PUP.Downware

Posted: September 20, 2013

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Ranking:	7,010
Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	36,291

First Seen:	September 20, 2013
Last Seen:	February 21, 2025
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

PUP.Downware is a Potentially Unwanted Program that usually is installed as part of a free game download from websites like goforfiles.com. PUP.Downware always modifies your browser to promote other websites and may display advertisements, redirect your Web searches or hijack your homepage in the course of its normal functions. While there may be a limited number of cases where PUP.Downware may be beneficial to your computer, SpywareRemove.com malware experts almost always consider removing PUP.Downware and similar PUPs to be best for your computer's safety, particularly if you have anti-malware tools that also can delete the browser changes imposed upon your software by PUP.Downware.

Getting Down to the Root of Your Browser Problems with PUP.Downware

PUP.Downware, alternately classified as a PUP or as adware (depending on the anti-malware software that's detecting PUP.Downware), usually is not installed intentionally or alone. Ordinary PUP.Downware installations tend to result from installing unrelated freeware such as free games. However, these programs are bundled with 'extra' products like PUP.Downware, adware and various other kinds of Potentially Unwanted Programs. SpywareRemove.com malware experts note that PUP.Downware's history is one that's full of examples of PUP.Downware installing itself without any permission or through dishonest circumstances.

PUP.Downware usually is used to display advertisements in your browser, but SpywareRemove.com malware experts also warn that PUP.Downware may modify your Hosts file to redirect your browser to other websites, change your homepage settings or switch your default search engine to an unfamiliar site. These all are different ways of turning your browser traffic into money, and usually there are no benefits for you as a Web-surfer from PUP.Downware's functions.

Looking Up and Away from a PUP.Downware Death Spiral

Because PUP.Downware often is installed with many other types of malicious, semi-malicious and simply unwanted browser add-ons with varied effects on your Web browser, even a basic PUP.Downware problem quickly may cause its victims to feel like they're no longer in control of what their browsers do. SpywareRemove.com malware researchers usually find that a generous and regular use of anti-malware-scanning software to be the best solution to cases with multiple infections, and that also includes scenarios with more than one PUP like PUP.Downware. However, you should attempt to close your browser and make any other appropriate efforts to disable all unneeded programs prior to scanning your computer.

PUP.Downware is a danger to your computer only in the sense that PUP.Downware prevents you from controlling what Web content is displayed. Although there may be a minority of circumstances where PUP.Downware has a justification for being on your PC, you usually should never put your faith in any browser add-on that changes your homepage, changes your search engine or displays advertisements without allowing you to disable these so-called features.

Technical Details

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

.stream-me.comachlljpejolghjfdhidbhpolhpkofdehfeed.stream-me.com/?q