| Name | PUA.AppGraffiti |
| Type | PUP, PUA, adware |
| Short Description | The application is suitable with Chrome, Firefox, and Explorer. It offers custom layouts for Facebook. |
| Symptoms | Intrusive advertisements, possible malware detected. |
| Distribution Method | Bundling, from freeware providers. |
| Detection tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By PUA.AppGraffiti |
AppGraffiti has been classified as a potentially unwanted program by several AV providers. It may be detected as PUA.AppGraffiti. It is advertised as a free browser add-on that provides over 1 000 custom Facebook skins.
However, the application is monitored to record automatically browser information and share it with other services and third parties. The reason for the collection and sharing of relevant user data is displaying relevant advertisements to users, and generating quick profit. Moreover, AppGraffiti is usually bundled with third party installers like Open Candy.
Affected Systems:
(Reported by Symantec)
→Windows 2000, Windows 7, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP
Primary Executable:
- appgraffiti.exe
AppGraffiti Technical Review
At first glance, many potentially unwanted applications appear useful and user-friendly but end up compromising the system by displaying intrusive ads, altering the Registry, etc.
PUA.AppGraffiti doesn’t make an exception. Research shows that once installed, AppGraffity produces advertisements in the browser. Depending on the browser, it will act as:
- Browser Helper Object (BHO) in Internet Explorer
- Browser extension in Google Chrome
- Browser Add-On in Mozilla Firefox
Once downloaded onto the system, AppGraffiti will create multiple files and will add numerous registry entries.
Another thing that the PUP does is injecting JavaScript into web pages viewed in Explorer, Chrome, or/and Firefox. This is the list of websites:
- facebook.com
- twitter.com
- craigslist.com
- craigslist.org
As soon as the JavaScript is added, it will:
- Add a toolbar to the browser.
- Allow the user to change the layout of the website.
- Generate advertisements in the website.
PUA.AppGraffiti Removal Manual
Warning
Besides being a potentially unwanted application, PUA.AppGraffiti may contain malware. According to the scan reports of AV providers, it can be detected as:
- Artemis!EEA11B94802B (McAfee)
- Suspicious_GEN.F47V0725 (TrendMicro – HouseCall)
- Packed.Win32.Obfuscated.10!O (CMC Antivirus)
Note that other detections are also possible.
Furthermore, AppGraffiti is often bundled with other third party software products. It can be located in the installers of:
- RebateInformer by Inbox.com
- SiteRanker by Crawler
- Inbox Toolbar by Inbox.com
- Online Vault by Crawler
Note that other bundled distributions are also possible.
When we talk about bundled distribution, it is important to scan the system to determine the number of PUPs that may be running in the background. If, however, you wish to do the removal yourself, you can follow the step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall PUA.AppGraffiti in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall PUA.AppGraffiti.
Step 2: Remove PUA.AppGraffiti from your browser
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select PUA.AppGraffiti and click “Remove”
After PUA.AppGraffiti is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select PUA.AppGraffiti to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After PUA.AppGraffiti has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on PUA.AppGraffiti
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall PUA.AppGraffiti. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the PUA.AppGraffiti will be removed.
Step 3: Remove PUA.AppGraffiti automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
To clean your computer you should download an updated anti-malware program on a safe PC and then install it on the affected computer in offline mode. After that you should boot into safe mode and scan your computer to remove all PUA.AppGraffiti associated objects.
Milena Dimitrova
An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the beginning. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove PUA.AppGraffiti from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of PUA.AppGraffiti from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove PUA.AppGraffiti from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase PUA.AppGraffiti from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall PUA.AppGraffiti from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove PUA.AppGraffiti from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate PUA.AppGraffiti from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove PUA.AppGraffiti from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove PUA.AppGraffiti
Step 2: Uninstall PUA.AppGraffiti and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by PUA.AppGraffiti on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by PUA.AppGraffiti there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of PUA.AppGraffiti from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall PUA.AppGraffiti and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove PUA.AppGraffiti via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove PUA.AppGraffiti from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase PUA.AppGraffiti from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall PUA.AppGraffiti from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove PUA.AppGraffiti from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the PUA.AppGraffiti will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate PUA.AppGraffiti from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
