PUP.Optional.PulseBrowser

Short bio

PUP.Optional.PulseBrowser is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a browser that hijacks the default search a Windows computer without user consent.

Symptoms

Users may notice change default search settings.

And find a folder: %LOCALAPPDATA%\PulseSoftware\PulseBrowser

Type and source of infection

PUP.Optional.PulseBrowser could arrive on a system as a bundled application or under false pretences.

Protection

Malwarebytes blocks the installer to give users a choice before they proceed.

Malwarebytes blocks PUP.Optional.PulseBrowser

Add an exclusion

Should users wish to keep this program and exclude it from being detected in future scans, they can add the program to the exclusions list. Here’s how to do it.

Open Malwarebytes for Windows.
Click the Detection History
Click the Allow List
To add an item to the Allow List, click Add.
Select the exclusion type Allow a file or folder and use the Select a folder button to select the main folder for the software that you wish to keep.
Repeat this for any secondary files or folder(s) that belong to the software.

If you want to allow the program to connect to the Internet, for example to fetch updates, also add an exclusion of the type Allow an application to connect to the internet and use the Browse button to select the file you wish to grant access.