»

What are Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs)?

  • Save
  • Comments: 1
  • Views: 2,827
  • Updated: February 18, 2013 2013-02-18T17:13:18
  • Date: February 5, 2013
 +
What are Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs)?

Would you share this Article with others?

  • Yes (2)
  •       
  • No (0)   

Potentially Unwanted Programs are similar to viruses, spywares and other malwares but, unlike these malicious programs, these Potentially Unwanted Programs are given permission to be installed by a user. After installing and determining the true purpose of these programs, the user will then try to remove these programs after his/her computer starts to slow down and display annoying popup advertisements.

The term Potentially Unwanted Programs was created by anti-virus maker McAfee because, they didn't wanted to classify these programs as spyware because of the fear of legal actions that could be taken against them by the makers of these Potentially Unwanted Programs.

Potentially Unwanted Programs include adware, spyware, web browser hijacker and toolbars. Some of these programs are creating by legitimate organizations and used as a marketing tool and can be difficult to remove after installation.

Potentially Unwanted Programs are usually bundled with free software and have an option to install or not to install. The install options are selected by default and, most users will quickly bypass or overlook these options without realizing that they have consented to installing these unwanted programs.

Free software makers usually monetize their software by bundling them with Potentially Unwanted Programs.

It is recommended that you choose “Custom Installation” when installing free software instead of, “Typical Installation” which is always selected as the default.

Choosing “Custom Installation” allows you to choose, if any, which additional programs to install.

Note: Some of the names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers or other information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.

Please share what you know or ask a question about this article by leaving a comment below. Also, check the comment section below for additional information, if there is any.

Remember to forward suspicious, malicious, or phishing email messages to us at the following email address: info@onlinethreatalerts.com

Also, report missing persons, scams, untrustworthy, or fraudulent websites to us. Tell us why you consider the websites untrustworthy or fraudulent.

If you want to quickly find answers to your questions, use our search engine.

You can help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA) by paying a service fee. Click here to make payment.

Comments, Questions, Answers, or Reviews
(Total: 1)

To help protect your privacy, please do not post or remove, your full name, telephone number, email address, username, password, account number, credit card information, home address or other sensitive information in or from your comments, questions, or reviews.

The comments or reviews below do not necessarily reflect the views of Online Threat Alerts.

  • February 13, 2014 at 10:12 AM by an anonymous user from Milan, Lombardy, Italy

    I'm tired of receiving all the time, several times a day, game proposals that do not interest me in the least, and annoy me for their foolishness!

    remove

 Show More Comments (1)
Write Your Comment, Question, Answer, or Review
Write your comment, question, answer, or review in the box below to share what you know or to get answers. NB: We will use your IP address to display your approximate location to other users.
Your comment, question, answer, or review will be posted as an anonymous user because you are not signed in. Anonymous posts cannot be edited or deleted. Sign-in.

Online Threat Alerts (OTA)

What are Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs)?