5+ best Potentially Unwanted Program removal tools
- Getting a PUP on your device can be really frustrating so you will need a Potentially Unwanted Program removal tool.
- Freeware solutions, such as Avast, include protection against these intrusive apps.
- You'll find in our list a modern tool that can detect any intruder software even before it is installed on your computer.
- Zemana AntiMalware Portable, among others, can also help you get rid of any PUP on your PC.
Today, we will be showing you the top Potentially Unwanted Program removal tools for Windows PC. You may be wondering what is Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?
So, we will start by defining PUP. A Potentially Unwanted Program is software that gets on your system while installing another program.
The installation prompts request that you install additional bundled components such as toolbars, programs, adware, etc on your PC.
However, these unwanted computer programs are bundled on many freeware installers available on the WWW. Hence, you need to beware of optional installs as it may be budding PUPs.
In order to avoid labeling downloadable programs as malware, your antivirus software labeled these unwanted programs as Potentially Unwanted Program.
Meanwhile, these PUPs damage your PC by replicating its process activity; some Windows users reported that PUPs increases on their PC most especially once they are connected to the Internet.
These programs can wreck the PC even more than viruses; for instance, a web browser that has more than ten PUP toolbars will definitely be slow, impede performance, and even constantly crash.
Common symptoms of a PC infected with Potentially Unwanted Program
The following are characteristics of a PC infected with PUP: pop-up ads indicate infected PC, random web pages which keep on opening new tabs, or advertising banners injected into all web pages.
You can also notice browser popups that recommend fake updates, unapproved programs installed without your knowledge, or your browser homepage is changed without your knowledge.
In addition, you can detect PUP by accessing the list of programs on your PC and then locate programs that you are not familiar with.
Examples of known Potentially Unwanted Programs are listed in the table below:
| 1ClickDownload | MyPcBackup |
| 215Apps | MySearchDial |
| 22Find | MyWebSearch |
| Aartemis | NationZoom |
| Ad.yieldmanager | Nattly Search |
| Adlyrics | Network System Driver |
| Awesomehp.com | New Player |
| Bablyon | Ominent |
| Bandoo Media | OpenCandy |
| Bit89 | OtShot |
| Boxore | Outfox TV |
| Browsers_Apps_Pro | Outobox |
| BubbleDock | PC Powerspeed |
| BuenoSearch | PCSpeedUp |
| BuzzSearch | Perion Network Ltd. |
| Cartwheel | Pic Enhance |
| CheckMeUp | Price Minus |
| Cinema Plus | PriceLEess |
| Claro | Quone8 |
| CloudScout Parental Control | Qvo6 |
| Conduit | Resoft Ltd. |
| Coupon Printer for Win | Rocketfuel Installer |
| CouponDropDown | Safe Search |
| Crossrider | SalesPlus |
| Dealcabby | Salus |
| Dealio | Save Daily Deals |
| Defaulttab | Savefier |
| Delta_Homes | Savepass |
| Desktop Temperature Monitor | Savepath Deals |
| Dns Unlocker | ScorpinSaver |
| Eazel | Search.Certified |
| En.V9 | Search.ueep |
| Facemoods | Search.yac.mx |
| FinallyFast | Searchqu |
| FindWideSearch | Secure Trusted |
| FreeSoftToday | SeverWeatherAlerts |
| Funmoods | SlowPCFighter |
| Genieo | Sm23mS |
| Golsearch | Softtango |
| Hao123 | Somoto Ltd. |
| HD-V2.2 | Speedupmypc |
| HostSecurePlugin | Spigot |
| IAC Search & Media | SS8 |
| Ilivid | Strongvault |
| Iminent | Superfish |
| Incredibar | SweetIM |
| Infoadams | Sweetpacks |
| InfoSpace | Tarma Installer |
| InstallBrain | Translategenius |
| InternetCorkBoard | Tuvaro |
| Isearch | Vgrabber |
| JfileManager 7 | Visicom Media Inc. |
| JollyWallet | VPlay |
| Level Quality Watcher | Wajam |
| MediaVideosPlayers | Web Assistant |
| Mindspark Interactive | WebCake Deals & Ad’s |
| Monterra Inc. | Whitesmoke |
| Moshe Caspi | Word Proser |
| MyBrowserbar | Yontoo |
| MyInfotopia | Zugo Ltd |
However, in order to get rid of this problem, Windows Report team has compiled a list of top Potentially Unwanted Program removal tools for you.
What are the best PUP removal tools?
ESET Internet Security
ESET Internet Security can detect potentially unwanted, unsafe, and suspicious applications before they are installed on your computer.
Right upon installing ESET, you are prompted to enable or disable detection of Potentially Unwanted Applications.
Whereas the detection of PUP is configured during installation, the detection of potentially unsafe apps is disabled by default, and the detection of suspicious apps is enabled by default.
However, you can simply change these settings from the ESET console. Just head to Advanced Setup > Detection Engine > Real-Time & Machine Learning and Protection.
From that menu, you can modify the settings for Potentially Unwanted Programs according to your own preferences.
ESET Internet Security
Keep your personal computer safe from PUP with one of the best antiviruses available.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender is the no.1 antivirus solution on the market so it’s undoubtedly the best solution that can protect you from Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP).
You won’t need to worry about their removal as Bitdefender will block them even before they reach your PC. However, you could have a PUP already installed on your PC without knowing.
The first scan with Bitdefencer will reveal the culprits in an event and you will be able to get rid of it with a single click.
Of course, Bitdefender, as a top security solution will protect you from every single possible threat, not only PUPs but also malware, ransomware, phishing and all other modern scamming techniques.
Bitdefender
As a top security solution, Bitdefender will remove any PUPs and protect your PC from them.
Avira
Avira is another freeware antivirus that can protect your computer from multiple cyberthreats, including these annoying PUPs.
Avira detects as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications) all those which attempt to inject malicious content, or those which request an unjustified amount of personal data.
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Additionally, Avira considers being PUP any payment processing apps that may overcharge the user without explicit consent.
Products that require unnecessary access rights or inject unwanted advertising on the device, not to mention spy or remotely controlled software, all get detected by the Avira radar.
Avira
Use a great free security protection tool with radar for any Potentially Unwanted Programs.
Malwarebytes
Another Potentially Unwanted Program removal tool you can use is Malwarebytes. Unlike HitmanPro, Malwarebytes is a free utility that will scan your computer for Potentially Unwanted Programs.
Some types of malware can be difficult to identify and remove. That’s not something to worry about when using Malwarebytes. Its efficiency is proven against viruses, spyware, ransomware, and not only.
Here’s how to download, install, and use Malwarebytes on your Windows PC:
- Download Malwarebytes.
- Install the program.
- Right-click on the Malwarebytes.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Click the Scan button.
- Once finished click on the Clean button.
- Next click OK to reboot your PC and complete cleaning.
Malwarebytes
Get Malwarebytes for advanced malware protection and easily remove all PUPs from your device.
Zemana AntiMalware Portable
You can also use Zemana AntiMalware Portable to scan your PC for installed PUPs. ZemanaAntiMalware is a free utility program that scans and removes malicious programs from your PC.
Follow these steps to download and install Zemana AntiMalware on your Windows PC:
- Download ZemanaAntiMalware.
- Double-click on the executable file AntiMalware.Portable.
- Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
- Launch the ZemanaAntiMalware afterward, click on the Scan option to run a system scan.
- After scanning, from the list of PUPs detected, click on the Next button to remove all the PUPs.
- Follow the next prompts to completely remove the Potentially Unwanted Programs on your PC.
IObit Uninstaller
IObit Uninstaller is a Windows PUP removal tool. This utility program is ideal for removing stubborn software applications such as bundled applications and cleans up all its traces afterward.
In addition, you consider using any of our ten best alternative uninstaller programs to completely uninstall the PUPs.
To remove PUP with IObit Uninstaller, you can follow the steps below:
- Download IObit Uninstaller program, and install it afterward.
- Launch the IObit Uninstaller application.
- Select the unwanted programs, and choose – automatically remove residual files.
- Click on the Uninstall option to proceed with the uninstall process.
Hitman Pro
HitmanPro is a security tool that scans your Windows PC and removes PUPs from your system. HitmanPro is not a standalone antivirus program itself, but you can use it alongside your antivirus program.
You can find bellow the necessary steps to perform in order to remove PUP with HitmanPro:
- Download HitmanPro by clicking on the link below.
- After downloading HitmanPro, double-click on the hitmanpro executable file to install the program.
- Follow the installation prompts to complete the install.
- After installation, launch the program and click on the Next button to commence the scan process.
- Now, after scanning, from the list of PUPs detected, click on the Next button to remove all the PUPs.
- Click on the Activate free license button for free 30 days trial.
Avast Free Antivirus
Avast Free Antivirus is another great solution that can detect any Potentially Unwanted Programs that wants to install into your system.
From the Protection category, you can modify the settings for the Core Shields. You can find there a Potentially Unwanted Programs tab.
You will see there three options and you can choose exactly how the antivirus will treat PUP. You can choose to be fixed, asked or to ignore them.
After using any of the tools we mentioned above, your PC should now be free of all PUPs. However, we do recommend that you reset your web browser to its default settings.
This will completely remove all the PUPs leftovers on your web browser. In addition, we recommend that you run a full system scan on your Windows PC.
If you are still facing the PUP issues afterward (which is most unlikely), let us know by commenting below.
