PUM.Security Hijacks

The PUM.Security Hijacks is a PUM, or Potentially Unwanted Modification. This is a term used by certain security programs to refer to PUPs or Potentially Unwanted Programs, the most common term for these types of unwanted components. PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks are not considered threatening, unlike viruses or Trojans. However, PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks may cause numerous unwanted symptoms and expose computer users to known hoaxes and components that are potentially threatening. If your security product is pointing out the presence of the PUM.Security Hijacks on your computer, PC security analysts strongly recommend the use of a reliable security program that is fully up-to-date. PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks should be removed at once to decrease the odds of exposure to other tactics or more damaging types of threats.

What is the Meaning of PUPs Like the PUM.Security Hijacks

There are numerous types of PUPs. Ultimately, the purpose of a PUP is to generate revenue at the expense of computer users. The most common way in which PUPs do this is by exposing computer users to advertising material. There are numerous ways PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks do this, and they may use multiple tactics at once. PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks may hijack the affected Web browser, taking it over in order to force the affected computer user to view certain websites riddled with advertisements, irritating pop-up messages and other unwanted content, and expose the affected computer user to numerous hoaxes that may involve fake technical support tactics, bogus security software or other known unwanted content. To carry out its attack, the PUM.Security Hijacks takes over the affected Web browser, causing numerous symptoms and other issues. The following are known issues that may be related to the PUM.Security Hijacks:

• The PUM.Security Hijacks may make changes to the affected Web browser's settings. Changes made by the PUM.Security Hijacks may include changing the affected Web browser's default search engine and homepage. The PUM.Security Hijacks also may lower the affected Web browser's security settings, making it more vulnerable to other PUPs and unwanted components.
• PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks may insert advertisements into affected Web browsers. When computer users view a Web page with an affected Web browser, the PUM.Security Hijacks may insert banner advertisements and other irritating advertising material into the affected Web pages. PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks may also replace text on Web pages with hyperlinks that may display pop-over advertisements and other unwanted content.
• The PUM.Security Hijacks and similar PUPs may be closely related to irritating pop-up windows and messages. One particularly difficult issue that may be associated with the PUM.Security Hijacks and similar PUPs is that these pop-up messages may directly try to dupe inexperienced computer users. These types of pop-up messages may try to convince computer users that their software is out of date or that there are threats present on their computers. These messages may try to convince computer users to install other PUPs, call a fake tech support service or fall for other known tactics.

Dealing with the PUM.Security Hijacks and Similar PUPs

PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks may be installed as Web browser extensions, add-ons or plug-ins. However, PUPs may not be removable using the Web browser's extension or add-on manager. Rather, computer users may have to use the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs to remove these kinds of unwanted programs. Computer users may need to undo unwanted changes made to the affected computer by the PUP. To do this, computer users will need to undo changes made to the affected Web browser settings and any changes made to the Windows Registry and other settings. Once the PUM.Security Hijacks has been uninstalled, computer users will need to use a strong security program that is fully up-to-date to scan the affected computer. In most cases, PUPs like the PUM.Security Hijacks are installed along with PUPs, meaning that it will be necessary to search for and remove any other infections.