How to Remove PUP.Optional.OpenCandy (Removal Guide)

PUP.Optional.OpenCandy 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.OpenCandy 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.OpenCandy 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.OpenCandy 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.OpenCandy was installed during the software setup process.

You should always pay attention when installing software because often, a software installer includes optional installs, such as this PUP.Optional.OpenCandy 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.OpenCandy (Virus Removal Guide)

This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove PUP.Optional.OpenCandy 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.OpenCandy adware with AdwCleaner
STEP 2: Remove PUP.Optional.OpenCandy virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free
STEP 3: Double-check for the PUP.Optional.OpenCandy infection with HitmanPro

STEP 1: Remove PUP.Optional.OpenCandy adware with AdwCleaner

The AdwCleaner utility will scan your computer for PUP.Optional.OpenCandy malicious files and registry keys, that may have been installed on your computer without your knowledge.

1. You can download AdwCleaner utility from the below link.
   Download AdwCleanerFree official download. Nothing to install.
2. Before starting AdwCleaner, close all open programs and internet browsers, then double-click on the AdwCleaner icon.
   
   If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
3. When the AdwCleaner program will open, click on the Search button as shown below.
   
   The program will now start to search for PUP.Optional.OpenCandy malicious files that may be installed on your computer. When it has finished it will display a notepad screen that contains a log file of all the PUP.Optional.OpenCandy extensions, files, and registry keys that have been detected.
4. To remove the PUP.Optional.OpenCandy malicious files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the Delete button on the AdwCleaner screen.
   
   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.

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STEP 2: Remove PUP.Optional.OpenCandy virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free

1. 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.
   Download MalwarebytesFree official installer. Your download starts right away.
2. 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.
   
3. On the Scanner tab, select Perform quick scan, and then click on the Scan button to start searching for the PUP.Optional.OpenCandy malicious files.
   
4. Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for PUP.Optional.OpenCandy as shown below.
   
5. When the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan has finished, click on the Show Results button.
   
6. 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.
   

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STEP 3: Double-check for the PUP.Optional.OpenCandy infection with HitmanPro

1. You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
   Download HitmanProOfficial Sophos download. Free scan, free 30-day trial to remove threats.
2. 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.
   
3. HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for PUP.Optional.OpenCandy malicious files.
   
4. 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.OpenCandy adware.
   
5. Click on the Activate free license button to begin the free 30 days trial, and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
   

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Your computer should now be free of the PUP.Optional.OpenCandy infection. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future, and perform regular computer scans with HitmanPro.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove PUP.Optional.OpenCandy from your machine, please start a new thread in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.