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newbie questions
I had a really bad virus and malware attack last week. Webroot ran numerous scans, but I still could not access my hotmail account through my ie. Finally had to call Microsoft and pay $100 to have my laptop disinfected. Would there have been a better way? Microsoft found 1280 PUPs even after Webroot had pronounced my computer free of threats.
Best answer by Baldrick
Hi gailfitzpatrick37
Welcome to the Community Forums...:D
Sorry to hear of your troubles. PUP or (PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications, as they are also known as elsewhere, and at Webroot) are a contentious subject as to some they are not malware whilst to others they are, and as a result WSA does not, as far as I am aware, remove them per se.
The problem is that some people actually install this type of app knowingly, and therefore for WSA to just remove them when legitimately installed would not be appropriate. But it is also true that they some time sneak onto users system, unrequited, but very often they are installed at the same time as other software usually due to the user not being careful to read all the prompts an installer offers...so something to watch in the future...always double check what you are being asked about when installing.
It is a shame that you did not contact the Community or Webroot Support first as you could have logged a Support Ticket and go help from the Support Team to get rid of the PUPs/PUAs.
We also have knowledge Base articles such as this one which provide guidance on how to remove PUPs/PUAs...worth bookmarking in case it happens again.
The important thing is that you are sorted...but should anything like this strike whilst yo are using WSA then please post back here or Open a Support Ticket, as you first port of call in trying to get it sorted.
Hope that helps, and provides the information that you were after? Please feel free to ask any further questions you might have.
Regards
Baldrick.
View originalWelcome to the Community Forums...:D
Sorry to hear of your troubles. PUP or (PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications, as they are also known as elsewhere, and at Webroot) are a contentious subject as to some they are not malware whilst to others they are, and as a result WSA does not, as far as I am aware, remove them per se.
The problem is that some people actually install this type of app knowingly, and therefore for WSA to just remove them when legitimately installed would not be appropriate. But it is also true that they some time sneak onto users system, unrequited, but very often they are installed at the same time as other software usually due to the user not being careful to read all the prompts an installer offers...so something to watch in the future...always double check what you are being asked about when installing.
It is a shame that you did not contact the Community or Webroot Support first as you could have logged a Support Ticket and go help from the Support Team to get rid of the PUPs/PUAs.
We also have knowledge Base articles such as this one which provide guidance on how to remove PUPs/PUAs...worth bookmarking in case it happens again.
The important thing is that you are sorted...but should anything like this strike whilst yo are using WSA then please post back here or Open a Support Ticket, as you first port of call in trying to get it sorted.
Hope that helps, and provides the information that you were after? Please feel free to ask any further questions you might have.
Regards
Baldrick.
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