What Is Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?

Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. In this case, that could mean anything from a harmless piece of software that helps your computer run more efficiently to a malicious program that will damage your computer and personal information. PUPs are software also downloaded when a user downloads a specific program or application. Dogs are similar to malware in that they will cause problems when they are downloaded and installed. The best way to avoid getting hit with PUPs is to know what they are, how they work, and what they do. Here are some standard PUPs and why they're dangerous: Browser extensions can be used for good or ill, but many of them are created by companies looking to make money by selling ads. They can be used to collect data about you, your browsing habits and personal information so the company can sell it without your knowledge or consent. Toolbars: Toolbars can be helpful because they provide quick access tools, such as web searches and shortcuts, but many toolbars also include adware that tracks your activity online. So that can explicitly target announcements toward you based on what sites you visit most often throughout any given day. This practice can also lead other websites to PUPs, programs that are not necessarily malicious but may be considered unwanted by the user. They often come bundled with other programs that users want to download. Advertisers commonly use PUPs to collect information about the user and then sell it to third parties. PUPs can also be used for legitimate purposes, such as compiling statistical data on how many people installed a program or what features they use most often. Some PUPs are helpful, but others may cause problems for your computer by slowing it down or causing other issues you should always read the terms of service before downloading anything from the Internet to avoid installing unwanted programs on your computer.