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PUP - sounds cute but has the potential to seriously bug you. This acronym stands for potentially unwanted programs of which there are many that would like to infest your PC. What was once an issue only with smaller companies, flimsy freeware or disreputable download portals has unfortunately become common place. Read on to learn what you need to watch out for and why we occasionally get teary-eyed over this situation!
If you like to get your software through online magazines or bigger download portals and go with the "recommended" or "express" setting for the installation you'll know this: Suddenly, you find yourself with various unknown programs, toolbars and modified launch pages in your browsers. It's enough to drive even the most gentle of folks mad. With a little luck, your antivirus solution or your browser will issue a warning, otherwise, you'll get a lot more than you asked for and will have to use all your cunning to get rid of the intruders.
Software providers use various methods to foist this software on you. Even if you select "Custom Installation" (the smartest way) you'll be faced with a couple of pitfalls. Double negations are designed to confuse you, options are presented as several tabs (easy to miss) and checkboxes are grayed out to make them appear disabled. Programs are touted as essential add-ons (they're not) or you have to click "Cancel" to skip their installation but continue with the main installation. Confusing? You bet, that's the name of the game. You have to read extra carefully and think before you click. If you're preparing for your bar exam, this is where you'll find useful pointers on twisted thinking.
Installers as surprise bags – What’s in it?
The prime motivation behind all of this is - you guessed it - money, lots of it. Distributors make a few cents off of every installation and should their users then decide to purchase the software, they'll get an additional commission depending on their contract. This may sound gloomy but let's not be naive: Companies have to make money to survive. Download portals have to pay a lot for servers, writers and designers. The question is how far they're willing to go to make a profit. It's highly unlikely that outraged users will visit your site a second time, are a few quick bucks really worth it? And any technical journal will lose a lot of credibility if their online presence distributes unwanted programs along with articles such as "How to clean and maintain your PC".
This is not meant to be a sweeping blow: There is a thin line between different software providers. I'm okay with it as long as it is fair. That means users are given enough details about the software and are required to opt into the installation (by clicking a specially prepared checkbox). Unwanted installations as a result of hasty reading (happens to me, too) or a lapse in concentration while clicking "Next" should not be possible. Alas, very few follow these guidelines as they may diminish their profits (naturally).
Who knew our bosses could look that sad
We still receive a lot of offers for these "add-ons" - and some of them are really attractive and promise yields that leave our bosses teary-eyed. But we've made our final decision not to distribute any more piggy-back installations more than three years ago. Whether it's standalone programs or toolbars - it was a mistake and we know it. I myself am glad that we've bailed out of this business. That's why you won't find any third-party software content in any of our setup files. If you ever come across flimsy bonus applications bundled with our software, feel free to contact the respective download portal, this is neither our doing nor intent!
If you've become a victim of PUP, all you can do is delete the affected applications (e.g. through Windows' program manager) or restore your system, if push comes to shove since some programs won't show up in the program manager or have been so carelessly thrown together that their removal will cause error messages. Blessed is he, who maintains regular Iackups or uses software tools such as UnInstaller 6 (I had to mention the program to get my boss to stop throwing paper balls at me!) that log every single installation separately. It's bad enough that you need such tools in the first place.
What I would like to know: How do you deal with unwanted programs? Do you boycott the affected web sites or do you meticulously click through each installation and hope for the best?
Excellent information. My advice to anyone downloading a 'free' program is to read through every stage thoroughly - you will be less likely to find yourself with yet another toolbar you did not want.
Eugene Hobbs, as Sven said in the beginning, PUPs INFEST your PC, I have seen clients' computers with seven toolbars, none of them wanted because novice users do not keep up to date with the nefarious activity behind a box which is already ticked, add to this the fear behind the words, 'Custom Download For advanced Users' which remains untouched and the click on automatic download.
I have, want and need the 17 Ashampoo programs which are installed on my 1TB hard drive along with a lot more needed programs, and my clean, neat, tidy, garbage-free computer boot time is 28 seconds.
Remember that many viewers of Sven's articles are novice users so they need to understand the difference between ugly, annoying, intrusive PUPs and programs which are on their computers, even if only used once a week are definately NOT PUPs.
I boycott them.But it is like a mine field, one click in the wrong place and it is like the wrath of god descends upon your poor unsuspecting PC and you spend all day cleaning up the bomb site.
I am sure that religious zealots will have their PC festooned with rosary beads and such like to keep the devil away.
I'm entirely with you, Sven, on the matter of PUPs. Whenever I install software from any source, I'm always very careful about what I agree to, but even so I have been caught out once or twice.
However, I must add that I have on occasions suddenly found a shortcut to something called "My Software Deals" on my desktop - which I never agreed to! As you will know, this has been installed - one way or another - as part of an Ashampoo installation. I have never asked for it and I don't want it.
I also find it somewhat irritating that whenever I launch an Ashampoo app, I get a splash screen offering me this same "My Software Deals", and when I close the app I also get a sales pitch for an upgrade, or some such. My attitude to this is that I bought your software to use for its primary function - not to provide you with a convenient route to target me with your advertisements.
So... pots and kettles, Sven. Pots and kettles.
We see a huge difference between a desktop shortcut to the company-owned market place that can be deleted completely with a single click – and unwanted programs that clutter up your PC extensively. The first is advertising, the latter, oh well, highly unpleasant and a real nuisance. But ads are a necessity, annoyed customers are not! Each of our applications comes with dedicated service channel settings, usually located in the settings menu.If you don’t like it, just disable it. Once you disable some or all service channels (we recommend leaving update notifications on since we like to continue developing our products) you will no longer be bothered by product notifications.
I understand it's a pain in the neck. It's so simple to me. I know what I can and can't do. I can't purchase online anymore, because I have the Church to answer to. otherwise there will be consequences I'll have to face. I just have to go to a local store and buy and pay in cash. That's it! So, since I no longer have those privileges, I'll pray for you and those that are victims of PUP's. I just have a PC and that's all I need.
Jon, the point I was making is that if you are not using a program right now, then by definition everything else is a PUP. I was making the point that the PC has dam near everything on it for supposed convenience, yet nothing else that we have requires everything to be plugged in all the time. What is wrong with using all the resources of the PC for a singular program to run it at its best without being handicapped by all the residuals of other programs nearby? Is it really going to take that long to load another program, and as I said do we not do that with a CD etc, or would you have them all on standby for possible usage. As stated earlier anything not being used now is a potentially unwanted program. Your CD collection is not required for you to listen to one CD, therefore the collection is not required at that point in time.
In the last week I have been changing my hard drive and had to revisited Ashampoo for My installed programs.
Great soft wear use for over 15 years now .
They have some really useful programs! My favorite is Snap as an Ebay seller it is used to grab the address and print a lable.
Some other sites I visited I had to sort PUPs from what I needed.
So a welcome and timely warning !
If I find software that I want, I always get it from the official site, or go to somewhere like Sourceforge. I don't use third party distributors. I get offers from Giveawayoftheday as well, and have never had problems there. I've used Ashampoo software for years, as good as you'll get anywhere.
I don't understand Eugene Hobbs and his PUPs comment.
PUPs are not wanted Potentially UNWANTED Programs, the programs we have are wanted and an intelligent user will not allow the machine to be cluttered, sounds like fear-mongering from a novice with bad advice.
It is impossible to imagine Eugene storing everything on CDs, DVDs, USBs, SD Cards, External Hard Drives then searching the compartment where they are stored for the one important program you want to run.........the computer IS the storage device.
Back-up does not relate to reversing an automobile Eugene!
Good advice - I used to be caught, but I now make sure I read before letting my finger stab!
Yes, I have, in the past had toolbar problems, some are very difficult to remove!
And it's no good saying what I often say loudly "Go away!!!" - doesn't work, trust me!
It doesn´t work - but it´s the cutest try ever. :)
In reply to Ivor Topp. I have been using Ashampoo software for nigh on 20 years. I have used most of their products in that time. In fact my current pc has many Ashampoo apps installed.
Ashampoo makes great software at affordable prices to all. They are saviors to those who want a fair deal over the expensive big brands.
Much kudos to Ashampoo- Great Software- Great People.
I've never ever experienced difficult installations Ivor, in fact the 100's of Ashampoo apps that I've installed over many years have been foolproof.
Long Live Ashampoo- Champions to the masses.
That´ll be on the bulletin board of Ashampoo today. :) Thank you so much!
Great article Sven, and yes, Ashampoo tried the 'trick' with the PUP Conduit, thanks for wiping it.
There are no guarantees from the continuous PUP pushers, what they do is legal, read every page when installing and look carefully at every word and don't be fooled by the BIG 'Download' buttons.
What is the use of free security systems when many 'nasties' slip through, and a program for anti-virus, another for spy-ware, another for junk-ware etc; have to be used independantly.
The best paid-for program which protects from viruses, ad-ware, spyware, junk-ware, file guard, surf protection, behaviour blocker all-in-one is Emsisoft, and the independant test laboratory AV Test proves with regular tests that the program is the leader in computer security.
Set to run in the background and set to run a daily or weekly scan cuts out the need to run several programs one after the other.
Bleeping Computer is one of very few trusted sites which lists honest, clean, free from 'nasties' software, and well worth a visit,
Guess which program uses Emsisoft *and* Bitdefender signatures as well... :)
Any program that you are not using at present is a PUP.
Why do we require all these programs to reside on the PC, after all our CD or DVD collection is not stored on the device - load as necessary, this frees up system devices otherwise cluttered up with programs not required at present.
SuperAntiSpyware is another good program to get rid of PUPs.
I'm fairly careful so an occasional scan a few times a year is good enough for me, but then I don't have kids.
One word: Malwarebytes. That will get rid of the majority of PUPs.
However, I agree with your approach: read very carefully before clicking anything, and make sure you know what will happen next.
The more people adopt this approach, the safer computing in general will be. The days of willy-nilly clicking on icons will (with luck) be on the way out. As I tell my clients "The only 100 percent effective anti-virus is an informed user."
thank you Sven for your honest opinion. unfortunately we are all exposed to malicious software being sold on the net. my only defense against this threat is to buy software from a reliable source and until now i try to download programs mostly from Ashampoo who proved themselves to be honest and professional (i am not being paid for writing this). i wish there was a way to kill a fraud the minute it appears on the net. keep up the good work Sven and have a nice weekend.
davod
Self installing tool bars loaded with purchased products really annoys me although I am much better at blocking them now - so I for one greatly appreciate your stopping the practice and gives me confidence to keep coming back to your products
Now days, even cnet's download.com website has taken on the PUPs. I've always trusted them to be virus-free, and it appears to continue to be true, but you have to look for the pre-checked boxes when you download and install or you will end up with a new homepage, search engine, and heaven knows what else. I still get software from there on occasion, but I watch it like a hawk! And I'm sure I've missed a bunch, as I continually find PUPs listed anytime I do a manual scan with my antivirus. Evidently, if you "allow" the installation, the antivirus thinks you want it and allows it to install.
I have to disagree with a previous comment:
"Ashampoo offers sometimes include cheap downloads which can be difficult to install. After my latest experience earlier this week I will be more cautious in future."
I have no connection with Ashampoo. I'm just a customer sitting across the pond in the USA. I find Ashampoo software very easy to download and I don't mind the extra step to register since I get a generous trial period as a result. I love the marketing approach by Ashampoo since I'm able to take advantage of some really great pricing on software that I actually need and use. As a matter-of-fact I just checked my licenses page (yep, I like that two) and I've made 21 purchases in the last couple of years - so their strategy works. Two examples. I've completely dropped Microsoft Office and am now 100% on Ashampoo Office which has never posed a problem or incompatibility issues. I've been an Ashampoo Antivirus user for two years with great results. Oh, and I need to mention that I'm hooked on Snap and am previewing version 9 right now - which I'm sure I'll be purchasing (previously bought versions 6, 7 & 8). Ashampoo is good software at very reasonable prices. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your support.
As for folks installing software without your permission or knowledge, maybe give them their own space (in the Guest department) where you can set it up to disallow any software installation without your knowledge:
John Ryan 2016/04/2802:08 pm
When you have grandchildren you sometimes don't know where the unwanted programs (or ads) have come from. Sometimes you know but it is difficult to remove them eg attached to a URL for a particular web page that you use everyday and hidden deep within a registry entry or something. I do try to read installation boxes very carefully and generally if it there are a number of additional programs I am asked to accept/download, I usually don't install the very first program that I actually wanted. I do this whether or not the other programs might on inspection appear useful or desirable. Recently, I used an anti-malware program to remove some unwanted ads/programs. It was brilliant. I had been at wit's end before a friend suggested this program.
Sven Krumrey 2016/04/2802:38 pm
I too know the situation after my grandchildren visited my dad all too well. The computer will never be the same again. :)
I generally use the "custom" installation. It allows an option of not accepting pre-determined software. Slick they have gotten in that oftentimes those folks will have sneaky software listed immediately after EULA stuff which is the legalese stuff bunches of folks zip past. The stuff is already checked for ya! No thanks!
I find it hard sometimes to have a go when the likes of Java still want to try and get you to install chrome etc. Ok this one can be spotted and stopped, but with that in mind can you blame the others totally? I do agree it's a global pain in the posterior and have been caught, and have had to 'clean' up installations the kids have done. As has been mentioned why can't you just get what you wanted. Although perhaps the supermarkets could adopt the trick, buy one thing and leave with more than you paid for, that might catch on, and you might even get lucky with the random selection that is thrown in..... who knows.
Very good write-up... Did you distribute this to Ashampoo executives? You know, the ones who make business decisions... I no longer purchase your software for the reasons which you mention, including third-party spyware, etc. Yes, I did purchase from ashampoo, in the past, yes, I did have to use antivirus and antimalware to remove the unwanted tag-ons which were included. Will I purchase from ashampoo, again? Probably not.
Hey, we made our final decision not to distribute any more piggy-back installations more than three years ago. Come back and stay! :)
J. K. Rawling is my pseudonym but after the theft of my stories and inventions my need for information has led me to download programs I see and recognize as being made from my design concepts skeleton sheets and written details about them. ASHAMPOO is among the companies I have downloaded software from because of my need for information related to programs I had been constructing and created artwork for. The Live Aquarium is one such program I had been creating but someone else managed to complete the programming and so alleviating me of all work I would have had to put into it to get it made and marketed. The harry Potter series was my main story broken up into titles and formed into the stories now well known but I get no recognition for having created that series either, because of plagiarism and peoples refusal to accept what I reveal is actually true. Here you tell people you have had tears from from having issues in the process of removing unwanted software and say ASHAMPOO stopped adding unwanted programs with promoted programs promoted by the company but then show a hot link to a program. As I am reading about Internet Marketing methods I saw your hidden promotion immediately and that is one marketing method now used too often, as well as PUP. You could clearly offer a solution to unwanted downloads problems by a soft-sell, as: Ashampoo offers a program "Uninstaller 6" which can uninstall all subsequently installed programs on your PC when you installed a program you registered. For example; If you would like to read more about the theft of the Harry Potter stories from the original creator of it then go to http://jkrawling.tumblr.com. My poem THE LIAR BIRD will reveal the original authors name. People like a choice to what they want to put more time into. The thing that ASHAMPOO software does that most annoys me nowadays is the promotional advert that pops onto my desktop whenever I open a program from ASHAMPOO. It annoys me so much that I have often wanted to stop my service emails from the company but continue to use the products as they are of high quality. I have also been teary eyed about problems with programs loading without my intention, as well as from my emotional state of mind, after having seen one of my stories or inventions being promoted by plagiarists, so having the ability to remove unwanted software will be appreciated by may people who use your Uninstall 6 program.
And the award for most creative comment goes to: Mr. Simcock! :) And if you don't like our news channel popups, you can disable them by clicking on either "Options" or "Settings" in the menu bar and then "Service Channels".