Author Topic: pup.optional.softonic.assistant  (Read 3378 times)

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Offline darush83

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pup.optional.softonic.assistant
« on: February 09, 2019, 08:16:07 AM »
I use Avast Internet Security

avast can not remove malware?

I recently had pop ups on outlookonline, so I installed the ADWCLEANER that has found 6 threats.
Why does not Avast find anything here?

What the ADW CLEANER still finds is pup.optional.softonic.assistant
How can I remove this?
The ADW Cleaner has removed 5 threats unfortunately the ADWCleaner can not remove pup.optional.softonic.assistant

Avast does not find this threat

Ich nutze Avast Internet Security

kann avast keine malware entfernen?

ich hatte letztens Pop ups auf outlookonline, so hab ich den ADWCLEANER installiert dieser hat 6 bedrohungen gefunden.
Warum findet Avast hier nichts?

Was der ADW CLEANER allerdings noch findet ist pup.optional.softonic.assistant
wie kann ich dies entfernen?
Der ADW Cleaner hat 5 Bedrohungen entfernt leider kann der ADWCleaner pup.optional.softonic.assistant nicht entfernen

Avast findet dies bedrohung nicht

Offline TheSharku

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Re: pup.optional.softonic.assistant
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2019, 09:32:52 AM »
Do you have PUP scanning turned on?

Offline darush83

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Re: pup.optional.softonic.assistant
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2019, 10:25:54 AM »
PUP Scannning is on
Efficiency is high on all levels

Offline Asyn

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Re: pup.optional.softonic.assistant
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2019, 10:31:33 AM »
Start a topic in V&W and post your logs there: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=post;board=4
Instructions (basic diagnostic logs): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=194892.0
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

Offline Cluster-Lizard2014

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Re: pup.optional.softonic.assistant
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2019, 01:51:21 PM »
That piece of crapware is typical of the sort of thing you get when downloading 'free' software via the Softonic web site. They do have perfectly OK downloads for decent software but the download pages are often a minefield of deliberately tempting download buttons which are actually not for the program but something like that or their downloader assistant. It is hugely questionable marketing practice no truly decent software supplier should use. 

In this case it seems to be a directed advertising tool you definitely do not want on your system:-

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/pup-optional-softonic/

Malwarebytes rather than their ADWCleaner should be used as that will usually remove such stuff, even those things that takes it upon itself to auto-run at start up as this appears to do, and why ADWCleaner can not remove it.

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/pup-optional-softonic/

CCleaner may also be able to deal with that and removing the program entirely because it apparently does at least include an uninstaller. You probably should remove the start up entry first because the program will simply reinstall it on reboot. The auto-run tool itself if not removed will likely still act as a conduit for more PUPs to be 'offered' to you and may even reinstall the 'assistant' too.

Personally I'd use a purpose designed uninstaller like Revo Uninstaller or BCUninstaller with their advanced uninstall options. They run the program's own uninstaller first then clean the registry and most other places the PUP has inveigled itself.. It may still not get rid of the start up entry if it has attached itself to your browser. So CCleaner may still be needed.         

Offline darush83

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Re: pup.optional.softonic.assistant
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2019, 06:49:32 PM »

Thank you, CCleaner has deleted the dung cattle pup.optional.softonic.assistant.

After a PC restart and a new scan nothing was found by the ADWCleaner

I'm actually very careful when downloading freeware and still it got me

Offline mchain

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Re: pup.optional.softonic.assistant
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2019, 07:18:13 PM »

Thank you, CCleaner has deleted the dung cattle pup.optional.softonic.assistant.

After a PC restart and a new scan nothing was found by the ADWCleaner

I'm actually very careful when downloading freeware and still it got me
Now you know softonic may not be the best site for your purposes.  Try installing this software:  https://unchecky.com/  Very useful, I've found.
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801