Hi cgrisham

 

Welcome to the Community Forums.

 

If I may suggest the actual how this happens in not really the import thing here (but I am sure that someone here could provide a detailed technical explanation of the mechanism used) but rather that it is the nature/raison d'etre of these sorts of apps, that we call PUAs (Ponteially Unwanted Applications) here in the Community AND the how as to they get onto ones system in the first place that is important, as if one understand this then one can for the most part avoid or prevent it happening.

 

Often they are installed intentionally by you the user as browser add-ons for various tasks such as quick search tools... but they also come with the result of added annoying pop-ups and ads. Other times they 'piggy back' with other software that you installed, or try to 'sneak' onto your system entirely.

 

WSA does detect and remove many PUA's, and more are being added, but WSA does not detect all of them. A simple browser add-on with PUA behaviour that is easy to identify and easy to remove is not likely to be detected and removed by WSA. Those that are intentionally difficult to locate and remove are. Please see THIS LINK for more information regarding Webroot's stance on these annoying programs.

 

For the future, in the case of those that are not detected by WSA, please see this KB Article. It has some easy to follow directions on locating and removing PUA's. You may also want to submit a Support Ticket, especially if you cannot remove it easily from the directions in the KB Article, or as in your case you are not sure that you have managed to remove all elements of this particular nasty.

 

Webroot Support will help you check that you have and if you have not then will be able to get the remnants of this annoying 'crapware' off your computer at no extra charge.

 

Finally, and to make sure that your WSA is checking for PUA's with the best proficiently, it sometimes helps to reset the PUA detection within WSA's settings. For PUA's that had previously been scanned and determined to be OK, but have since been added to detection/removal, you may want to complete the following steps:

 

• Open Webroot SecureAnywhere
  
• Click on ‘Advanced Settings’ from the top right
  
• Select ‘Scan Settings’ from the left side
  
• Unselect the option “Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications”
  
• Click on the Save button (you may have to enter in a CAPTCHA)
  
• Reselect the option to “Detect Potentially Unwanted Applications”
  
• Click on the Save button
  
• Run another scan with Webroot and remove any items that get detected.

To help avoid PUA's in the future, remember to read all of the information when installing or updating software (Adobe downloads often have those "extra special offers" attached... PUA'S!: often the PUA included will be mentioned, and you can opt out of installing it.  Those check boxes you see? Usually only one of them is for the User Agreement of the software you want, the others are for the junk you don't.

 

Here's hoping that the above if of assistance in terms of both understanding, and resolving the issue for you...if not then please let us know!

 

Regards, Baldrick

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I'm getting sick of PUA's being in almost everything so everyone has to take the time when installing any program and uncheck the crapware because it's all pre-checked. :@

 

IMO the Governments need to go after Vendors to at least not have them pre-checked!

 

Daniel

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Well said, Daniel...you and me both (and I suspect a lot of others).

 

But unfortunately Governments are too busy with other things...and mundane ones at that...like staying in power, etc...to take any concerted action in this area...more is the pity. :(

 

Baldrick

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