URGENT: Clean Master is Deleting HanDBase Database Files

[Brian_Houghton]

Unfortunately, we have recently had several reports of people opening HanDBase to find their databases no longer available in the database selection screen. Closer inspection with a file manager also revealed that the actual database files were gone from their Android's storage.

After research, testing and confirmation from many individuals, we have found that the popular "cleaning" app Clean Master, available in Google Play, is deleting HanDBase database files from the phone.

We have contacted support for Clean Master asking them to exclude HanDBase's database files from their "cleaning" but have not received a meaningful reply to date. If we do receive a reply we will be sure to let you know!

In the meantime, we encourage:

- Reconsider whether Clean Master is important or not
- Make a backup of your HanDBase databases to an external storage source (the files, which end with the .pdb extension, are stored within the HanDBase folder at the root level of the Android's internal storage)
- Contact Clean Master to ask them to exclude HanDBase's databases from their "cleaning" routine

Please note that if your databases have been deleted but you have a backup, simply copy the files back to the HanDBase folder found at the root level of the phone's internal storage.

If you do not have a backup and are affected by this issue, if you have root access on your Android, it may be possible to recover the files. Get in touch with us at support@ddhsoftware.com if this applies to you.

Finally, we sincerely apologize for this experience and hope this helps you to avoid this potentially major problem if you have not already encountered it.

[Benji]

Brian, the application cost me one month of data when hit the first time. I am back to daily backups with Drop Box. The application was deleted yesterday morning.

Via my Note 3

[Brian_Houghton]

Really sorry to hear that, Benji. We have had a few people tell us that Clean Master has also deleted files associated with other programs, so it isn't affecting just HanDBase users by any means.

[HermanD]

Hello, any news from Cleanmaster?
It destroid also 20 databases on my telephon. Last backup from 2 months ago grrrrr.
Further is Cleanmaster good program, without cleaning, some programs, that are memory hungry does not work.

regards,
Herman

[Brian_Houghton]

Hi Herman,

Thanks for writing.

We are sorry to read of the loss of data.

Unfortunately after one very brief email from them, we have not heard anything. We have sent some follow up emails that have generated zero response from them.

As soon as we do receive a response, we will post here to share.

In the meantime, please be certain to make really frequent backups by copying the databases from the HanDBase folder at the root level of the phone's storage to email, a computer or the cloud storage of your choice.