1400909424

http://ift.tt/1iZHv9S

My Malwarebytes scan tonight reported the following. Are they bad? Advice?

3 “PUP.Optional.Spigot.A” detections and

1 “PUP.Optional.MyEmoticons.A”

Long Story: I recently had a few people stay in my home for a few days. Common courtesy had me give them permission to use my computer when they needed to, but once they departed, I decided to run a scan on the computer. Free trial Avast comes up clean. Free Trial Malwarebytes is a bit different:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 5/23/2014

Scan Time: 11:09:25 PM

Logfile:

Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.2.1012

Malware Database: v2014.05.24.01

Rootkit Database: v2014.05.21.01

License: Trial

Malware Protection: Enabled

Malicious Website Protection: Enabled

Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows 8

CPU: x64

File System: NTFS

User: Tameka

Scan Type: Threat Scan

Result: Completed

Objects Scanned: 267992

Time Elapsed: 13 min, 50 sec

Memory: Enabled

Startup: Enabled

Filesystem: Enabled

Archives: Enabled

Rootkits: Disabled

Heuristics: Enabled

PUP: Enabled

PUM: Enabled

Processes: 1

PUP.Optional.Spigot.A, C:\Users\Tameka\AppData\Roaming\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe, 724, , [062bb5a0b3c82412a25f003c31cf629e]

Modules: 0

(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 1

PUP.Optional.MyEmoticons.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-934097189-4001693668-3402004547-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\APPDATALOW\SOFTWARE\Search Protection, , [32ff9fb6f7843cfa041e7e23bb47f30d],

Registry Values: 1

PUP.Optional.Spigot.A, HKU\S-1-5-21-934097189-4001693668-3402004547-1001-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN|SearchProtection, “C:\Users\Tameka\AppData\Roaming\Search Protection\SearchProtection.EXE” /autostart, , [062bb5a0b3c82412a25f003c31cf629e]

Registry Data: 0

(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 0

(No malicious items detected)

Files: 2

PUP.Optional.Spigot.A, C:\Users\Tameka\AppData\Roaming\Search Protection\SearchProtection.exe, , [062bb5a0b3c82412a25f003c31cf629e],

PUP.Optional.Spigot.A, C:\Users\Tameka\AppData\Local\Temp\~sp8AD9.tmp, , [cd640451a0dbd26443bf2a1232ceb24e],

Physical Sectors: 0

(No malicious items detected)

(end)

I’ve quarantined all of the detections, but I haven’t removed any of them because to be frank, I’m pretty computer stupid. I know that PUPs aren’t always necessarily dangerous, but a quick Google search has pulled up many sites stating that “Spigot” can be pretty dangerous. I know nothing about “MyEmoticons,” but I’d rather not have it on my computer if I don’t need it (to be honest, it sounds kinda spammy). I’ll admit, I’m kinda freaking out.

In terms of performance, I could say my computer is a bit slower than I remember, taking time to load web pages and such, but that may just be placebo. I’m not sure.

Should I just remove these via Malwarebytes and call it a day, or do you think this calls for a more thorough cleanse?

Post and answer: 1400909424