Have you ever tried to install some software only to find there are new programs on your computer you don’t recognize? Those Possibly Unwanted Programs or “PUPs” might be Adware that’s trying to sell you a premium version of something or possibly gathering and selling your personal information.
Sometimes when downloading a program, if the source isn’t reputable, they may send you Malware. Malware often damages or disables your computer. If for example, they send you a Fake Application that is a browser or desktop hijacker, your computer may be hard to use or unusable until you pay them money.
Sometimes it’s just irritating pop-ups that won’t stop. Other times they encrypt your hard drive so you can’t recover your data without their help (unless you’ve thought ahead and set up a cloud-based backup).
Keeping PUPs Away
The best strategy for managing PUPs is preventative. First, have some anti-virus as well as anti-malware solution. Second, question download links. Be cautious about which domain is sending you the download and make sure the file type is correct. Some browsers, like chrome, help you with this task by letting you know if an extension can harm your computer even after you’ve downloaded it before you click on the link to the downloaded file.
The next line of defense is to remove PUPs as soon as you become aware that you have them. If a simple uninstall doesn’t work, it might be worth downloading a removal tool specific to the PUP or having the PUP professionally removed. The longer malware sits on a computer system, the more information it can gather and the more damage it can do.
Any Questions?
If you still have questions about PUPs, adware, malware, cloud backups, anti-virus software, or anti-malware, please feel free to ask us all your questions. We offer a range of solutions and unlike some PUPs, we won’t bite.