How to remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant [Virus removal guide]

What is PUP.MindSpark/Variant? If you’re reading this post, it means that your antivirus detects the PUP.MindSpark/Variant threat. It indicates that your system is infected with malware, which is often installs on the system with the free applications. You probably want to know how to remove any security threats as well as remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus. In the steps below we will tell you about how to solve your problems.

It is not a good idea to use a computer that infected with the PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus. The reason for this is simple, it doing things you do not know about. This virus has the ability to collect lots of your user data which may be later sold to third parties. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe.

The PUP.MindSpark/Variant can gather your Net surfing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web sites visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or confidential info theft. This is another reason why this virus should be removed sooner.

So, it’s very important to clean your computer of this virus ASAP. The steps, which is shown below, will help you to remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus from your PC and web-browsers.

Remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant (removal steps)

In order to remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant from your computer, you should look up for suspicious entries, such as files, applications, web browser plugins and shortcut files. However, if you want to get rid of PUP.MindSpark/Variant easily, you should run reputable anti-malware tool and let it do the job for you.

To remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant, execute the steps below:

1. Removing the PUP.MindSpark/Variant, check the list of installed software first
2. Run Zemana to get rid of PUP.MindSpark/Variant
3. Scan and clean your PC of PUP.MindSpark/Variant with Hitman Pro
4. Delete PUP.MindSpark/Variant with Malwarebytes
5. Remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus from Firefox
6. Remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus from Internet Explorer
7. Remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus from Google Chrome
8. How to stay safe online
9. To sum up

Removing the PUP.MindSpark/Variant, check the list of installed software first

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’.

Press Windows button , then press Search . Type “Control panel”and press Enter. If you using Windows XP or Windows 7, then click “Start” and select “Control Panel”. It will display the Windows Control Panel as shown below.

Further, click “Uninstall a program”
It will open a list of all applications installed on your computer. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any dubious and unknown software.

Run Zemana to get rid of PUP.MindSpark/Variant

We advise using the Zemana AntiMalware. You can download and install Zemana Free to scan for and delete PUP.MindSpark/Variant from your PC. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover will automatically scan and detect all threats present on the personal computer.

Download Zemana Anti-Malware by clicking on the link below.

After downloading is complete, close all windows on your PC system. Further, open the install file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown in the following example, click the “Yes” button.

It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) on the computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.

Once setup is complete successfully, Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) will automatically run and you may see its main window as displayed below.

Next, click the “Scan” button . Zemana Free program will scan through the whole computer for the PUP.MindSpark/Variant and other kinds of potential threats such as malware and PUPs. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the tool is checking, you can see number of objects and files has already scanned.

After Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) has completed scanning, Zemana will open you the results. You may get rid of items (move to Quarantine) by simply press “Next” button.

The Zemana will remove virus and other security threats and add threats to the Quarantine. Once the cleaning procedure is finished, you may be prompted to reboot your personal computer.

Scan and clean your PC of PUP.MindSpark/Variant with Hitman Pro

HitmanPro is a free tool that can search for PUP.MindSpark/Variant and other security threats. It is not always easy to locate all the junk programs that your PC system might have picked up on the Net. Hitman Pro will scan for the adware, hijackers and other malware you need to erase.

Download Hitman Pro on your Microsoft Windows Desktop from the following link.

After downloading is finished, open the file location and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will start the HitmanPro tool. If the User Account Control prompt will ask you want to open the application, click Yes button to continue.

Next, click “Next” . Hitman Pro tool will begin scanning the whole computer to find out PUP.MindSpark/Variant and other kinds of potential threats such as malicious software and PUPs. Depending on your computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the HitmanPro program is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat.

Once Hitman Pro completes the scan, a list of all threats detected is created as displayed in the following example.

Review the report and then press “Next” button. It will show a prompt, click the “Activate free license” button. The Hitman Pro will begin to get rid of virus related files, folders and registry keys. Once finished, the utility may ask you to reboot your PC system.

Delete PUP.MindSpark/Variant with Malwarebytes

We suggest using the Malwarebytes Free. You can download and install Malwarebytes to look for and get rid of PUP.MindSpark/Variant from your personal computer. When installed and updated, the free malware remover will automatically scan and detect all threats exist on the PC.

Click the link below to download MalwareBytes Free. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.

After the downloading process is finished, close all windows on your computer. Further, start the file named mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown below, click the “Yes” button.

It will display the “Setup wizard” which will assist you install MalwareBytes Free on the machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.

Once installation is complete successfully, click Finish button. Then MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown on the image below.

Next, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Anti-Malware utility will begin scanning the whole PC system to find out virus and other security threats. Depending on your PC system, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour.

When finished, you can check all threats found on your computer. Once you have selected what you want to delete from your personal computer click “Quarantine Selected” button.

The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will begin to remove virus and other security threats. Once disinfection is finished, you can be prompted to restart your computer. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes Free to remove hijacker infections, ‘ad supported’ software and other malicious software.

Remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus from Firefox

If the Mozilla Firefox web browser application is hijacked by the PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Mozilla Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Mozilla Firefox settings to their default values. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed, deleted or cleared.

Press the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as displayed on the screen below.

A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button as shown on the screen below.

Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Firefox internet browser settings to their default values.

Remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus from Internet Explorer

The IE reset is great if your web-browser is infected by PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus or you’ve unwanted extensions or toolbars on your web-browser, which installed by a malware.

First, run the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (). It will open the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” as shown on the image below.

In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown in the figure below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.

You will now need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.

Remove PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus from Google Chrome

Like other modern web browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby recover the internet browser startpage, default search provider and new tab that have been modified by the PUP.MindSpark/Variant .

Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (). It will open the drop-down menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.

Carefully browse through the list of installed plugins. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.

Open the Chrome main menu again, click to “Settings” option.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as displayed in the following example and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.

Confirm your action, press the “Reset” button.

How to stay safe online

Run an ad-blocker tool like AdGuard will protect you from malicious ads and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and block phishing and spam sites. Additionally, ad-blocker programs will help you to avoid unwanted pop ups and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.

Download AdGuard by clicking on the link below.

Once the download is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown in the following example.

Follow the prompts. Once the installation is finished, you will see a window as shown on the image below.

You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which 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 machine, AdGuard will start automatically and block unwanted popup advertisements, as well as other harmful or misleading web pages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which can be found on your desktop.

To sum up

Now your computer should be clean of the PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus. We suggest that you keep Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) (to periodically scan your computer for new malware and other security threats) and AdGuard (to help you block intrusive pop-up ads and malicious web sites). Moreover, to prevent any malware, please stay clear of unknown and third party software, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to find PUPs.

If you need more help with PUP.MindSpark/Variant virus related issues, go to here.