OFFERThis article is aimed at removing the PUP Optional Yontoo “Virus” and to provide an answer to the question “What is Yontoo?” The latest version of Yontoo Layers is 1.10.02.
What is Yontoo Layers? Is Yontoo a virus and should you remove it from your PC?
Many consider the Yontoo “virus” to be an undesirable program and advertise for its removal, but there are no indications that it behaves like a computer virus. Most of the problems attributed to this program are actually caused by other applications installed alongside in from software bundles. Many users undeniably refer to it as a Yontoo “Virus”, but they are wrong in the sense that nothing Yontoo does is actually on the wrong side of the law. And viruses always are.
Yontoo Layers is a controversial Windows program that can create virtual layers over various websites. It was popular with Facebook and Myspace and some people claim that the Yontoo “virus” is able to improve their experience with these websites. Yontoo 1.10.02 allows you to hide portions of the website and layer over things you’d rather want to see in place of the content hidden underneath.
Unfortunately, Yontoo 1.10.02 remains a controversial program and many security applications consider it a PUP (Potentially Wanted Program). How so? We’ll try to answer that below.
Yontoo 1.10.02 is often linked to dangerous programs
Note that this may not be entirely due to the fault of Yontoo itself, but rather may be the cause of poor marketing and advertisement strategy. The thing is that it is often bundled in the installers of other programs. Any person who tries to install one of those program bundles will find himself in possession of Yontoo and possibly other software, which can be dangerous and/or malicious. Software bundling remains a controversial method to advertise – it definitely helps to make the program reach as many people as possible, but sometimes this program will also be uninstalled without the knowledge or explicit permission of the user.
- Want to avoid having random programs installed on your computer without your knowledge? Well – there is one very simply rule to uphold. Always select the advanced installation for any executable you start on your computer. Even software bundles have the option to forbid the installation for any additional programs added to the bundle and advanced installation will allow you to do just that. The quick/default installation in comparison is set to install anything and you certainly don’t want that.
Another negative feature of PUP Optional Yontoo is the fact that it uses Ads to sustain itself. This, in by itself, is a normal policy for free software. The issue comes from the fact that Yontoo does not have an interface of its own, but it meddles with your internet browser. People that have this program installed on their machine (even if they didn’t want it or are unaware they have it) will experience Ads from Yontoo overlaying the usual Ads for different websites they visit. Most online Ads are sponsored by Google or their partners and are safe to click on, Ads sponsored by Yontoo have no such protection.
There is also some heavy speculation that this program actively records data of your online history and webpage visits and it sells that data to 3rd party partners. Recording your online activity is actually fairly common for programs that display Ads (because they will try to optimize the Ads to your persona in order to make it more likely for you to click on them). However, while selling this information is not allowed it there is a huge amount of buyers and sellers.
Another very good reason to remove PUP Optional Yontoo from your machine is because this program has been discontinued by its developers. This means that any potential security problems will not be patched and everyone who finds a weakness in the code of the program can hack into your PC. The official site of Yontoo notifies that development is discontinued and it offers to help you with uninstalling it. Whether you want to trust the creators by downloading yet another executable to remove PUP Optional Yontoo is up to you, but we recommend against it.
SUMMARY:
| Name | Yontoo |
| Type | Potentially Unwanted Program |
| Detection Tool | Some threats reinstall themselves if you don't delete their core files. We recommend downloading SpyHunter to remove harmful programs for you. This may save you hours and ensure you don't harm your system by deleting the wrong files. |
Remove Yontoo
Search Marquis is a high-profile hijacker – you might want to see if you’re not infected with it as well.
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