Do You Need a PUP Cleaner? - Comments Page 1

I have used SuperantiSpyware for years and it soes a very good job. The free version even notifies you of updates that can be downloaded right away.

I've started using Unchecky on all of my computers and installing it on clients' computers (with their permission and awareness). It does a great job of doing exactly what its name implies--it unchecks all of those PUPs before they get installed. If you really want them, you can check them and get them. The assumption is that you don't want them, which is oftentimes the correct answer. I have used ADWCleaner, and my only suggestion is to make sure you know what it is going to remove. It dislikes the Viewpoint Media Player (comes with the AOL Desktop software) and related files and will automatically remove them all. If you use AOL, the next time you open the program it will detect that Viewpoint is missing and let you know you should install it. With all of the cleaners out there, just be careful and learn how they work and how you can control them to suit your personal needs.

Great article, Bob! I can't remember how many times I've salvaged a friend or family member's PC because s/he clicked *next*next*next* when installing software.

I've run Avast and ESET off and on. I've tried Malwarebytes, AVG, and McAfee (Intel), and maybe a couple of others.
The user interfaces are atrocious. I found myself asking "What is it doing?". How do I stop it? What will it do if I tell it to "clean"?
Avast was the least obnoxious.
These programs got on my nerves so much, for now I have resorted to the crossed-finger scheme. (Yeah, I know -- it's no better than nothing, and it makes it hard to type, but I don't have some pain-in-the-tush program grinding up my disk with updates, or whatever it's doing in there.)

Will any of these work on a smartphone?

I've been a user of Malwarebytes Home Premium for several years. Even though I had the option to check for program updates selected, it never informed me they'd gone to version 3, a supposedly more robust, more inclusive product. After reporting a couple of false positives, it was suggested that I upgrade to the new version, so I did.

Big mistake! Programs started stuttering and hanging and the MBAM Support acted surprised. I checked their forums and found that lots of people were experiencing the same thing. I tried a few suggestions found there but eventually decided to uninstall version 3 and then reinstall the previous version plus Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit. Everything is working smoothly again.

Thank you, Bob! I've used MBAM Premium for years and am very satisfied. At first, I looked into all the PUPs reported. Not anymore since I have yet to find a PUP I wanted on my machines.

Unchecky is the way to go. A professional techie installed it on my PC months ago and I love it. Don't have to worry about catching those devious, insidious add-ons any more. "Nuff said.

MBAM: I'll give the Free version MBAM another try. Last time, it expired and didn't give me the op to continue using the Free version - It only wanted me to upgrade to the Paid version.

AVAST: I run Avast frequently (doing so right now) , but don't remember it scanning for PUPs, specifically, and don't see that mentioned anywhere (except for "Browser Add-Ons").

BITDEFENDER: I also have this scan my PC each night at 1:00am. It found a few files a while back, and I manually deleted them; except for one that my system won't LET me deleted (an Avast file, if memory serves).

I have Advanced System Care too, which I run every day or so.

I forgot to add that Avast, when it finds something (which it always does: "Performance Issues" and "Weak Passwords"), it will NOT Resolve anything unless I upgrade to the PAID version. I guess it does at least let me know what's what.

I'm using the free version of Sophos for home use and it is working quite well. I am pretty careful when I go to install something, I check for those "piggy-backer programs" along for the ride.

For those using Unchecky (which I still use and recommend), don't let your guard down. Unchecky works great but Avast, at least, bypasses it somehow and you still have to uncheck the Chrome browser and toolbar options when updating Avast.
I also run MalwareBytes and ADWcleaner as needed.

I've been using MBAM free for at least several years and do not check for PUPs with any regularity but when I do run a scan, I rarely find them. As to Avast - free, I used it as my AV for a few years and liked it a lot. Then, some months back my computer downloads slowed to a crawl, especially annoying when using Facebook. I tried for weeks trouble-shooting with no luck. From somewhere it was suggested that it might be my Avast AV. I removed Avast, installed AVG and my sluggish downloads disappeared. Something got added to recent versions of Avast that made it hog my CPU resources; it's gone for good.

I picked up a toolbar a few years ago that pops up at the bottom of my screen and I can't find out who's it is or how to get rid of it. On the right side of it there's an X to stop it but a day or two later it's back. Just aggravating that it's there and can't get rid of it. I'll keep trying.

Bob, I am using PCMatic a couple times a day especially when closing down the computer. Is this as good as any of the programs mentioned in this article? I ask because I do not find any comparison remarks. Never have had any problems since downloading it and grateful for that.

Thanks

I use windows defender for AV, works perfect.Also use MBAM free version to clean out the malware etc., if you want the free version you have to uncheck the block that ask you if you want the free trial at the end of the install. Super Anti-spyware free is another good program to use in addition to MBAM. Ccleaner free is the first thing i run to clean out the garbage and clean up the registry bloat, works great.

@RichF regarding the toolbar.
If you have tried these things, my apologies.
1. CCLEANER - http://www.piriform.com/
2. Process Explorer - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals

Hopefully one of these 2 will let you determine the source of that toolbar.
Good luck.

I uses Linux so I don't have this and problems Window users have.

The feud between MBAM and PCMatic is most definitely not over. I just ran a scan to check that, and it returned 13 registry keys and 5 files of PCMatic and PCMagnum labeled as "Malicious"

Don't know about anyone else, but not in a fit would I entrust the security of my computer, to a firm who deliberately labels a competing program as malicious. Apart from that, PCMatic and PCMagnum do sooo much more than MBAM.

Just today, I got thinking about when I first heard about Bob Rankin and the Tourbus. A dear friend is who told me about the Tourbus. I am so glad that he did, may he RIP. I have been officially getting newsletters from Bob Rankin for 20 years!!! It really does seem like it was just yesterday, Bob. I have been one of his faithful fans for 20 years. Thanks Bob for ALL that you just do!!!

Love Unchecky! I still get some PUPs, since I have a couple of games that are IWIN games. I love playing the games and so far, there doesn't seem to be any problem with my PC working. It seems fine.

When my system is scanned, not all of the scans show PUPs. I usually only get the PUP notice, when I play a new IWIN game. These are IWIN games that I have purchased and downloaded onto my PC. I believe it is the IWIN Game Manager that is the issue that causes the PUP notification after a scan.

I too love Malwarebytes. I have been using it, since Bob first mentioned it, way back when. In all honesty, I have used a lot of programs that Bob has recommended to try, over the years.