PUP.Optional.FakeFlash

Short bio

PUP.Optional.FakeFlash is Malwarebytes’ generic detection name for a large family of browser extensions that are installed by websites offering fake Flash updates.

Symptoms

Users may have seen these warnings during install:

This extension requires permission to show notifications

Type and source of the infection

PUP.Optional.FakeFlash extensions are installed by websites where users will be confronted with screens similar to these:

Urging you to allow notifications and/or install a browser extension:

Aftermath

Some of these extensions change your permissions for Push Notifications. Users will have to remove the permissions manually. You can find more information about this procedure in our blogpost called Browser push notifications: a feature asking to be abused.

Protection

Malwarebytes blocks the malicious website that are known to push PUP.Optional.FakeFlash:

Users of the Malwarebytes browser extensions are protected even before we add the malicious domains to our blocklist.

Remediation

Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.FakeFlash without further user interaction.

Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
Double-click mb3-setup-consumer-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
Then click Finish.
Once the program has fully updated, select Scan Now on the Dashboard. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
If another update of the definitions is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
Restart your computer when prompted to do so.

Malwarebytes removal log

A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 5/22/19
Scan Time: 8:44 AM
Log File: 17980360-7c5d-11e9-857e-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 3.7.1.2839
Components Version: 1.0.586
Update Package Version: 1.0.10706
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 236322
Threats Detected: 1
Threats Quarantined: 1
Time Elapsed: 5 min, 30 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Detect
PUM: Detect

-Scan Details-
Process: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Module: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Key: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Value: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 0
(No malicious items detected)

File: 1
PUP.Optional.FakeFlash, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{PROFILE}.DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LN_VSOAJKXXXZZ@UDPPPADK.XPI, Quarantined, [1752], [686156],1.0.10706

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 0
(No malicious items detected)

(end)

Add an exclusion

Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.

The Exclusions tab includes a list of items to be excluded from scans. The items may include files, folders, websites, or applications that connect to the Internet, as well as previously detected exploits.

To access the exclusions in Malwarebytes:

Click on the Settings tab in the left pane.
Click on the Exclusions tab.
Click the Add Exclusion button.
Select the exclusion type Exclude a File or Folder and use the Browse button to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
Repeat this for any secondary folder(s) that belong to the software.
If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, add an exclusion of the type Exclude an application that Connects to the Internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.