What are pups on a pc?

Question

my friends has spy bot on their pc and it keeps finding pups..can anyone shed any light on this please as neither of us know what they are

Answer 1

PUP = Potentially Unwanted Program.

They could be anything from previously unknown spyware to crappy toolbars.

Answer 2

PUP stands for Potentially Unwanted Program.

Quote:

" An application that is installed along with the application the user actually asked for. In most cases, the PUP is spyware, adware or some other unwanted software. However, what makes spyware or adware a PUP is the fact that it does inform the user in the license agreement before installation. Considering hardly anyone ever reads the license agreement, the distinction is a subtle one. "