The PUABundler:Win32/Gator alert, is a sign that your system has a problem. Giving it a go may end up with really bad consequences. Unwanted apps are not as outright dangerous as regular viruses, but still can mischief and lead to system instability.
Gator unwanted application can not be called full-fledged malware. Nevertheless, it has enough signals to state that you will not like the changes this thing brings to your PC. PUAs like that may be just a disturbing thing, as well as trigger a severe impact on your system’s functioning. Moreover, there are a lot of cases when users report that this program collects user information or other sensitive stuff.
PUABundler:Win32/Gator Detection Overview
The PUABundler:Win32/Gator detection you can see in the lower right side is demonstrated to you by Microsoft Defender. That anti-malware application is good at scanning, but prone to be mainly unstable. It is unprotected to malware invasions, it has a glitchy user interface and bugged malware clearing capabilities. Hence, the pop-up which states concerning the Gator is simply an alert that Defender has detected it. To remove it, you will likely need to make use of a separate anti-malware program.
Microsoft Defender: “PUABundler:Win32/Gator”
PUABundler:Win32/Gator unwanted program is a case in point of PUA, which are pretty widespread nowadays. Being free to use, it may give you “the extended capabilities” for the extra money. Some instances of this program type can have no real performance whatsoever – only the shell with the kaleidoscopic interface. You can see it advertised as a system optimization tool, driver updater or torrent downloadings tracker. This or another way it does not provide you any kind of true functionality, exposing you to risk instead.
Unwanted Program Summary:
| Name | Gator PUA |
| Detection | PUABundler:Win32/Gator |
| Damage | Gator is at least useless, or can perform various malicious actions on your PC. |
| Fix Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Gator exploit |
Is PUABundler:Win32/Gator dangerous?
I have actually mentioned that PUABundler:Win32/Gator PUA is not as trustworthy as it pretends to be. The “legit and useful” application can unexpectedly discover itself as a downloader trojan, spyware, backdoor, or coin miner malware. And you can never foresee what to look for even from separate instances of Gator unwanted program. That still does not imply that you have to panic – possibly, this unpleasant thing has not succeeded to do negative things to your PC.
The exact harm to your system can be caused not only as a result of the malware injection. A considerable share of suspicious programs, like the Gator application is, is just badly programmed. Potentially, their actions are rather effective than worthless if done on certain system setups, however, not on each one. That’s how an uncomplicated system optimization tool can cause mayhem with constant BSODs on your system. Any interruptions to the system registry are unsafe, and they are a lot more risky if done with such programs.
How did I get this virus?
It is difficult to line the sources of malware on your computer. Nowadays, things are mixed up, and spreading methods used by adware 5 years ago can be utilized by spyware nowadays. However, if we abstract from the exact spreading tactic and will think about why it works, the reply will be quite simple – low level of cybersecurity understanding. Individuals press on promotions on strange websites, click the pop-ups they get in their web browsers, call the “Microsoft tech support” assuming that the odd banner that says about malware is true. It is important to recognize what is legitimate – to prevent misconceptions when attempting to determine a virus.
The example of Microsoft Tech support scam banner
Nowadays, there are two of the most common ways of malware distribution – lure e-mails and also injection into a hacked program. While the first one is not so easy to evade – you need to know a lot to understand a fake – the second one is simple to solve: just don’t utilize hacked programs. Torrent-trackers and other providers of “totally free” applications (which are, exactly, paid, but with a disabled license checking) are just a giveaway place of malware. And PUABundler:Win32/Gator is simply amongst them.
Remove Gator with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware
We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common PUAs as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Gator as well as other malware hiding on your computer.
To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:
1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.
2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.
3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.
4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.
Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.
5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.
6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.
8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.
Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.
Trojan Killer for “Gator” removal on locked PC
In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.
There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.
Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.
Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:
1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.
2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.
3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.
4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.
Step 2: Update Signature Databases:
5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.
6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.
Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:
7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.
8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.
9. Insert the USB flash drive.
10. Run tk.exe
11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.
Step 4: Remove Found Threats:
12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.
13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.
14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer:
15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.
16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.
Congratulations on effectively removing Gator and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.
What is PUABundler:Win32/Gator Virus?
Name: PUABundler:Win32/Gator
Description: If you have seen a message showing the “PUABundler:Win32/Gator found”, it seems that your system is in trouble. The Gator virus was detected, but to remove it, you need to use a security tool. Windows Defender, which has shown you this message, has detected the malware. However, Defender is not a reliable thing - it is prone to malfunction when it comes to malware removal. Getting the PUABundler:Win32/Gator malware on your PC is an unpleasant thing, and removing it as soon as possible must be your primary task.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: PUA
