Help! I’ve got this PUP.Optional.APNToolBar virus and I don’t know how to remove it. The infection alert keeps popping up from my antivirus software. But I tried use it to eliminate the virus but it failed. The infected files cannot be deleted. I did try some other different programs but they turned out to be in vain too. What can I try to remove the virus completely?
What is PUP.Optional.APNToolBar?
PUP.Optional.APNToolBar is a stubborn browser extension infection which comes with corrupt software downloads or careless web surfing. It usually enters into the targeted system when user visits any unsafe websites, read junk mails, email attachments or download stuffs from contaminated web pages without any safety. It affects almost all browsers including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, amends homepage together with the default search engine. That is why you all the time get treacherous search results added with various ads and sponsored links.
Once PUP.Optional.APNToolBar malware intrudes in your operating system successfully, it will add malicious files to the system registry so as to activate itself on Windows boot-up. It attacks the web browser and takes over your browser by making changes to the default browser settings. Your start page and the search engine would be redirected to unknown websites without your approval. Besides, unfamiliar links could be injected to your favorites. This redirect virus provides you with irrelevant and useless search results on the other hand. In addition, your new tabs could be redirected to unneeded websites as well. With more and more system loopholes are made by PUP.Optional.APNToolBar browser extension virus, additional PC threats like malware, scamware or keylogger infections take chances to enter and destroy your computer. Therefore, it is highly advised that you remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar as soon as possible.
How Does PUP.Optional.APNToolBar Get into Your PC?
Most PC users do not want this adware to get installed on their computers. However, the creators of this adware will try to trick users into installing it on their machines. There are some ways this can happen:
1. Users may download a free application from the Internet and the adware comes bundled with this application.
2. Users may download and run update software from a pop-up website. The update software may contain installer of the adware.
3. Users may receive spam emails which require them to run the attached files or click on the links in the email messages. If users do as required, they may download the adware unwittingly.
4. Users may visit a website that will take advantage of browser vulnerabilities or settings which will allow the infection to occur without their knowledge.
Summary of PUP.Optional.APNToolBar Virus
1. PUP.Optional.APNToolBar degrades your system security as well as PC performance
2. It may hijack web browsers and disable your programs.
3. PUP.Optional.APNToolBar redirects you to malicious websites, promoting unwanted products.
4. The Trojan can record your browsing habits, cookies, credit card details and then share your personal information with remote hackers.
5. PUP.Optional.APNToolBar has the capability to open up backdoors or download other Trojan, worms, rogue onto your computer.
6. It is very difficult to remove the virus with antivirus software.
7. it is Adware that presents itself as a toolbar
8. it records your internet activity data
9. it displays lots of annoying commercial advertisements
10. it may come with spyware or other privacy-invasive software
11. it may prove difficult or impossible to remove
12. it steals your privacy and compromises your security
How to get rid of PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from your computer? (Removal guide)
Step 1 : Use a powerful tool to clear PUP.Optional.APNToolBar completely.
Step 2 : Manual PUP.Optional.APNToolBar Removal Guides.
Step 3 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Internet Explorer.
Step 4 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 5 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Google Chrome.
Step 6 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Safari.
Step 1 : Use a powerful tool to clear PUP.Optional.APNToolBar completely.
SpyHunter is a reputable and professional removal tool which can detect and delete various kinds of threats from your computer automatically within minutes. You can follow the simple steps given below to install in on your PC and then use it to remove the threat from your completely completely.
Step 1: Download SpyHunter on your computer by clicking on the below button.
2. And then double click on the file, and execute it.
3.Start a scan on your computer.
4.Once the scan is finished, a message box saying the scan is complete will appear. Click OK button to close the box then click SHOW RESULTS button.
Step 2 : Manual PUP.Optional.APNToolBar Removal Guides.
Since the adware can cause various computer issues, you’d better remove this it from your operating system as soon as possible. Since it disables your antivirus program and blocks you from detecting and removing it, you can consider manually removing it manually. Follow the steps below:
1. Restart the Infected Computer into Safe Mode with Networking
Restart your computer and press F8 key constantly when the computer loads.
For Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP
Restart your computer, immediately, quickly and repeatedly hit F8 key before the Windows start-up screen shows. Select “Safe Mode with Networking”, and then press Enter key.
For Windows 8
(1). Sign out to get the log-in screen
(2). Keep holding down Shift key then click on the Shut Down icon to select Restart
(3). If you do it right, you will see ‘Choose An Option’ screen. Choose ‘troubleshoot’
(4). Click on ‘Advance Options’
(5). Click on ‘Startup Settings’
(6). Click on ‘Restart’
(7). The system will go through a reboot, please wait till you get the following screen. Choose ‘Enable safe mode with networking’ (or any other option you want to start up the system with)
Then you can get into safe mode with networking in Windows 8 and see a desktop like this
2. Stop the Processes Related to Windows AntiBreach Module in Windows Task Manager
For Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together and end the virus processes in the Processes tab of Windows Task Manager.
For Windows 8
(1). Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together to get Windows Task Manager
(2). Click More details
(3). Then scroll down to end the virus processes
3. Show Hidden Files
(1). Press Win+R to get Run window
(2). Type Control Panel in the Run window and hit enter to get Control Panel
(3). Click on Appearance and Personalization
(3). Click on Folder Options
(4). Click on View tab in Folder Options window
(5). Tick Show hidden files, folders, and drives under Hidden files and folders tab
(6). Click Apply to take effect, then click OK at the bottom of the Folder Options window
4. Delete Virus Files
(1). Using Registry Editor to delete or adjust all the related registry entries of Windows AntiBreach Module scam virus
*Guides to open Registry Editor:
Press Win+R key together to get the Run box, type in ‘regedit’ then click OK, Registry Editor window will pop up
(2). Find out and remove the associated files of this adware
Step 3 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Internet Explorer.
Step 4 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 5 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Google Chrome.
Step 6 : Remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar from Safari.
Kindly remind:
1) Several ways that available for unwanted program like PUP.Optional.APNToolBar to penetrate into your system: spam attachment, corrupt website and bundled download etc. To avoid getting malware out of awareness, you could not pay too much attention when enjoying the internet. Especially you are highly recommended to choose the custom installation when adding something new to your program list.
2) Adware removal is necessary. Having run out of ways to deal with PUP.Optional.APNToolBar Ads, but just gained no positive result? No worries, the following removal tutorials including manual removal, video guide and automatic removal instruction will be greatly helpful. Please feel free to pick one that fix your situation most to help yourself out timely.
Why Is It Hard to Remove the Trojan Horse?
You may find it is hard to remove PUP.Optional.APNToolBar completely, even though you have had a reliable antivirus program installed on your PC. Actually, most stubborn Trojan horses are designed with rootkit technique which allows them to intercept and substitute system functions, in order to make the infected file invisible to the operating system and antivirus programs. Sometimes even the registry branches – where the Trojan horse are registered – and other system files are hidden.
PUP.Optional.APNToolBar is one of the Trojan horses that use this rootkit technique. To evade from detection and removal, it will even actively search for any antivirus programs in the list of active applications on your computer and try to block them from running normally. Also, it will attempt to damage the antivirus databases and prevent the correct operation of the antivirus software’s update processes.
Summary:
The goal of PUP.Optional.APNToolBar is to promote commercial websites and gain profits from pay-per-click policy. Once it made a successful invasion, it is capable to modify system registry settings and generates arbitrary files onto system to make programs not responding, eating up system memory to make computer poor in launch. What is worse, what you will get are nasty ads, false messages and etc after it kidnaps target browser successfully. As a matter of fact, many antivirus programs are unable to deal with it as it can hide itself so well, so it is hard for users to use antivirus to delete the adware once for all. It can really be an annoying infection for many innocent users. Therefore, the manual removal process is a more effective way to delete the adware completely.