Advanced System Care, a product by IObit, is identified by Malwarebytes as PUP.Optional.AdvancedSystemCare. This classification means it’s considered a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP). While not strictly malicious like malware, PUPs can exhibit behaviors that users might find undesirable, leading to their categorization as potentially unwanted.
Why is Advanced System Care Flagged as a PUP?
System optimizers like Advanced System Care often promise to enhance computer performance through various cleaning and optimization tools. However, they are sometimes flagged as PUPs for several reasons:
- Aggressive Marketing Tactics: Some system optimizers use intrusive advertising or bundling practices, getting installed alongside other software without clear user consent.
- Exaggerated Performance Claims: They might overstate the benefits of their optimization, creating a false sense of urgency or need for their services.
- System Changes: PUPs can make changes to system settings that are not easily reversible or fully understood by the user.
- Bundled Software: They may include or promote the installation of other potentially unwanted software.
While Advanced System Care offers features like registry cleaning, privacy sweeping, and startup optimization, its methods and marketing have led security vendors like Malwarebytes to classify it as a PUP. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s harmful, but it suggests caution and careful consideration before installation and use.
Malwarebytes Protection Against Advanced System Care
Malwarebytes actively protects users from PUP.Optional.AdvancedSystemCare by employing real-time protection to prevent its installation. This proactive approach ensures users are alerted and shielded from potentially unwanted software before it can affect their systems.
Malwarebytes real-time protection blocking the installation of Advanced System Care, a potentially unwanted program.
The image above illustrates Malwarebytes blocking the installation process of Advanced System Care, highlighting its commitment to user security and control over potentially unwanted programs.
Removing PUP.Optional.AdvancedSystemCare with Malwarebytes
If Advanced System Care is already installed on your system, Malwarebytes can effectively detect and remove it. The process is straightforward and requires minimal user intervention:
- Download and Install Malwarebytes: Begin by downloading Malwarebytes from the official website and installing it on your computer.
- Run a Threat Scan: Once installed, open Malwarebytes and initiate a Threat Scan. This comprehensive scan will identify PUP.Optional.AdvancedSystemCare and other potential threats.
- Quarantine Detected Items: After the scan, Malwarebytes will display the detected threats, including Advanced System Care. Click Quarantine to remove these items.
- Reboot if Prompted: Restart your system if Malwarebytes prompts you to complete the removal process. This ensures all components of the PUP are fully eliminated.
Excluding Advanced System Care from Malwarebytes Scans (Optional)
In situations where users wish to keep Advanced System Care despite the PUP classification, Malwarebytes allows for exclusions. This is generally not recommended due to the potential risks associated with PUPs, but the option is available:
- Open Malwarebytes: Launch Malwarebytes for Windows.
- Access Detection History: Navigate to the Detection History section.
- Go to Allow List: Click on the Allow List tab.
- Add Exclusion: Click Add to create a new exclusion.
- Select Exclusion Type: Choose Allow a file or folder and use Select a folder to specify the main Advanced System Care installation directory.
- Exclude Secondary Files/Folders: Repeat step 5 for any other related files or folders.
- Internet Access Exclusion (Optional): To allow internet access for Advanced System Care (e.g., for updates), add another exclusion of the type Allow an application to connect to the internet. Use the Browse button to select the program’s executable file.
Default Installation Locations:
%PROGRAMFILES%IObitAdvanced SystemCare%ProgramData%IObitASC
Conclusion
Advanced System Care is categorized as a Potentially Unwanted Program by Malwarebytes due to practices commonly associated with PUPs. While it offers system optimization features, users should be aware of its PUP classification and potential implications. Malwarebytes provides robust protection and removal options for PUP.Optional.AdvancedSystemCare, empowering users to maintain control over their system’s software environment. If you choose to use Advanced System Care, proceed with caution and ensure you understand the software and its potential impact on your system.
