If your antivirus software detects the PUP.Optional.ByteFence then it is a sign that your machine is infected with a potentially unwanted software (PUP) that usually gets installed as a part of some free software. Do not be surprised, it happens, especially if you are an active Internet user. But this does not mean that you should reconcile with the unwanted program. You need to follow the guidance below to clean your computer as soon as possible, as the potentially unwanted program can be a way to infect your machine with more dangerous malicious applications such as viruses and trojans. The steps which follow, I’ll show you how to get rid of PUP.Optional.ByteFence from your computer forever.
It’s not a good idea to have PUP.Optional.ByteFence on your personal computer. The reason for this is simple, it doing things you don’t know about. The potentially unwanted program such as PUP.Optional.ByteFence can also be used to gather user data which may be later transferred to third parties. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.
In addition to that, as was mentioned earlier, some potentially unwanted program such as PUP.Optional.ByteFence to also alter all browsers shortcuts that located on your Desktop or Start menu. So, every infected shortcut will try to redirect your web-browser to intrusive ad web-pages, certain of which might be harmful. It can make the whole personal computer more vulnerable to hacker attacks.
Thus, it is clear that the presence of PUP on your computer is not desirable, and you need to clean up your machine as soon as possible. Follow the guidance below in order to remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence PUP from your computer for free.
Remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence
There are a few solutions which can be used to delete PUP.Optional.ByteFence potentially unwanted program. But, not all potentially unwanted software such as this PUP can be completely deleted utilizing only manual methods. Most often you’re not able to remove any potentially unwanted program using standard MS Windows options. In order to get rid of PUP.Optional.ByteFence you need complete a few manual steps and run reliable removal tools. Most IT security professionals states that Zemana, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) or AdwCleaner tools are a right choice. These free programs are able to scan for and remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence PUP from your computer and return your Windows OS settings to normal state.
How to remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence without any software
The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, which will help you manually remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence PUP from the Windows 10, 8, 7, XP.
Delete PUPs through the Windows Control Panel
First, you should try to identify and delete the application that causes the appearance of unwanted ads or web-browser redirect, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, click Windows button
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as displayed on the image below.
After the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as shown in the figure below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as shown in the figure below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of applications installed on your system. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious programs by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that press ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as displayed below.
When the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to press ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as shown on the screen below.
You will see a list of applications installed on your personal computer. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the programs that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of pop-up advertisements and web browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. Once the application which you need to delete is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as on the image below.
Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks
If an undesired web site opens automatically on Windows startup or at equal time intervals, then you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and get rid of all the tasks that have been created by unwanted applications.
Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time. It will display a prompt that called Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and press OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, click “Task Scheduler Library”, as shown below.
Task scheduler, list of tasks
In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be display just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Necessary to look at the text which is written under Details. Found something such as “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address” or “firefox.exe http://site.address”, then you need delete this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it is a component of the adware, then this task also should be removed.
Further click on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as displayed on the screen below.
Task scheduler, delete a task
Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by unwanted applications. Once is done, close the Task Scheduler window.
Disinfect the internet browser’s shortcuts
Now you need to clean up the internet browser shortcuts. Check that the shortcut referring to the right exe-file of the web browser, and not on any unknown file.
Open the properties of the internet browser shortcut. Right click on the shortcut of infected browser and select the “Properties” option and it’ll open the properties of the shortcut. Next, select the “Shortcut” tab and have a look at the Target field like below.
Normally, if the last word in the Target field is chrome.exe, iexplore.exe, firefox.exe. Be sure to pay attention to the extension, should be “exe”! All shortcuts that have been altered by potentially unwanted program such as PUP.Optional.ByteFence usually point to .bat, .cmd or .url files instead of .exe as on the image below
Another variant, an address has been added at the end of the line. In this case the Target field looks like …Application\chrome.exe” http://site.address as shown on the image below.
In order to fix a shortcut, you need to insert right path to the Target field or remove an address (if it has been added at the end). You can use the following information to fix your shortcuts that have been altered by potentially unwanted program.
| Chrome | C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe |
| C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe | |
| FF | C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe |
| Internet Explorer | C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe |
| C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe | |
| Opera | C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\launcher.exe |
| C:\Program Files\Opera\launcher.exe |
Once is done, press OK to save changes. Repeat the step for all browsers which are redirected to undesired web page.
Remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence with freeware
The easiest method to delete PUP.Optional.ByteFence PUP is to run an antimalware program capable of detecting this PUP.Optional.ByteFence and adware that can download other unwanted software. We recommend try Zemana Anti-malware or another free malicious software remover that listed below. It has excellent detection rate when it comes to ad supported software, browser hijackers and other PUPs.
How to remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence with Zemana Anti-malware
You can remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence potentially unwanted program automatically with a help of Zemana Anti-malware. We advise this malware removal tool because it may easily delete hijacker infections, potentially unwanted software with all their components such as folders, files and registry entries.
Download Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) by clicking on the following link. Save it on your MS Windows desktop or in any other place.
164113 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
When the download is done, start it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) will try to update itself and when this task is complete, press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the PUP.Optional.ByteFence and other unwanted software.
This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the utility is scanning, you may see how many objects and files has already scanned. Next, you need to click “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti-Malware will delete PUP.Optional.ByteFence potentially unwanted program and ad-supported software and move threats to the program’s quarantine.
Run Malwarebytes to remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence
Manual PUP.Optional.ByteFence removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the potentially unwanted program can be not completely removed. We advise that run the Malwarebytes Free that are completely free your PC system of potentially unwanted program. Moreover, the free program will help you to remove malicious software, potentially unwanted programs, browser hijackers and toolbars that your system may be infected too.
Download MalwareBytes AntiMalware on your personal computer from the link below.
326464 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the downloading process is finished, close all windows on your PC system. Further, run the file called mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as on the image below, click the “Yes” button.
It will display the “Setup wizard” which will allow you install MalwareBytes on the machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is finished successfully, press Finish button. Then MalwareBytes will automatically launch and you can see its main window like below.
Next, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the PUP.Optional.ByteFence PUP and adware which can download unwanted applications. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes Free will detect all threats present on your personal computer.
After MalwareBytes AntiMalware has finished scanning your PC system, MalwareBytes will show a list of all items detected by the scan. Next, you need to press “Quarantine Selected” button.
The MalwareBytes AntiMalware will get rid of adware which can install onto computer an unwanted application such as PUP.Optional.ByteFence and move items to the program’s quarantine. After the task is finished, you can be prompted to restart your computer. We advise you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware to get rid of browser hijacker infections, ad supported software and other malicious software.
Run AdwCleaner to remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence from Windows
AdwCleaner is a free removal tool that can be downloaded and run to get rid of PUP.Optional.ByteFence and ad-supported software which can download unwanted programs, browser hijackers, malicious software, potentially unwanted software, toolbars and other threats from your PC. You can use this utility to detect threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security application.
- Download AdwCleaner from the following link and save it to your Desktop.
AdwCleaner download
225301 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- Select the directory in which you saved it as Desktop, and then click Save.
- When the downloading process is finished, start the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, press Yes to continue.
- Read the “Terms of use”, and press Accept.
- In the AdwCleaner window, press the “Scan” .AdwCleaner program will scan through the whole machine for the PUP.Optional.ByteFence and adware which can download unwanted applications. Depending on your PC system, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. During the scan AdwCleaner will detect all threats exist on your computer.
- After that process is complete, AdwCleaner will show you the results. Review the scan results and then press “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to restart your system, click “OK”.
The step by step tutorial shown in detail in the following video.
How to stay safe online
Run an ad-blocking tool such as AdGuard will protect you from harmful ads and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and stop phishing and spam pages. Additionally, ad-blocking software will help you to avoid intrusive pop-up ads and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.
Download AdGuard program from the link below. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
26659 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
When downloading is done, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as on the image below.
Follow the prompts. Once the setup is finished, you will see a window as shown on the image below.
You can click “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your personal computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop popups, as well as other malicious or misleading web-pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.
Prevent PUP.Optional.ByteFence from installing
The PUP usually come together with free applications which downloaded from the Web. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, the potentially unwanted program will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your computer. In the Setup wizard, you should select the Advanced, Custom or Manual setup mode to control what components and additional applications to be installed, otherwise you run the risk of infecting your personal computer with an potentially unwanted program like the PUP.Optional.ByteFence.
Finish words
Now your computer should be free of the PUP.Optional.ByteFence PUP and adware which developed to download and install various unwanted software. Delete AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-ups and intrusive harmful sites) and Zemana Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your personal computer for new malware, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new PUPs, malicious software and ad supported software are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove PUP.Optional.ByteFence from the Windows OS, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
