OFFERPUP.Optional.Ask
In the article below you will have the opportunity to learn more about a program from the category of the so-called PUPs named PUP.Optional.Ask . Sometimes among its irritating classical characteristics we can differentiate the broadcast of various online ads like banners, boxes or pop-ups; the display of often unfamiliar search engines and homepages; and the potential redirecting to various locations on the web. When we start talking about this software group, we should for sure point out that all programs belonging there might only have effects on some exact part of your system – all the browser apps you have installed, from Chrome to Explorer, Opera and Firefox. If you are interested, you can read in details about this specific PUP and its whole software family in general below.
The typical features of pups in general and PUP.Optional.Ask specifically
What we can surely say about this kind of software is that the programs which belong to it are specialists at advertising different things by producing online advertisements; and making your browsers behave in a different way than usual. There is normally a specific aim when a PUP is created – to show ads to the users and in this way give them the inspiration to buy/order the products or services being promoted. Actually, there is nothing new, questionable or incorrect about this type of behavior. It’s only that the producers and programmers have the same intention: to achieve the best possible way of promoting whatever they offer. When we talk about the process of advertising, both sides have success – the ones who are selling something and the ones who ensure the success of the advertising campaigns. Everything is absolutely legal.
Why may PUP.Optional.Ask sometimes be mistaken for a version of malware?
Actually, there isn’t really anything really disturbing or illegitimate about PUP.Optional.Ask in particular or its sibling programs. You maybe won’t believe that a huge number of users around the world may still mistake it for a virus. There is a big chance of this happening because of its quite questionable reputation – the broadcast pop-ups could really make somebody annoyed or confused, and they might report this problem as more or less bothering. This is maybe the only reason why hijackers are considered to be potentially unwanted. Just to be clear, though, browser hijackers and malware (Ransomware, Trojans) have nothing in common. In fact, there is a really big difference between these software types and we can’t make a connection between them in any way. Ransomware and Trojans, for example, may destroy everything in your system such as programs and data, while PUP.Optional.Ask cannot access anything different from your browser apps and their history records.
Possible ways of getting infected with a PUP
When we are discussing the methods of potential distribution of ad-generating products, they might really be various in number and in nature. PUP.Optional.Ask could be hiding everywhere (from spam and shareware to program bundles). Although, the most famous source looks to be any software bundle. These mixes of free programs such as new apps and recently developed games may seem to be absolutely attractive to you; and you may want to download or try some right at the moment. There is one problem with them, though, and it is that they could involve ad-producing programs (e.g. browser hijackers and Adware), and perhaps you are NOT going to be informed about that. From another point of view, you might intend to install the entire bundle you’ve downloaded. Generally, that’s how the ad nightmare will begin. In order to stay away from all forms of annoyance such as PUP.Optional.Ask , you ought to install any bundle, program, game or app properly.
And when we say “properly”, we mean by using the proper method of installation, which allows you to be free to do everything manually. The only wizard characteristics that could make this kind of installation process secure are: the Custom (or often have seen as Customized); and the Advanced ones. When you select one of them, you will have to make a choice what to incorporate into your system and what not to.
The way to avoid any PUP
The prevention process, if you want to avoid PUPs, begins with the already mentioned types of installing any bundle or software on your machine. What is more, you ought to teach yourself to avoid places where Internet irritations like these could be hiding like torrents, video-streaming web pages or fake online ads. For sure you do want to remove this program. For this reason you should read the instructions in our Removal Guide below.
SUMMARY:
PUP.Optional.Ask Removal
You are dealing with a malware infection that can restore itself unless you remove its core files. We are sending you to another page with a removal guide that gets regularly updated. It covers in-depth instructions on how to:
1. Locate and scan malicious processes in your task manager.
2. Identify in your Control panel any programs installed with the malware, and how to remove them. Search Marquis is a high-profile hijacker that gets installed with a lot of malware.
3. How to clean up and reset your browser to its original settings without the malware returning. You can find the removal guide here.
For mobile devices refer to these guides instead: Android, iPhone
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