在这篇文章中，我们将了解什么是潜在不需要的程序或应用程序(Potentially Unwanted Programs or Applications)，也称为PUP或PUA，以及如何检测它们、阻止它们安装和删除它们 - 如果第三方软件将它们安装到您的计算机上. 这种形式的灰色(grayware)软件或非恶意软件(non-malware)可能会影响您的隐私，并可能危及您的Windows计算机安全。
什么是潜在有害程序(Programs)( PUP )
从名称上可以清楚地看出——不需要的程序——它们是您不希望在您的计算机、笔记本电脑、手机、平板电脑或其他设备上使用的软件或应用程序。那么它们是如何进入您的计算机的呢？我们将讨论一些软件使用的不同技巧来安装这些不需要的程序。
这种垃圾软件通常有两种交付方式。首先(First)，它可能由开发人员自己捆绑，或者其次，下载站点可能要求您下载他们的包装器或下载管理器，然后会强制安装PUP(PUPs)。
潜在有害程序是主要与免费软件捆绑在一起并自行安装在您的设备上的程序，无论您是否知情。当您安装免费软件时，尤其会发生这种情况。软件安装包会诱使您接受您并不真正想要的第三方程序的安装。此外，不仅免费软件，一些付费软件也会安装您不想要的第三方程序！
检测 PUP/PUA
以浏览器插件和工具栏(browser add-ons and toolbars)形式出现的潜在有害程序很容易识别。其他诸如在后台运行的程序等不容易识别。您可能必须检查您的Windows 任务管理器(Windows Task Manager)以找出PUP(PUPs)。
尽管它们看起来很无辜，但PUP 通常是间谍软件(PUPs are often spyware)。它们可能包含键盘记录器、拨号器和内置的类似软件。在这种情况下，如果您的防病毒系统足够好，应该会在您有意或无意地安装它们时向您发出警报。那是您必须停止安装并防止安装这些潜在有害程序的时候。即使PUP(PUPs)是干净的，它们也会占用宝贵的系统资源并降低计算机速度。浏览器加载项形式的潜在有害程序会降低您的浏览器速度并影响您的浏览体验。此外，它也可能侵犯您的隐私和安全。
删除可能不需要的应用程序(Remove Potentially Unwanted Applications)( PUA )
要卸载此类PUP(PUPs)，请打开浏览器设置并单击选项。根据您的浏览器，管理加载项(manage add-ons)的过程会有所不同。在Internet Explorer中，您可以在Tools > Manage您的加载项下找到它。阅读我们关于如何管理浏览器插件(manage browser add-ons)的帖子，了解各种浏览器的详细说明。
检查附加组件。对于您不了解的内容，请运行Internet搜索以查看它们是否重要。如果没有，请关闭它们。即使它们不是PUP(PUPs)，关闭它们也会提高您的浏览速度。
如果您看到一些未知的工具栏，您可以通过此面板删除它们，或者您可以访问控制面板(Control Panel)将它们删除。如果某些讨厌的工具栏拒绝消失，您可以使用一些免费的工具栏清洁工具(Free Toolbar Cleaner Tools)或浏览器劫持者删除工具(Browser Hijacker Removal Tools)。
接下来，检查控制面板下的程序和功能(Programs and Features under Control Panel)以查看已安装的软件。最好的方法是单击“安装日期”，以便程序按安装日期排序。如果您看到除了您在特定日期安装的程序之外的任何内容，那么它们就是您想要删除的程序。但请记住，有些程序需要外部程序，例如.NET和Visual C++ Distribution Framework。如果您删除这些程序，您的软件可能无法正常运行。所以你要确定！有许多网站可以告诉您不同程序的作用。然后，您可以根据此类网站上的建议删除或保留这些程序。AdwCleaner , RogueKiller ,FreeFixer是一个免费工具，可以帮助您删除PUP(PUPs)。
另一种方法是检查任务管理器(Task Manager)。这将是一项乏味的任务，但如果您的Windows计算机速度极慢，请检查每个进程。如前所述，有些网站会告诉和推荐这些程序是什么以及是否保留它们。某些(Certain)免费软件，例如我应该删除它，(Should I Remove It)也会在这件事上为您提供指导。根据建议，您可以检查与该进程相对应的程序，做出明智的决定，然后将其卸载。
这些天来，一些安全软件被编程来搜索和找出可能不需要的程序。检查您的防病毒界面，看看它的设置(Settings)中是否有任何此类选项。如果有，你很幸运。只需(Just)运行扫描以检测PUP(PUPs)列表，然后将其删除。
防止安装 PUP
这是您安装程序的方式，通常会将潜在有害程序带入您的设备。如果您选择“快速方法”或“推荐方法”来安装免费软件，您的计算机很可能会安装免费软件以及一堆可能不需要的程序(Potentially Unwanted Programs)。因此(Therefore)，请始终从安全的下载站点下载免费软件并进行自定义安装(custom installations)——切勿盲目地单击Next、Next、Next。
软件安装包采用了几种技巧来获得您的同意以安装可能不需要的程序。当您完成自定义安装过程时，即使您对计算机知之甚少，您仍然可以安全地安装您想要的程序。
安装包使用的主要技巧之一是在带有 Next Button的对话框上显示EULA（带有I ACCEPT和I DECLINE按钮的页面） 。如果您在对话框中阅读此类页面的顶部，您就会知道安装包在谈论什么软件。在这种情况下，最好拒绝并退出。
使用的另一个常见技巧是显示EULA页面，并勾选I ACCEPT 。没有我拒绝(I DECLINE)选项。在这种情况下，只需取消选中I ACCEPT按钮。在没有PUP(PUP)的情况下，您仍然可以单击Next继续安装您的程序。
在其他情况下，当您选择自定义安装时，只需取消选中“安装 XYZ 工具栏”和“将主页更改为 XYZ”，然后单击(Change)下一步(Next)即可仅安装免费软件。因此，您在安装软件时需要小心，不要着急，以便只安装您想要的。
也仔细检查措辞。有时他们可能会使用两个否定词并诱使您不取消选中该框并安装第三方产品。
- Windows 10 现在允许您使用Windows 安全性禁用或(Windows Security)启用针对潜在不需要的应用程序(enable protection against Potentially Unwanted Applications)(PUA) 的保护。
- 您还可以在 Windows 10 中使用组策略、注册表或 PowerShell 打开或关闭 PUP 保护。(turn on or off PUP Protection using Group Policy, Registry, or PowerShell)
- 这篇文章将向您展示如何在 Edge 浏览器中启用可能不需要的应用程序保护(enable Potentially Unwanted Application protection in the Edge browser)。
- Unchecky是一个免费工具，可以防止在您的计算机上安装不必要的第三方程序。每当您安装新程序时，此工具将变得主动和自发，并取消选择不相关的报价，这不仅可以为您节省大量的鼠标点击，还可以让您的系统远离不需要的广告软件、PUP(PUPs)和其他垃圾软件。
- SpywareBlaster可以防止在您的 Windows PC 上安装间谍软件和其他可能不需要的程序。
如果您的 PC 是多用户 PC，您可以阻止其他用户安装程序。
最后的话(Final Words)
这些天来，很少有“免费软件”是真正的免费软件！我们的免费软件是真正免费提供的。还有其他几个。但一些免费软件开发商捆绑第三方产品，这些产品可能是潜在的不受欢迎的软件，以赚取一些钱。这些不是免费软件，而是捆绑(bundleware)软件作为推送到(crapware)您的Windows计算机上的垃圾软件。因此，无论何时安装免费软件或游戏，在安装过程中都要非常小心。阅读(Read)并单击Next。如果您需要退出第三方优惠，请取消选中复选框。(Uncheck)如果没有提供此类选项 - 退出安装。最好(Better)不要安装这样的软件。
我最近注意到的另一个趋势是，一些开发人员将软件作为真正的免费软件推出，最初没有推送任何第三方产品。博客、下载站点和网站涵盖它们并链接到它们。过了一段时间，他们开始捆绑可能不需要的程序。(Another trend I have noticed lately is that some developers launch the software as genuine freeware, without pushing any third-party offers initially. Blogs, download sites, and websites cover them and link to them. Once, some time has passed by, they start bundling Potentially Unwanted Programs.) 所以一个人必须时刻小心(So one has to be careful at all times)。
如果您有任何意见要发表，请为他人的利益这样做。
了解如何使 Windows Defender 也保护您免受潜在有害程序的侵害(make Windows Defender protect you against Potentially Unwanted Programs)。(See how you can make Windows Defender protect you against Potentially Unwanted Programs too.)
Potentially Unwanted Programs or Applications; Avoid installing PUP/PUA
In this post, we will see whаt аre Potentially Unwanted Programs or Applications, also referred to as a PUP or PUA, and how you can detect them, stop them from installing and remove them – if third-party software installs them on to your computer. This form of grayware or non-malware may affect your privacy, as well as potentially compromise your Windows computer security.
What are Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP)
It is clear by the name – unwanted programs – that they are software or apps you don’t want on your computer, laptop, phone, tablet, or other devices. Then how do they get on your computers? We’ll discuss the different tricks some software use, to install these unwanted programs.
There are typically two ways such crapware gets delivered. First, it could be bundled by the developer themselves, or secondly, download sites may require you to download their wrappers or download managers, which would then foist PUPs.
Potentially unwanted programs are programs that come bundled mostly with freeware and install themselves, with or without your knowledge, on your devices. This happens especially when you are installing a freeware. The software installation package tricks you into accepting the installation of third-party programs, that you do not really want. Moreover, not only freeware but some paid software also install third-party programs that you don’t want!
Detect PUPs/PUAs
The potentially unwanted programs which come in the form of browser add-ons and toolbars are readily identifiable. Others like programs that run in the background are not easily identifiable. You may have to check your Windows Task Manager to find out the PUPs.
Though they may seem innocent, the PUPs are often spyware. They may contain keyloggers, dialers, and similar software built into them. In such cases, your anti-virus system, if good enough, should give you an alarm, as and when you are installing them, knowingly or unknowingly. That is the time when you have to stop the installation and prevent these potentially unwanted programs from being installed. Even if the PUPs are clean, they take up precious system resources and slow down your computers. Potentially unwanted programs in the form of browser add-ons will slow down your browser and hamper your browsing experience. Plus it may violate your privacy and security too.
Remove Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA)
To uninstall such PUPs, open the browser settings and click on Options. Depending upon your browser, the process to manage add-ons will be different. In Internet Explorer, you can find it under Tools > Manage your Add-ons. Read our post on how to manage browser add-ons for detailed instructions for various browsers.
Check the add-ons. For the ones you do not understand, run an Internet search to see if they are important. If not, turn them off. Even if they are not PUPs, turning them off will add to your browsing speed.
If you see some unknown toolbars, you can remove them via this panel or you can visit the Control Panel to remove them. In case of some nasty toolbars which refuse to go away, you can use some Free Toolbar Cleaner Tools or Browser Hijacker Removal Tools.
Next, check out the Programs and Features under Control Panel to see the software installed. The best method is to click on the “Date Installed” so that the programs get sorted by the date you installed them. If you see anything in addition to the program you installed on a particular date, they are the ones you would want to remove. But remember that some programs need external programs like .NET and Visual C++ Distribution Framework. If you remove those programs, your software may not function properly. So you want to be sure! There are many sites that tell you what different programs do. You can then remove or keep the programs based on the recommendations on such sites. AdwCleaner, RogueKiller, FreeFixer is a free tool that can help you remove PUPs.
Another method is to check the Task Manager. This would be a tedious task, but if you are experiencing extreme slowness in your Windows computer, check out each process. As mentioned earlier, there are websites that tell and recommend what the programs are and whether to keep them or not. Certain freeware like Should I Remove It will also guide you in this matter. Based on the recommendations, you may check out the programs corresponding to the process, take an educated decision and then uninstall them.
These days, several security software are programmed to search and find out potentially unwanted programs. Check out the interface of your anti-virus and see if it has any such option in its Settings. If it has, you are lucky. Just run a scan to detect a list of PUPs and then remove them.
Prevent PUPs from Installing
It is your way of installing programs that often brings potentially unwanted programs into your devices. If you choose the ‘express method’ or the ‘recommended method’ to install freeware, chances would be high that your computer will get installed with the freeware, plus a bunch of Potentially Unwanted Programs. Therefore, always download freeware from safe download sites and go through the custom installations – and never blindly click on Next, Next, Next.
There are several tricks employed by software installation packages to get your consent to install potentially unwanted programs. When you go through the custom installation process, even if you have little knowledge of computers, you will still be safely installing just the program you want.
Among the main tricks employed by installation packages, is to present a EULA (a page with I ACCEPT and I DECLINE buttons) on the dialog box with a Next Button. If you read the top of such a page on the dialog, you know what software the installation package is talking about. In such cases, it is better to decline and exit.
Another common trick employed is to show the EULA page, with I ACCEPT ticked. There is no I DECLINE option. In such cases, just uncheck the I ACCEPT button. You will still be able to click Next to continue installing your program without the PUP.
In other cases, when you select custom installation, it is as easy as to uncheck “Install XYZ toolbar” and “Change the home page to XYZ” and click Next to install only the freeware. You thus need to be careful and not in a hurry while installing software so that you install only what you want.
Check the wordings carefully too. Sometimes they may use two negatives and trick you into not unchecking the box – and installing the third-party offer.
If yours is a multi-user PC, you can block other users from installing programs.
Final Words
These days very few ‘freeware’ are really freeware! Our freeware is genuinely offered as free. There are several others too. But some freeware developers bundle third-party offers which could be potentially unwanted software, with a view to make some money. These are not freeware – but bundleware as the push crapware on to your Windows computer. So whenever you install free software or games, be very careful during installation. Read and click on Next. Uncheck boxes, if you need to opt-out of third-party offers. If no such options are offered – exit the installation. Better not to install such software.
Another trend I have noticed lately is that some developers launch the software as genuine freeware, without pushing any third-party offers initially. Blogs, download sites, and websites cover them and link to them. Once, some time has passed by, they start bundling Potentially Unwanted Programs. So one has to be careful at all times.
If you have any observations to make, please do so for the benefit of others.
See how you can make Windows Defender protect you against Potentially Unwanted Programs too.
