PUP.Optional.BundleInstaller flagged on MalwareBytes
April 11, 2023 5:34 AM Subscribe
The PUP.Optional.Bundle Installer was flagged on a recent scan for MalwareBytes.
Anything else I should do or test?
So I am pretty good with my computer updates, etc, or I like to think I am.
At least once per week, I update my Windows settings (I run a Windows machine), and I also have Avast, Malware Bytes and SpyBot that I update and scan at least once per week. I mainly use my computer for work, so outside of a little Netflix streaming, I only use it to check emails and surf, etc. I am not downloading anything (outside of some software that I might need from time to time – this is super rare).
A couple of weeks ago, I was looking at downloading some freeware to get some audio from YouTube files. Anyway, I was doing my regular scans over the weekend, and MalwareBytes picked up a Threat:
PUP.Optional.Bundle Installer
It was in the Recycle bin. It was suggested that I Quarantine it (which I did), and I ended up deleting all files in the Recycle Bin, and I re-ran the MalwareBytes scan, and it came up clean.
Should I be ok? Again, I will assume that it was from a piece of software that I downloaded a couple of weeks back. Odd that it didn’t pick it up on previous scans (I have scanned my computer prior and since I downloaded the software…)
Anything else I can do to check if my computer has been comprised or do anything else to protect it? I've scanned it multiple times since and it always comes up clean.
Thanks in advance!
So I am pretty good with my computer updates, etc, or I like to think I am.
At least once per week, I update my Windows settings (I run a Windows machine), and I also have Avast, Malware Bytes and SpyBot that I update and scan at least once per week. I mainly use my computer for work, so outside of a little Netflix streaming, I only use it to check emails and surf, etc. I am not downloading anything (outside of some software that I might need from time to time – this is super rare).
A couple of weeks ago, I was looking at downloading some freeware to get some audio from YouTube files. Anyway, I was doing my regular scans over the weekend, and MalwareBytes picked up a Threat:
PUP.Optional.Bundle Installer
It was in the Recycle bin. It was suggested that I Quarantine it (which I did), and I ended up deleting all files in the Recycle Bin, and I re-ran the MalwareBytes scan, and it came up clean.
Should I be ok? Again, I will assume that it was from a piece of software that I downloaded a couple of weeks back. Odd that it didn’t pick it up on previous scans (I have scanned my computer prior and since I downloaded the software…)
Anything else I can do to check if my computer has been comprised or do anything else to protect it? I've scanned it multiple times since and it always comes up clean.
Thanks in advance!
Yeah, as long as a full scan with MalwareBytes come up clean the second time, I would not worry a bit. This was a program installer that had something with it that you declined to install, and it was flagging the installer.
Could have been Avast, as they're known to bundle things in now (oh how the mighty have fallen)
posted by deezil at 6:44 AM on April 11, 2023
Could have been Avast, as they're known to bundle things in now (oh how the mighty have fallen)
posted by deezil at 6:44 AM on April 11, 2023
Yeah, you're fine. In general anything with PUP in the name is towards the benign side of the scale. Even if you installed whatever it flagged, it probably didn't do much more than add some annoying or unnecessary program or something that is relatively easy to reverse. Sometimes it flags legitimate programs that often get used or bundled with malware, so definitely check the details to make sure it's not something you recognize.
As far as it not flagging it originally: malware detection is something of a moving target, which is why you should never rely on your scanner to protect you, as it won't be able to all the time. Avoid downloading programs from untrusted sites, for one; not sure what you downloaded this time but it'd probably be a good idea to avoid whatever place you got that from in the future.
posted by Aleyn at 9:09 AM on April 11, 2023
As far as it not flagging it originally: malware detection is something of a moving target, which is why you should never rely on your scanner to protect you, as it won't be able to all the time. Avoid downloading programs from untrusted sites, for one; not sure what you downloaded this time but it'd probably be a good idea to avoid whatever place you got that from in the future.
posted by Aleyn at 9:09 AM on April 11, 2023
Some freeware authors "sold out" to certain vendors who want to include OTHER installs with their installer as a bundle, like some of those programs you install want to install McAfee ScamAdviser. or such. MalwareBytes just want to make sure you know you downloaded such a program that can also install other programs.
posted by kschang at 12:06 PM on April 12, 2023
posted by kschang at 12:06 PM on April 12, 2023
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It's not malware or a virus. You installed something that bundles other software with it and that's what MalwareBytes is flagging. Like the many apps that use to sneak in a browser toolbars and change your search engine.
posted by Awfki at 5:46 AM on April 11, 2023