PUP.Optional.FakeFlash is Malwarebytes' generic detection name for a large family of browser extensions that are installed by websites offering fake Flash updates.
PUP.Optional.FakeFlash extensions are installed by websites where users will be confronted with screens similar to these:
Urging you to allow notifications and/or install a browser extension:
Some of these extensions change your permissions for Push Notifications. Users will have to remove the permissions manually. You can find more information about this procedure in our blogpost called Browser push notifications: a feature asking to be abused.
Malwarebytes blocks the malicious website that are known to push PUP.Optional.FakeFlash:
Users of the Malwarebytes browser extensions are protected even before we add the malicious domains to our blocklist.
Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.FakeFlash without further user interaction.
A Malwarebytes log of removal will look similar to this:
Malwarebytes www.malwarebytes.com
-Log Details- Scan Date: 5/22/19 Scan Time: 8:44 AM Log File: 17980360-7c5d-11e9-857e-00ffdcc6fdfc.json
-Software Information- Version: 3.7.1.2839 Components Version: 1.0.586 Update Package Version: 1.0.10706 License: Premium
-System Information- OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {computername}\{username}
-Scan Summary- Scan Type: Threat Scan Scan Initiated By: Manual Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 236322 Threats Detected: 1 Threats Quarantined: 1 Time Elapsed: 5 min, 30 sec
-Scan Options- Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Detect PUM: Detect
-Scan Details- Process: 0 (No malicious items detected)
Module: 0 (No malicious items detected)
Registry Key: 0 (No malicious items detected)
Registry Value: 0 (No malicious items detected)
Registry Data: 0 (No malicious items detected)
Data Stream: 0 (No malicious items detected)
Folder: 0 (No malicious items detected)
File: 1 PUP.Optional.FakeFlash, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\ROAMING\MOZILLA\FIREFOX\PROFILES\{PROFILE}.DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\LN_VSOAJKXXXZZ@UDPPPADK.XPI, Quarantined, [1752], [686156],1.0.10706
Physical Sector: 0 (No malicious items detected)
WMI: 0 (No malicious items detected)
(end)
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.
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