 121.0.6167.86 (Official Build) (64-bit) with VisualPing extension v.4.6.1 in it

https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/visualping/pemhgklkefakciniebenbfclihhmmfcd

12 hours ago, Jbionic said:

The curious thing about it is that I first thought that the target files that affect VisualPing's job list reside somewhere in the below list ...my second test showed that preserving the above 4 items as exclusions doesn't change anything,

Hi jbionic:

You said in your original post that you'd had been using an older CCleaner Free v6.11.10455 (rel. 02-May-2023) for several months and that the problem with cleaning of your Visualping job list just started recently.  That suggests that something outside of CCleaner changed, and it's more likely that the developers of Visualping have changed the location where the job list of this browser extension is stored.

One other thing I just noticed. The latest version of the Visualping Chrome extension on the Google Chrome store is v4.6.4.  I don't know why this browser extension isn't automatically updating in your Google browser, but I'd suggest you update to v4.6.4 just in case your problem has already been fixed by the developers.

On 28/01/2024 at 20:39, Jbionic said:

This is just to confirm that updating CCleaner to latest version 6.20 does not resolve the problem with VisualPing's job list. ...The problem has been also shared with VisualPing's support team. Hopefully, their technicians will be able to respond shortly.

If an update to Visualping v4.6.4 doesn't solve the problem and the exclusions suggested <above> by APMichael don't work then contact the Visualping support team again and ask them for the exact location where they are now storing the job list for their extension.

12 hours ago, Jbionic said:

I confirm the problem is related to the Internet Cache.

Also note that any changes you make to your Custom Clean options (e.g., disabling Internet Cache cleaning for your Chrome browser) have no effect the items that are cleaned by Health Check - see my 20-Jan-2023 post in fleovey's NEW UPDATE OF CCLEANER deleted all my passwords for more information.  I do not allow Health Check to run on my system, and I would advise that you avoid using Health Check, especially while you're trying to troubleshoot an issue with Custom Clean.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3930 * Firefox v122.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23110.3-1.1.23110.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.6.8.311-1.0.2249 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * CCleaner Free Portable v6.20.10897

[Jbionic]

14 hours ago, APMichael said:

There are a few extensions that lose their data after the "Internet Cache" has been cleared.

Please try whether one of these workarounds works for you:
https://community.ccleaner.com/topic/32310-winapp2ini-additions/?do=findComment&comment=336417
https://community.ccleaner.com/topic/32310-winapp2ini-additions/?do=findComment&comment=310357

This is much appreciated. The second link worked for me. So the following 2 paths must be added to the exclusion list of Ccleaner:

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\File System\000\
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\File System\Origins\

 

Here is some video I've recorded to demonstrate the problem as evidence

 

[APMichael]

8 hours ago, Jbionic said:

This is much appreciated. The second link worked for me. So the following 2 paths must be added to the exclusion list of Ccleaner:

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\File System\000\
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\File System\Origins\

Great news! I'm glad I could help.

[lmacri]

13 hours ago, Jbionic said:

... The second link worked for me. So the following 2 paths must be added to the exclusion list of Ccleaner:

C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\File System\000\
C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\File System\Origins\

Hi jbionic:

Glad to hear you were able to isolate the problem, and kudos to APMichael for suggesting you try the exclusions documented in their 19-Sep-2019 post at https://community.ccleaner.com/topic/32310-winapp2ini-additions/?do=findComment&comment=310357.

Be sure to report your findings to the Visualping support team. I'd be curious to hear what they have to say but I suspect they will point the finger at CCleaner for over-aggressive cleaning of Chrome's Internet Cache.

You might also want to file a support request with CCleaner at https://support.ccleaner.com/s/contact-form?language=en_US&form=general and suggest that they tweak the Internet Cache cleaning of Chrome so files in those two folders at C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\File System\... are not deleted.  If you do so just note that you might wait a long time for a reply.  I'm not sure if this is due to a backlog of support requests or a lack of staff, but Customer Support is very slow these days, and support requests from CCleaner Free users who have not paid for a license likely have a lower priority.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3930 * Firefox v122.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23110.3-1.1.23110.2 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.6.8.311-1.0.2249 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7783 * CCleaner Free Portable v6.20.10897

[Jbionic]

10 hours ago, lmacri said:

Be sure to report your findings to the Visualping support team. I'd be curious to hear what they have to say but I suspect they will point the finger at CCleaner for over-aggressive cleaning of Chrome's Internet Cache.

I shared the link to this thread with VisualPing's suport 3 days ago. I've sent them 3 emails in the past week and so far got no response. So I don't feel like I need to send them another message with the solution.

I've also reported the finding to CCleaner via the form that you were kind enough to share with the link. They may look at it later to decide if they want to implement the change in a newer version of the app. I was actually hopeful that someone from CCleaner support would occasionally browse the new threads of the forum in order to avoid extra reporting from users. 

Thanks again for your support, pals. I am off for now.