I've just spent the last three/four days finding and cleaning our pc from PUP maleware. I've looked around this website, but didn't notice anywhere to post my findings. How may I do this? Also I'd like to know how to protect myself in the future from PUP maleware. Thanks.
PUP is a Possibly Unwanted Program. While they are annoying, they do not cause damage to your system. Some people actually want the 'Features' offered by these programs.
Norton products concentrate on malware that can damage your system, that is why PUPs are not detected.
As no single security software can protect you from 100% of malware 100% of the the time, you need to run secondary on demand scanners such as the FREE versions of Malwarebytes or SuperAntiSpyware that can catch the PUPs for you.
Hello
Please see and read Quads 2nd post in this thread where he mentions pups. I may be incorrect about this, but I think some times PUPs can come along with other malware and cleaning out pups alone may not always be the correct solution. I still believe it can't hurt to have a free clean bill of health given by a removal site like the ones listed by delphinium to make sure that nothing else is hiding in the system if there were thtt many different PUPs. They might be the sceondary infection that shows up. I might be overcautious, but I don't believe their scans or tools will harm a clean system or an infected one. Here is the list of removal sites we rcommend.
Please go to one of these free Forums for help in removing your bad malware or rootkits.
(Thanks to Delph for providing the list of sites)
Please see this link for an up to date description of these sites plus the addition of a newly listed site formed by one of our successful malware remover users. The new site is listed first in this link.
http://community.norton.com/t5/Tech-Outpost/Malware-Removal-Forum-Recommendations/m-p/1060209#M8608
http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-360/Nation-Zoom/m-p/1068213#M98550
The PUP problems are addressed here on a regular basis. Most of us know they aren't viruses, but they sure can be a pain to remove and get everything back to the way it was. I'm hoping that when Norton comes out with version 25.1.2.3 they will introduce a new function to their newest version of NIS. The "PUP CATCHER" which will warn you if you are about to download and install a known PUP and give you the option to decline before you are invaded. If you are one of those "one in a million" folks who like browser hijackers then I guess they could put in that little check box the says "Don't Ask Me Again." Just a thought.
Hi, EssaTD2. I hear what you're saying but for the reasons stated by peterweb Norton concentrates on the worst types of malware and using programs like MBytes And SuperantiSpyware in their free versions ONLY, can act in a mop up role as a backup to your Norton program.
No one program will catch everything.
Yes, I use both Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware (Free Versions) to scan for problems. I just feel if the people who write the codes to block viruses within very short order after a trojan, worm, or virus is discovered it wouldn't be that difficult for them to write a few lines to block well known PUPS. Even if they made it an add on to Norton security products and charged for it I and, I'm sure, many others would be willing to pay. Maybe not?
You can always make a suggestion to Symantec via Product Suggestions, on this very forum !....
EssaTD2 wrote:The PUP problems are addressed here on a regular basis. Most of us know they aren't viruses, but they sure can be a pain to remove and get everything back to the way it was. I'm hoping that when Norton comes out with version 25.1.2.3 they will introduce a new function to their newest version of NIS. The "PUP CATCHER" which will warn you if you are about to download and install a known PUP and give you the option to decline before you are invaded. If you are one of those "one in a million" folks who like browser hijackers then I guess they could put in that little check box the says "Don't Ask Me Again." Just a thought.
Another point to remember is the system resources required to impliment a new feature. What would you be willing to give up to add this new feature?
Users complain about the draw on system resources by security software. That is why we recommend the secondary scans. That way each program can concentrate on what it does best.
Sorry, I'm not buying the resource thing. There are 1000's of viruses that, if they try to enter my system, Norton zaps them in a heartbeat. They add, who knows how many, new virus zapping definitiions weekly. A few more to catch the most common PUPS wouldn't do a thing to bog down ones system. I'm sure you're aware the full virus set is something like 250+ mb. another 350kb would be nothing. Norton has done a great job of streamlining their security software and I do appreciate it. I did say they could make this a "for pay" add on. You wouldn't have to install the feature if you didn't want it. Many programs allow you to install all the features available or to pick and choose only the ones you want. The majority of people I know that use the internet on a regular basis have been kicked in the rear by one of these browser hijackers at some point. As you can tell by this forum, many don't understand that Norton won't stop PUPS. We know they aren't viruses, but once they get into your system they can sure be a time consuming ordeal to get them out. Many users take the word "Security" in the title to mean total defense against known threats. I don't believe I'm the only one who believes browser hijackers are a known threat. (or maybe I am.)
Hello
If you suspect that your computer has pups or other malware that Norton has missed, stop off at one of the free malware rremoval sites which can safely give you the tools and monitor your computer to get rid of any suspected pups. It is better to go to one of them than to risk making your computer worse or making the cleaning up harder to do. Pups can also be the byproduct of other malware which needs the 1 on 1 removal techniques which can be found in the removal forums. If you need the list, I can direct you to them.
I usually re-image my drive, then nuke the PUP(s) & see what happens. Seems so far that they have no effect on the original progs…
Many thanks to those who have replied back with their opinions regarding PUPS. I logged on to the Virtualdr forum when I first encountered this junkware. A moderator there was kind enough to devote large parts of three days helping me remove lots of PUPS throughout my system. I must have run 6 different scans. Some of these cleaners were run twice. He scrubbed everything till he pronounced the last logs as "CLEAN". I can't give him enough accolades. It was a large, repetitive process and took lots of time I needed to spend on other things like Christmas. It was scarey process I'd never been through. I wondered why I was paying Norton to protect my pc when they weren't really protecting my PC.
I'm with all of those people here who think Norton should address the PUPS issue. They're not all harmless from what I've read. The annual cost for NIS is considerable. It should include a means of detecting AND irradicating these nasty critters. If malware/junkware clutters and can possibly harm, NIS should contain and irradicate it. If they don't care to bother themselves with it, perhaps they should post their non-PUPS policy on the NIS 2014 product information page. I've learned a lot about PUPS from reading all the posts on this forum. Thanks for writing here . . . also my apologies about some of my venting here, but I think we've got a legitimate gripe with the powers that be.
Please use this link if you think that a file is a false positive:
https://submit.symantec.com/dispute/
If there is a possibility that the file might be infected, please submit it to Symantec using this link:
https://submit.symantec.com/websubmit/retail.cgi
Another alternative which is fast you can use Virus Total
http://www.virustotal.com/index.html
(Thanks to Yaso for providing the links)
Perhaps you can use these links with your next PUPs and please surf carefully and install programs carefully and don't let uninvites into your computer.