What are Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA)

A potentially unwanted program (PUP) or potentially unwanted application (PUA) is software that a user may perceive as unwanted.

Potentially unwanted applications (PUA) are not necessarily intended to be malicious, but may affect the performance of your computer in a negative way.

Grayware (or PUA - a Potentially Unwanted Application) is a broad category of software, whose intent is not as unequivocally malicious as with other types of malware, such as viruses or trojan horses. It may however install additional unwanted software, change the behavior of the digital device, or perform activities not approved or expected by the user.

Categories that may be considered grayware include: advertising display software, download wrappers, various browser toolbars, software with misleading behavior, bundleware, trackware, or any other borderline software, or software that uses illicit or at least unethical business practices (despite appearing legitimate) and might be deemed undesirable by an end user who became aware of what the software would do if allowed to install.

A software wrapper is a special type of application modification that is used by some file-hosting websites. It is a third-party tool that installs the program you intended to download but adds additional software, such as toolbars or adware. The additional software may also make changes to your web browser’s home page and search settings. Also, file-hosting websites often do not notify the software vendor or download recipient that modifications have been made, and often hide options to opt out.

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