The Concept of PUP

A PUP is an unwanted program that is often installed when you install other software on your computer. A PUP typically acts as a marketing tool and often modifies browser settings or displays unwanted ads. The most common form of a PUP is adware. PUP stands for Potentially Unwanted Program.

Unlike Trojans, worms, Emotet, spyware, or ransomware, the program does not reach your computer through security vulnerabilities or hacker attacks. It is usually installed with the user's consent. Most PUPs do not offer the user any added value; only a few of the additionally installed partner programs are actually used by the user.

How PUPs Get onto Your Computer

Although PUPs themselves are usually harmless, they still hinder computer use, slow it down, and are annoying to the user. Therefore, with any program you install on your computer, you should always be aware of the partner programs that are also being downloaded. If you click quickly through the installation, you can easily overlook the fine print and consent to additional applications.

Often, even antivirus programs will not prevent a PUP from being installed because, technically, a PUP is not malware. It is not malware because a PUP is not intended to cause any harm to the computer. This means a PUP is not as dangerous as a virus or Trojan, but you still need to make sure PUPs are not accidentally installed. Why? Here are some examples of what PUPs do to your computer:

PUPs slow down your computer because they consume a large amount of memory
They display a large number of ads
PUPs add toolbars to your browser which take up memory space
Potentially unwanted programs collect personal information

The Most Popular PUPs

The most common form of PUPs is advertising software, also known as adware. The most famous example of this is toolbars, also called button bars. Most users have probably installed a toolbar in their browser at some point. This happens most often accidentally because toolbars are not typically used. They often end up on a computer along with other free software installations.

In addition to toolbars, there are other types of PUPs that may seem useful. Most of these programs perform a system scan. When they do, they discover minor system errors and flag temporary files for deletion. To actually carry out the optimization, the user usually has to upgrade to a paid product first.

This practice is not illegal, but it is highly questionable and above all annoying. If you do not wish to use the paid version of the product, the tool can be uninstalled immediately, as it provides no benefit.

How Do I Identify PUPs?

To detect a PUP, it is first necessary to classify unwanted programs. To determine whether an application is a PUP, security engineers examine lists of improper behaviors. If one or more of these behaviors are found in various programs, they are classified as PUPs.

PUP criteria include web violations such as modified search results, download violations, or bookmark entry violations, as well as intrusive ads such as obnoxious pop-ups. There are also some PUP criteria during program installation, such as pre-filled checkboxes or recommendations to select a large number of additional options.

PUP: How to Protect Yourself from Unwanted Software

Proceed carefully when installing software: Unwanted programs, as mentioned earlier, usually get onto your computer accidentally. If you install a free program, this typically involves downloading partner programs that are used to fund the software. To avoid installing PUPs, you should always be careful when installing free software. Read through each dialog carefully. In addition to protecting you from PUPs, this step also ensures that no malware accidentally reaches your computer.
“Advanced Installation”: After downloading a program, you are usually offered a “Quick Install” and an “Advanced Install” option. The latter has nothing to do with how tech-savvy you are — it is simply a marketing trick. Choose “Advanced Install” and always deselect additional programs during installation. This way you avoid the risk of accidentally installing extra PUPs.
Trust the original source: As an additional precaution, always download software from the original manufacturer and not from freeware or download portals.
Healthy skepticism: Many unwanted applications promise to optimize your system or claim to significantly speed up your internet access. You should always maintain healthy suspicion toward these promises. If you are unsure, additional research online can provide clarity.
Recognize dark patterns: “Dark patterns” are user interfaces intentionally configured to trick people. They are designed to deceive the user into taking actions they may not have done of their own free will. For example, a newsletter where the unsubscribe button is difficult to find, or a website where customer contact information is hard to locate. Here are some examples of dark patterns:
Unofficial “seals” as credibility indicators
Pre-filled checkboxes
Highlighting the desired path (inactive “Skip” button, but the “Continue” button is selected)
Additional security measures: In addition to carefully checking software downloads, you should take advantage of additional security software. These include, for example, pop-up or ad blockers, anti-spyware software, and anti-malware programs.

Removing PUPs from Your Computer: Instructions

Potentially unwanted applications are usually installed accidentally as additional partner software. However, since PUPs are not always viruses, uninstalling them is relatively straightforward, albeit time-consuming. You can usually uninstall PUPs without much effort or external help.

Removing PUPs on a Windows Computer

On computers running Windows 10, open Control Panel and then select the Programs category. You will now see a list of all installed programs. Select the program you want to uninstall and then click the ”Uninstall” button in the top toolbar. Follow the uninstall instructions to completely remove the program from your computer.

Removing PUPs on Mac or MacBook

For Apple computers, the uninstall process is slightly different. To remove software that was not installed via the Mac App Store, open Finder and select your MacBook or Mac name from the right-hand menu bar. You then need to open the computer's internal hard drive. By default, this is labeled Macintosh HD.

You will find all installed programs in the Applications subfolder. Now simply drag and drop the desired program into the Trash located in the Dock. This will completely uninstall the desired program. To free up storage space, right-click on the Trash and select “Empty Trash.”

Article Summary

Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) are not technically malware, but they still cause some problems if they infect your computer. PUPs are annoying, time-consuming, and RAM-hungry. This means they require a lot of memory and therefore slow down your computer. Additional security measures can help protect you from PUPs. Ultimately, the best protection against PUPs is to be vigilant when installing freeware. Read installation dialogs carefully and do not choose the quick or standard installation option. Make sure to uncheck additional boxes to avoid installing unnecessary software.

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