What is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?
The Internet is filled with free programs and tools making promises they fall short of, or that once installed performs unwanted acts. Potentially unwanted programs or PUPs are scattered throughout the Internet, whether a website offering or an inclusion in a freeware download. Like adware and legitimate software programs, PUPs may track (aka spy) surfing habits, collect data and send to a third party, even though some claim to gather non-evasive data. Well, you really cannot prove the collection doesn’t infringe on your privacy. PUPs are sometimes called ‘greyware’ because they fall in a grey area and do not necessarily or upfront pose a security threat. However, if evasive data falls in the wrong hands, it can threaten security of your identity and financial stability. PUPS may negatively impact system performance and instability your operating system.
Sometimes through missteps of our own or someone else using our system, a program is installed that you want removed. Maybe it didn’t meet expectations or is negatively impacting system performance. All programs having good intent should readily offer an uninstall feature for easy removal. In cases where the PC user finds it difficult to find let alone remove the components engineering a program, this should raise a red flag and incite the need to remove aggressively. An example program and PUP resisting removal is PUP.wxDfast. Forums are filled with frustrated PC users questioning if it is indeed a virus or malicious program and why their Internet security didn’t block the download. Well, PUPs are a grey area, which is why some security researchers call it ‘greyware’ and rather than label it malicious, they classify it only as ‘potentially unwanted’. However, if the complaints are true and PUP.wxDfast is corrupting viral restore points to obfuscate and rejuvenate its program, then it has crossed the line and is indeed showing its true colors of being malicious.
If you are highly skilled editing the Windows Registry or are able to follow the technical jargon and mind-twisting instructions posted on a security forum, you may be able to manually unwanted files buried throughout your system. However, be very careful not to delete the wrong file and don’t forget to reset viral restoration points as well as restore corrupted files. If a mistake is made, you could corrupt the hard drive and lose valuable data. While you may have backed up your data and programs, hopefully you stored the important and necessary product keys required to reinstall some software programs and apps. To be safe, we highly recommend you use a professional anti-malware solution able to find and safely remove malware without causing harm to your hard drive and able to restore corrupted OS files and components.
List of Potentially Unwanted Programs:
Viewing 10 of 13
» PUP.wxDfastPUP.wxDfast is potentially unwanted program that might be dangerous to the targeted computer system. PUP.wxDfast creates a viral restore point in order to by pass the detection and deletion. When computer users attempt to remove PUP.wxDfast by restoring their operating systems to the date they think ...
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» SoftwareBundler:Win32/Protlerdob
SoftwareBundler:Win32/Protlerdob is a potentially unwanted program that introduces itself as a free movie download, as an executable file such as 'filme.exe', but instead, it comes bundled with various programs that PC user have to pay for. While being installed on the corrupted machine, SoftwareBundler:Win32/Protlerdob makes system ...
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» PUP.Bundle.Installer.O
PUP.Bundle.Installer.O is a potentially unwanted program that comes bundled with freeware applications installed onto the victimized PC. PUP.Bundle.Installer.O uses deceptive methods to trick victims into installing it. This common dodge is to conceal stipulation on the content introduction among the provisions of routine agreement, or to ...
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» Pup.Datamngr
Pup.Datamngr is an unwanted program that usually hides within an executable file on an infected PC's hard drive. Pup.Datamngr may steal financial information and other data where a remote attacker may obtain it for use at a later date. Internet connectivity is known to be disrupted ...
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» PUP.InstallBrain
PUP.InstallBrain is a security risk recognized as a potentially unwanted program. PUP.InstallBrain enters the corrupted PC when downloading malicious contents, such as infected videos from the Internet. PUP.InstallBrain installs itself on the infected computer system secretly and illegally. PUP.InstallBrain drops its components into the hacked Internet ...
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» Superfish Window Shopper
Superfish Window Shopper is an potentially unwanted program that will display its own advertisements on Wallmart, eBay, Best Buy, and other websites usually visited by Internet users. These advertisements will be shown as boxes that include numerous coupons that are available or as underlined keywords, which ...
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» PUP.Blabbers
PUP.Blabbers is a potentially unwanted program/adware program that corrupts the targeted Internet browser by installing an annoying toolbar from Blabbers.com commonly without a victim's consent. The advertisements describe PUP.Blabbers as a program 'to give your personal touch to any web page…'; however, the customization is simply ...
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» PUP.Crossfire.SA
PUP.Crossfire.SA is a potentially unwanted program/adware program that benefits from other software products to distribute a copy of itself to infected computer systems. PUP.Crossfire.SA comes packaged with these software products so that when a computer user installs it, PUP.Crossfire.SA is also loaded on the machine. PUP.Crossfire.SA ...
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» Pup.Offerware
Pup.Offerware is a potentially unwanted program that comes packed with a rootkit. Pup.Offerware needs to be uninstalled from the targeted computer system together with a rootkit because, otherwise, the rootkit will restore the uninstalled application. The payload of Pup.Offerware incorporates, but is not limited to, bringing ...
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» PC Fix Speed
ESG security researchers have received numerous questions about PC Fix Speed. This is because PC Fix Speed exhibits some behaviors that are often associated with a potentially unwanted program. PC Fix Speed is a system optimization and defragmenter. PC Fix Speed seems to be legitimate, despite ...
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