Comments on: How to Avoid Toolbars & other Unwanted Programs https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/ Computer Help, Tips, How-to's, and News Mon, 15 Jun 2020 23:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: dan https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-25242 Sat, 23 Aug 2014 16:32:08 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-25242 FYI, there is a program that reads through the boring EULA and warns if there is something in it which may indicate crapware is included. I don’t have the name at the moment but Jim, perhaps you do?

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21961 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 10:51:25 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21961 In reply to Alan.

Alan, there are two freeware products that will hep with removing already installed PUPs. One is called AdwCleaner, check out the article here: http://www.davescomputertips.com/avoiding-death-by-toolbar/

And Malwarebytes Anti-Malware free edition will also detect and remove PUPs for you: https://www.malwarebytes.org/antimalware/

Cheers… Jim

]]> By: Alan https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21936 Mon, 14 Jul 2014 02:49:39 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21936 Further more to your excellent article on pups . I have found some of those bloody crappy pups do not have an Uninstall string.
They are very hard to find all of the program as after I have tried to uninstall everything my antivirus (Viper) picks up more.
Is there an easer way of uninstalling these pesky pups?

]]> By: crap ware https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21891 Sun, 13 Jul 2014 12:26:34 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21891 I have had to deal with PUP’s on several occasions. Thankfully I keep backups of my system so simply reinstall entire system from backup when I’ve gotten one that you just couldn’t uninstall. I have learned over the years to always pay for my software. Free is almost never really free, it comes with god knows what add ons. What really burns me is what you talk about. Legitimate paid software now comes with this stuff. I have let the makers of this software know that I will never purchase their software again, but seems to fall on deaf ears. Had a friend that got AVG somehow. It literally took over her computer. I had to wipe the hard drive and reinstall everything to get over it. Not really sure how this is any different then developers of virus’s and trojans. They should be arrested, if in this country.

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21783 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 21:48:06 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21783 In reply to Tom Sayer.

Cheers Tom, appreciated.

]]> By: Tom Sayer https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21778 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 20:34:36 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21778 Jim I just wanted to say thanks. I’m 71 and rely heavily on the wisdom and advice I get from PC Pitstop and this artical of yours and the follow-up from everybody has been most helpful – thanks again.

]]> By: dandl https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21717 Fri, 11 Jul 2014 01:24:20 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21717 I scan our receipts and other items to PDF file format. Everytime I have to download and install Adobe PDF Reader and Adobe Flashplayer I have to uncheck the do not install Google Chrome and Google Toolbar. I use a little app called “Geek Uninstaller” that does a great job of uninstalling some of the stuff that may slip by, Like the Search Protect thing.

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21472 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 01:51:42 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21472 In reply to Ken Wolf.

Depends on what the user wants the PDF reader to do for them – how light they want it to be and what they are looking for in the way of bells and whistles.

For a very light and basic reader, I’d definitely recommend Sumatra (portable): http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/free-pdf-reader.html

For something which includes a few more bells and whistles but is also comparatively light, I’d recommend PDF-XChange Viewer (portable): http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer

I published a review of 6 free PDF readers some time ago, you can catch up with that article here: http://www.davescomputertips.com/what-are-the-best-alternatives-to-adobe-pdf-reader/

Cheers… Jim

]]> By: Ken Wolf https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21469 Mon, 07 Jul 2014 00:29:27 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21469 Thanks for the reply Jim. I appreciate your clarification and correction. What do you now recommend as an alternate .pdf reader?

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21405 Sun, 06 Jul 2014 00:51:29 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21405 In reply to Bernie B..

Hi Bernie – Yes, Unchecky is a great little program. Ninite is an alternative method that also does a great job of installing software minus the junk.

Both Unchecky and Ninite have been the subject of earlier DCT articles, as per the links at the bottom of this article.

Cheers… Jim

]]> By: Bernie B. https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21400 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 23:40:00 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21400 Hi Jim, These PUP’s had been aggravating me for some time and have been increasing. I finally found this program which automatically unchecks the pre-checked items and may be of interest to Tiffany and other readers who have others use their computers; http://unchecky.com/ This is a great little freeware program.
Always check the download anyway as it is still possible to have a PUP slip through!

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21397 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 22:14:15 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21397 In reply to Peter Mundy.

Cheers Peter, very much appreciated.

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21396 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 22:12:52 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21396 In reply to Tiffany Smith.

Tiffany: Quarantine is good, it means the malware (or PUP) is no longer active. You can delete any quarantined malware (PUPs) permanently by going to Malwarebyte’s “History” section.

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21393 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 22:03:10 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21393 In reply to Ken Wolf.

Ken: Yes I did mate. The following is extracted direct from the article:

There are some instances where unscrupulous developers surreptitiously bundle toolbars and other crap without providing any indication or options to decline, making these PUPs nigh on impossible to avoid

I stopped recommending Foxit Reader many moons ago, because of issues similar to the one you’ve outlined.

Thanks for your input, appreciated.

Cheers… Jim

]]> By: Peter Mundy https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21388 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 20:08:13 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21388 I’d like to thank you and your team for your years of advice in your regular e-mails.
A great variety of topics with so many passing on info that less experienced people may not be aware of.
Well done!

]]> By: Tiffany Smith https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21384 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 18:24:41 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21384 My son downloads games at the Steam website and is always getting this stuff on my computer. I am always telling him to read the installation screen when he downloads a game. I have Malware Bytes but it finds the pup but the option I see is to just quarantine it on Malware Bytes

]]> By: Ken Wolf https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21376 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 16:07:32 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21376 Jim; You did not mention the worst offender: adding a PUP with no warning and no way to avoid it. An example is Foxit Reader, which I have been using for years, and thought I knew the ins and outs of pretty well. After installing one of the upgrades, I noticed that there was a new entry, “Foxit Cloud” in my add/remove programs. There was no mention of this “extra” in the installation routine or EULA that I could find, and it was installed without my knowledge or permission. It is easily uninstalled, but the idea that it could be installed in the first place with no warning or option really ticked me off. Part of the uninstall starts up IE and asks you why you were uninstalling Foxit Cloud. You can bet I told them why in no uncertain terms! I doubt anyone actually reads those posts, but I felt better 🙂

]]> By: Jim Hillier https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21371 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 13:43:25 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21371 In reply to Ken Power.

Ken, what is “it” mate, what did you let in?

]]> By: Ken Power https://davescomputertips.com/how-to-avoid-toolbars-other-unwanted-programs/#comment-21357 Sat, 05 Jul 2014 08:59:59 +0000 http://[caption%20id=attachment_30877%20align=alignleft%20width=400]#comment-21357 How do I remove it from my computer – Win 8.1 after being careless enough to let in in ?

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