PUP.Freegate

The detection of PUP.Freegate on your system indicates the presence of a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that may compromise your computer's security and performance. It is essential to understand the nature of this threat and take immediate action to remove it. PUPs are software applications that may not be malicious in the classical sense but can still cause significant disruptions and pose risks to your personal data and system integrity.

What Is PUP.Freegate?

PUP.Freegate is categorized as a potentially unwanted program, which means it is not necessarily malware but can exhibit undesirable behaviors such as displaying unwanted advertisements, collecting user data without consent, or altering system settings. These programs often find their way onto computers through bundled software downloads, where they are included alongside legitimate applications. Users may inadvertently install PUPs by not carefully reviewing the terms and conditions of the software they download.

How PUP.Freegate Operates

PUPs like PUP.Freegate typically operate by integrating themselves into the system and browser settings, allowing them to intercept and manipulate user data, display unwanted ads, or even install additional unwanted software. They may also consume system resources, leading to slower performance and increased vulnerability to other types of malware. The primary goal of most PUPs is to generate revenue for their developers through advertising, data collection, or by selling user information to third parties.

Symptoms of Infection

Identifying a PUP infection can be challenging, as these programs often mimic legitimate software behavior. However, common symptoms include an increase in unwanted pop-ups, redirects to suspicious websites, unfamiliar toolbars or extensions in your web browser, and a general decline in system performance. If you have noticed any of these symptoms, it is crucial to take action to remove the PUP and protect your computer and personal data.

How to Remove PUP.Freegate

1. Boot your computer in Safe Mode with Networking to prevent PUP.Freegate from loading and to give you a cleaner environment to perform removal steps.
2. Download and install a reputable anti-malware tool, such as SpyHunter, and perform a full scan of your system to detect and remove all components related to PUP.Freegate.
3. Manually uninstall any suspicious programs that you do not recognize or that were installed around the time you first noticed symptoms of the PUP.
4. Reset your web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.) to their default settings to remove any unwanted extensions or settings changes made by PUP.Freegate.
5. Reboot your computer and perform another scan with your anti-malware tool to ensure that all traces of the PUP have been removed.

Conclusion

Removing PUP.Freegate from your system is a critical step in protecting your personal data and restoring your computer's performance and security. By following the steps outlined above and maintaining vigilance when downloading software, you can significantly reduce the risk of PUP infections. Regularly updating your operating system, browsers, and security software, as well as being cautious with email attachments and links, are also key practices in preventing such infections. Remember, a proactive approach to computer security is your best defense against potentially unwanted programs and other types of malware.

Analysis Report

General information

Family Name:	PUP.Freegate
Signature status:	No Signature

Known Samples

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Known Samples

This section lists other file samples believed to be associated with this family.

MD5: 4a1c5be9c0af6829403974a933728b91 SHA1: b0e0896d0cf9b74a8b56c2fa145d03501544788a SHA256: 397EEEA356147605515283468EB6D00F91ED9CAF83FEC5E968E85EF5F70601A4 File Size: 2.85 MB, 2854912 bytes

Windows Portable Executable Attributes

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Windows Portable Executable Attributes

This section lists file attributes found within family samples. These attributes are extracted from the files’ Windows PE (Portable Executable) specification and various system flags. Portable Executable Attributes give malware researchers insight into a file’s functionality, executable details, platform and runtime environment.

• File doesn't have "Rich" header
• File doesn't have debug information
• File doesn't have exports table
• File doesn't have relocations information
• File doesn't have security information
• File is 32-bit executable
• File is either console or GUI application
• File is GUI application (IMAGE_SUBSYSTEM_WINDOWS_GUI)
• File is Native application (NOT .NET application)
• File is not packed

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• IMAGE_FILE_DLL is not set inside PE header (Executable)
• IMAGE_FILE_EXECUTABLE_IMAGE is set inside PE header (Executable Image)

File Icons

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File Icons

This section displays icon resources found within family samples. Malware often replicates icons commonly associated with legitimate software to mislead users into believing the malware is safe.

Windows PE Version Information

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Windows PE Version Information

This section displays values and attributes that have been set in the Windows file version information data structure for samples within this family. To mislead users, malware actors often add fake version information mimicking legitimate software.

Name	Value
Company Name	FreeGate
File Description	igfxtray Module
File Version	7.05.0014
Internal Name	FreeGate
Original Filename	FreeGate.exe
Product Name	UltraSurf
Product Version	7.05.0014

File Traits

• 2+ executable sections
• HighEntropy
• x86

Files Modified

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Files Modified

This section lists files that were created, modified, moved and/or deleted by samples in this family. File system activity can provide valuable insight into how malware functions on the operating system.

File	Attributes
c:\users\user\appdata\local\temp\~dfd8500c1ccd4d4476.tmp	Generic Read,Write Data,Write Attributes,Write extended,Append data
c:\users\user\appdata\local\temp\~dfdb172738b23ea226.tmp	Generic Read,Write Data,Write Attributes,Write extended,Append data
c:\users\user\appdata\local\temp\~dffb4b8b77b2be781c.tmp	Generic Read,Write Data,Write Attributes,Write extended,Append data

Windows API Usage

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Windows API Usage

This section lists Windows API calls that are used by the samples in this family. Windows API usage analysis is a valuable tool that can help identify malicious activity, such as keylogging, security privilege escalation, data encryption, data exfiltration, interference with antivirus software, and network request manipulation.

Category	API
Other Suspicious	SetWindowsHookEx