Guide to Uninstall PUP.Optional.4Squared Add-on

 PUP.Optional.4Squared Description

PUP.Optional.4Squared is identified as a browser add-on or plug-in. It comes to the infected computer without users’ permission at all. Once infected, it causes problems to prevent users from using the Internet as usual. Homepages may be replaced by random pages, and new tabs open automatically and lead users to unsafe web pages. New threats can be brought into the compromised computer when users visiting those web sites. Users may also find that the search engine may also be changed sometimes. What is most annoying is that it displays many commercial advertisements to users and cannot get rid of it at all.

PUP.Optional.4Squared add-on is usually bundled with free programs on the Internet. When users download or update programs from the Internet, they come to the compromised computer together. Once installed, it drops its own files and registry entries to the system, and changes the files names of its own, as well as of the system. It pops up whenever users open their browsers. Users cannot use their browsers normally to surf the Internet if the computer is infected seriously. In fact, all browsers including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Firefox can be affected. So users have to remove it as soon as possible.

Harmful Properties of PUP.Optional.4Squared Add-on

1. PUP.Optional.4Squared injects to the target computer without users’ permission;

2. PUP.Optional.4Squared displays commercial ads to users;

3. PUP.Optional.4Squared changes the default browser settings to take control of the browsers;

4. PUP.Optional.4Squared drops malicious files and registry entries to the infected system;

5. PUP.Optional.4Squared prevents users from using the browsers as usual;

6. PUP.Optional.4Squared can affect all the browsers installed in the infected computer;

7. PUP.Optional.4Squared reveals users’ personal information to hackers and cyber criminals.

Guide to Uninstall PUP.Optional.4Squared Add-on

Step 1: Boot up the infected computer, press F8 at the very beginning, choose “Safe Mode with Networking” and press Enter to get in safe mode with networking.

Step 2: Press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys together and stop PUP.Optional.4Squared  processes in the Windows Task Manager.

Step 3- Reset Internet Explorer by the following guide (take IE as an example):
Open Internet Explorer >> Click on Tools >> Click on Internet Options >> In the Internet Options window click on the Connections tab >> Then click on the LAN settings button>> Uncheck the check box labeled “Use a proxy server for your LAN” under the Proxy Server section and press OK.

Step 4- Remove add-ons:

Internet Explorer
1) Go to 'Tools' → 'Manage Add-ons';
2) Choose 'Search Providers' → choose 'Bing' search engine or 'Google' search engine and make it default;
3) Select 'Search Results' and click 'Remove' to remove it;
4)  Go to 'Tools' → 'Internet Options', select 'General tab' and click 'Use default' button or enter your own website, e.g. Google.com. Click OK to save the changes.

Google Chrome
1) Click on 'Customize and control' Google Chrome icon, select 'Settings';
2) Choose 'Basic Options'.
3) Change Google Chrome's homepage to google.com or any other and click the 'Manage search engines...' button;
4) Select 'Google' from the list and make it your default search engine;

Mozilla Firefox
1) Click on the magnifier's icon and select 'Manage Search Engines....';
2) Choose 'Search Results' from the list and click 'Remove' and OK to save changes;
3) Go to 'Tools' → 'Options'. Reset the startup homepage or change it to google.com under the 'General tab';

Step 5- Remove these associated Files on your hard drive such as:

%Desktopdir%\PUP.Optional.4Squared.lnk
%Programs%\PUP.Optional.4Squared\PUP.Optional.4Squared.lnk

Step 6- Open the Registry Editor and delete the following entries:
(Steps: Hit Win+R keys and then type regedit in Run box and click on OK)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PUP.Optional.4Squared
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PUP.Optional.4Squared\UninstallString “%AppData%[RANDOM CHARACTERS][RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” -u
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\[RANDOM CHARACTERS] %AppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PUP.Optional.4Squared\ShortcutPath “%AppData%\[RANDOM CHARACTERS]\[RANDOM CHARACTERS].exe” -u
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\PUP.Optional.4Squared\DisplayName PUP.Optional.4Squared

Note: Please note, this is a self help manual guide; you need to possess sufficient skills about dealing with registries entries, dll. files and program files, you need to be very careful to move on every step. Can’t uninstall PUP.Optional.4Squared yourself? Please click on 24/7 online computer experts for help, you problem will be fixed immediately.