Potentially unwanted program
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A potentially unwanted program (PUP) is software which has been bundled with another installer. This is usually a demo version of some program they are attempting to sell. When someone goes to install a certain desired program, the PUP is installed as well, with or without the user's consent. These unwanted add-ons are also sometimes called bloatware, since they can full (bloat) a person's system with useless software.
Kinds of Potentially Unwanted Programs
- Adware (Like Superfish) - Insert advertisements into web pages you view, or even starts popup ads on your computer itself
- Mirror/Local Proxy - Mirrors or redirects all internet traffic through itself so it may build a profile of the user, which may be used for targeted marketing or sold
- Web browser Hijacking - Forcibly alters browser settings to earn the distributor money, usually by changing the home page and/or default search engine[1]
- Dialer - A largely out-of-date attack intended for dial-up internet connections (or now, Cellular phones[2]) which dials out to unwanted destinations for the purpose of wasting the owners data transfer allowance.
Examples
- Adware is often installed as a PUP, sometimes with full programs, and sometimes with browser extensions[3]
- Adobe has attached a PUP to its Flash Player and Shockwave products for years. This is one of the ways Google Chrome took over the web browser market
- Conduit's web browser toolbar is sometimes proclaimed as "popular," but is often installed as bloatware.
References
- ↑ https://www.codeword.xyz/2015/08/09/exploiting-android-users-for-fun-and-profit
- ↑ http://www.scmagazine.com/android-trojan-sends-premium-sms-messages-targets-us-users-for-first-time/article/343953
- ↑ http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/01/malware-vendors-buy-chrome-extensions-to-send-adware-filled-updates