PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A is a specific detection used by
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and other antivirus products to indicate and detect a Potentially Unwanted Program.
A potentially unwanted application is a program that contains adware, installs toolbars or has other unclear objectives.
![PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A virus [Image: PUP.Optional infection]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uYWlhpCpRIhPL2GMJi-Lspx37dBWBF7aD9G9V_pGoCYH-IxOMao1hGMtVh-apMHBLj4m1rXZEJOjbD4YMyPdWI5DakunaTa43qgJMSPMCtsyzx2ClvvMvIvWBV7yDNyR9BwYfktYyP2vgt2Pk=s0-d)
PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A it’s technically not a virus, but it does exhibit
plenty of malicious traits, such as rootkit capabilities to hook deep
into the operating system, browser hijacking, and in general just
interfering with the user experience. The industry generally refers to
it as a “PUP,” or potentially unwanted program.
The PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A infection is used to boost advertising
revenue, as in the use of blackhat SEO, to inflate a site’s page ranking
in search results.
PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A got on your computer after you have installed a
freeware software (video recording/streaming, download-managers or PDF
creators) that had bundled into their installation this browser
hijacker. This Potentially Unwanted Propgram is also bundled within the
custom installer on many download sites (examples: CNET, Brothersoft or
Softonic), so if you have downloaded a software from these websites,
chances are that PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A was installed during the
software setup process.
PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A is an ad-supported (users may see additional
banner, search, pop-up, pop-under, interstitial and in-text link
advertisements) cross web browser plugin for Internet Explorer (BHO) and
Firefox/Chrome (plugin) and distributed through various monetization
platforms during installation. The browser extension includes various
features that will modify the default or custom settings of the browser
including the home page, search settings and in some cases will modify
Internet Explorer’s load time threshold, place a lock file within
Firefox to prevent competing software from changing its settings as well
as disable the browser’s Content Security Policy in order to allow for
cross site scripting of the plugin.
You should
always pay attention when installing software
because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as
this PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A browser hijacker. Be very careful what you
agree to install.
Always opt for the custom installation and deselect
anything that is not familiar, especially optional software that you
never wanted to download and install in the first place. It goes without
saying that you should not install software that you don’t trust.
How to remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A (Virus Removal Guide)
This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A from Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point,
STOP and ask for our assistance.
STEP 1: Remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A adware with AdwCleaner
STEP 2: Remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A browser hijacker with Junkware Removal Tool
STEP 3: Remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
STEP 4: Double-check for the PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A infection with HitmanPro
STEP 1: Remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A adware with AdwCleaner
The AdwCleaner utility will scan your computer for
PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A malicious files and registry keys, that may have
been installed on your computer without your knowledge.
- You can download AdwCleaner utility from the below link.
ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download AdwCleaner on your computer)
- Before starting AdwCleaner, close all open programs and internet browsers, then double-click on the AdwCleaner icon.
![AdwCleaner Icon [Image: AdwCleaner Icon]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uCOw_rsC1I62w2RUuLmzbVAY2dqPv61_foPA566mStp2YUK4KXFBuq-XQqU-su2LSN7L-QJpBL7Y8UqqQAlraxwtrVeNj1fKKUW3I_PlR3ScgjeMJauIouuzxP6nMfmf6kypoL733lHSpcuMu8Hw=s0-d)
If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
- When the AdwCleaner program will open, click on the Scan button as shown below.
![Click on Scan button to search for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A infection [Image: Adwcleaner Scan]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uP2qYmf58wray1Mn5HIS3e1NFH8vQv41Sus_N0_uHi62oDqm9VixyIq2kcdI4WL7eiJI0NUtjFejiU4S_mFSQhPU_nkhciZ191fpVlIO8jJU9FM4QYjQmcCE1cBARRbmvzN3rN4DQLbX8hP-Vhew=s0-d)
AdwCleaner will now start to search for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A malicious files that may be installed on your computer.
- To remove the PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A malicious files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the Clean button.
![Click on the Clean button to remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A [Image: AdwCleaner removing infections]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sb5EaQqTBVEUvMHIecWjQAXLgmyNIRmPimVp6qca7DFTlo0jQ4ikaxHs7D0c7HiUgW8hW4oh4QIjdbXyClFqbKvm2EbYEkILyUlyNS5pXhFvOV8KRZUdhZhYOs-Obi-DjnkJPAN4b8wYXUsb7fvjB1LQ=s0-d)
AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the
program will need to reboot the computer. Please do so and then click on
the OK button.
STEP 2: Remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A browser hijack with Junkware Removal Tool
Junkware Removal Tool is a powerful utility, which will remove
PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A virus from Internet Explorer, Firefox or Google
Chrome.
- You can download the Junkware Removal Tool utility from the below link:
JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download the Junkware Removal Tool utility on your computer)
- Once Junkware Removal Tool has finished downloading, please double-click on the JRT.exe icon as seen below.
![Double-click on the Junkware Removal Tool utility [Image: Junkware Removal Tool]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sMqj63vGjhhAJJUU48t2HkZjRVEfrzBThTQgIMCJF70SN6mmjZkge2HzguE6XOclHncHKo2Igi5Vu9KmT-qPUD7DmOCwf7Sz7W95nQWl5r9KbuM4lTfN7O-tXaXDvfxS2Q9j-0m1i0MrVCAw=s0-d)
If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run Junkware Removal Tool, please allow it to run.
- Junkware Removal Tool will now start, and at the Command Prompt, you’ll need to press any key to perform a scan for the PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A.
![Junkware Removal Tool scanning for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A [Image: Junkware Removal Tool scanning for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A virus]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u2CjNAehYOFKqw4bhtJGV0aGU-orYwc1X-dWCOAXNnP2d_dz4GjJdX3IUe2IYxT_-l_uhRAV7yVZ-Vpw1BzIno4Y5uEZCA1LNH8BMBuTOZ1QWDwnH8goG8bn3QueKCbYMeE8D8FVLf0vLC1NDk4VMWeCTC=s0-d)
Please be patient as this can take a while to complete (up to 10 minutes) depending on your system’s specifications.
- When the scan Junkware Removal Tool will be completed, this utility
will display a log with the malicious files and registry keys that were
removed from your computer.
![Junkware Removal Tool final log [Image: Junkware Removal Tool final log]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tMM9Z_1OfZiZwwKCLIFygKGFGFABATTP-gKSC3Y3u3dLckIcWrH77AX-yxpMNnLHG-JUsWPFSekeUlhj2caXBHqNVOpdu4fdfNZTtNHBKEd1Bb5F3mqSQaxy5i4P_bX6DTNfPZiT1QLLIdQg=s0-d)
STEP 3: Remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free utilizes Malwarebytes powerful
technology to detect and remove all traces of malware including worms,
trojans, rootkits, rogues, dialers, spyware and more.
- You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link, then double-click on the icon named mbam-setup.exe to install this program.
MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will open a download page in a new window from where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free)
- When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process, then at the last screen click on the Finish button.
![Malwarebytes Anti-Malware installation screen [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware final installation screen]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sz1iouHM-Ur2wbnu_3hE8NdRUOFhjfxUkNncS5UEAZr1QTyTownHoo58dletMEeSgU10sK7FJS59xZa-2ptOv2m5KVbeNQVNt1k7wEjHtl5nACqm-T3eDa5ne8xz58zpMGP1L5ZCgZeauk0NkuVpRKJlUNTmMy_kU=s0-d)
- On the Scanner tab, select Perform quick scan, and then click on the Scan button to start searching for the PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A malicious files.
![Run a Quick Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Quick Scan]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sYz2o8gUzUcJ3dm9ksQJyXFwkBjDUsNpVL9dquCVMRdW9sMSsN4_hHYmPWbNah1wI6D19PDThq8B6Y_16zq4Fo4tuXlLzPduRt1jiY9r9Rz6soNjLTECHrnDzaerz6BSxlxS3iGEnX4raUZC1WsRMbVZtM7q38=s0-d)
- Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A as shown below.
![Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanning for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scanning for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A virus]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sSYMf4ixgj9tFM5MnQCqBqKbA7v2veMyCyUgZs_zie5HqQca5Fv9QYvt1f3CpsZYYkEi671jiMsTOyt1GkImz8jzIX6zLYX_7WyTEfvGftbQS8mjrBcc4jT6I6Y7Sefug0DHz6sfig6Dg8Nojn7ys=s0-d)
- When the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan has finished, click on the Show Results button.
![Malwarebytes when the system scan has completed [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan results]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uRAYrA1NQj_4B_c3Y6QhVlbeYxMqO-CQQNFYhripHLYSN1S-J00yVMhjwzzlIWB5wgkpfJdBvbm9Fo4-Tpfuv0jcXKgSKiQqTpvHIBZ4NGDFx50M39wit3SSpJQLyOq5iFGHfgwf0KPxo1nVom2Nv30e8fT_NVAhA=s0-d)
- You will now be presented with a screen showing you the computer
infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has detected. Make sure that
everything is Checked (ticked), then click on the Remove Selected button.
![Malwarebytes Anti-Malwar removing PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A [Image: Malwarebytes Anti-Malware removing PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sHCxqSbIP9hi3qBamI_hoEIaS94l7QGW7L_nRfUXBbFBKlUtxVDWha_xefp8fOhRAiqybNX5U-H1foChEEmjElYQD5pfPVAFQGV0Rwad54naRIp9wDcPtKt2mQSI2xS-rb2dL_MwSO18xifGkB7F7yLk4DLwcTkE2_=s0-d)
STEP 4: Double-check for the PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A infection with HitmanPro
HitmanPro is a second opinion scanner, designed to rescue your
computer from malware (viruses, trojans, rootkits, etc.) that have
infected your computer despite all the security measures you have taken
(such as anti virus software, firewalls, etc.).
- You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
- Double-click on the file named HitmanPro.exe (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or HitmanPro_x64.exe (for 64-bit versions of Windows). When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below.

Click on the Next button, to install HitmanPro on your computer.

- HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A malicious files.

- When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the Next button, to remove PUP.Optional.HomeTab.A adware.

- Click on the Activate free license button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
![HitmanPro free 30 days trial [Image: HitmanPro 30 days activation button]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_shUidDMoZAWvh6KeAIG6pNtPIB7DFax6B1VUfkxx0PaiZs_ZNRoMD14mXnr3JISTaNzZvjuDEhPw3Te7oFa0GLjWmca5WU1Dm_VjHREoz3REbIvivD8BJPe-N214E8o0a2hsNy3dF0puDevSGJ63jVOALA=s0-d)