PUP.Optional.Astromenda
Short bio
PUP.Optional.Astromenda is Malwarebytes’ detection name for a browser hijacker, which will change your browser homepage to astromenda.com and set the default search engine to Astromenda Search.
Symptoms
The most notable symptom of infection is a change of your browser homepage to astromenda.com.
Type and source of infection
Pup.Optional.Astromenda typically is bundled with free software downloads and will install as part of the free software installation process.
Protection
Malwarebytes blocks the installation of Astromenda by detecting the installer and blocking the websites that spread this software.
Remediation
Malwarebytes can detect and remove PUP.Optional.GlobalSystemMechanic without further user interaction.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop.
- Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
- Click on the Get started button.
- Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
- Click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
- Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.
Malwarebytes removal log
A Malwarebytes removal log will look similar to the following:
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Enabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled
Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys: 1
PUP.Optional.Astromenda, HKU\S-1-5-21-188956620-362750976-1332021141-1000-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES\{2E00D31D-D171-423D-836D-1A4D7EA7F1A9}, Quarantined, [1730bd0a3f3ccd690f9e0b60db2707f9],
Registry Values: 1
PUP.Optional.Astromenda, HKU\S-1-5-21-188956620-362750976-1332021141-1000-{ED1FC765-E35E-4C3D-BF15-2C2B11260CE4}-0\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\SEARCHSCOPES|DefaultScope, {2E00D31D-D171-423D-836D-1A4D7EA7F1A9}, Quarantined, [e3648641592275c1c7656c7460a244bc]
Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)
Folders: 0
(No malicious items detected)
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.
