PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a system optimizer called WinOptimizer that is marketed by Ashampoo for Windows systems.
Users my have seen these screens during the installation:
this entry in their list of installed Programs and Features:
these icons:
and this type of screens when you want to use the free version:
PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer is a system optimizer. These so-called “system optimizers” use exaggerated scan results or sometimes even intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have problems. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems.
PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer is usually installed by users themselves from the website.
The website that offers WinOptimizer for download is in the domain Ashampoo.com which also promotes web push notifications.
Malwarebytes protects users from PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer by using real-time protection.
Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.NeroTuneItUp without further user interaction.
A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com -Log Details- Scan Date: 5/19/20 Scan Time: 9:01 AM Log File: 8ad9702a-999e-11ea-8d56-00ffdcc6fdfc.json -Software Information- Version: 4.1.0.56 Components Version: 1.0.920 Update Package Version: 1.0.24086 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: 232886 Threats Detected: 19 Threats Quarantined: 19 Time Elapsed: 2 min, 16 sec -Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Disabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect -Scan Details- Process: 0 (No malicious items detected) Module: 1 PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\ASHAMPOO\ASHAMPOO WINOPTIMIZER FREE\WINOPTIMIZERCONTEXTHANDLER64.DLL, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , Registry Key: 16 PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\APPID\WinOptimizerContextHandler.DLL, Quarantined, 3517, 821497, 1.0.24086, , ame, PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\APPID\WinOptimizerContextHandler.DLL, Quarantined, 3517, 821497, 1.0.24086, , ame, PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{45495078-B36D-4865-A67B-45CD8742AA1B}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{45495078-B36D-4865-A67B-45CD8742AA1B}\InprocServer32, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WinOptimizerContextHandler.Extension.1, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{87B9C42D-3317-4109-B7FC-802675ABC5DA}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{FD165B0C-68F1-48EE-93B3-163F8595E80F}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\INTERFACE\{FD165B0C-68F1-48EE-93B3-163F8595E80F}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\INTERFACE\{FD165B0C-68F1-48EE-93B3-163F8595E80F}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLASSES\TYPELIB\{87B9C42D-3317-4109-B7FC-802675ABC5DA}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WOW6432NODE\TYPELIB\{87B9C42D-3317-4109-B7FC-802675ABC5DA}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4C2351D7-7CAF-4D5D-9CB8-815019A5ADB3}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\*\SHELLEX\CONTEXTMENUHANDLERS\{4C2351D7-7CAF-4D5D-9CB8-815019A5ADB3}, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\CLSID\{4C2351D7-7CAF-4D5D-9CB8-815019A5ADB3}\InprocServer32, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\WinOptimizerContextHandler.Extension, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, 1.0.24086, , ame, PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLASSES\APPID\WinOptimizerContextHandler.DLL, Quarantined, 3517, 821497, 1.0.24086, , ame, 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: 2 PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, C:\USERS\PUBLIC\DESKTOP\Ashampoo Deals.url, Quarantined, 3517, 821500, 1.0.24086, , ame, PUP.Optional.WinOptimizer, C:\PROGRAM FILES (X86)\ASHAMPOO\ASHAMPOO WINOPTIMIZER FREE\WINOPTIMIZERCONTEXTHANDLER64.DLL, Quarantined, 3517, 821494, , , , Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected) WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)
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.
If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, also add an exclusion of the type Allow an application to connect to the internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.
You may see these entries in FRST logs:
(Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG -> ) C:\Program Files (x86)\Ashampoo\Ashampoo WinOptimizer FREE\WO17.exe C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Ashampoo C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Ashampoo WinOptimizer FREE.lnk C:\ProgramData\Desktop\Ashampoo WinOptimizer FREE.lnk C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Ashampoo Deals.url C:\ProgramData\Desktop\Ashampoo Deals.url C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Ashampoo C:\ProgramData\Ashampoo C:\Program Files (x86)\Ashampoo Ashampoo WinOptimizer FREE (HKLM-x32\...\{4209F371-8668-980C-19C9-F8698AB75135}_is1) (Version: 17.00.25 - Ashampoo GmbH & Co. KG)
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