Therefore, the presence of unwanted apps on devices can lead to system infections, financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. The gathered data is often monetized by sharing with and/or selling to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). They can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). Most PUAs (including adware) can track data. Furthermore, browser hijackers can reset any changes users try to make to their browsers and restrict/deny access to the settings outright. The promoted search engines are usually unable to provide unique results, and so they tend to redirect to Google, Yahoo, Bing and other legitimate sites. With a browser hijacker installed, each search query typed into the URL bar and each new browser tab/window opened redirects to the address of a bogus search engine. Other PUAs called browser hijackers modify browser settings to promote fake search engines. As well as running intrusive ad campaigns, PUAs can force-open similarly dangerous websites. PUAs are a prime example of software infiltrated into systems in this manner. Once clicked, intrusive ads can redirect to sale-based, promotional, untrusted, rogue, deceptive/scam, compromised and malicious web pages.įurthermore, they can be triggered (when clicked) to execute scripts designed to download/install software without users' permission. These advertisements significantly diminish the browsing experience, since they limit browsing speed and website visibility (by overlaying page content). Software classified as adware operates by delivering pop-ups, surveys, coupons, banners and other intrusive ads.

Additionally, most PUAs have data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing activity, and this is likely to be the case with PotPlayer. Following successful infiltration, PotPlayer begins running intrusive advertisement campaigns, delivering various unwanted and even harmful ads.ĭue to the dubious methods used to promote this app, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA). PotPlayer is a rogue application endorsed as a multimedia player compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 7 and 8 operating systems.

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