Did the computer start running slow at the same time this McAfee PUP issue start?
How much free space do you have on your drives? Or more importantly, the drive with your page file?
How much RAM?
Computer or motherboard make and model?
On-board video or installed graphics card?
Version of XP?
One (or rather another) thing I don't like about McAfee is the use of non-standard terms. PUP is simply McAfee's way of saying "potentially unwanted program". And "unwanted"? How do they know? I want to know about potentially
dangerous programs. Don't get me wrong, McAfee does provide a good security suite, I just don't like how they do it.
So, since their definition for unwanted may be different from yours which may be different from mine, it is EXTREMELY important to know what program they are talking about before we can offer any real advice. So exactly what is it reporting to be potentially unwanted?
That said, since we must never assume our security defenses are impenetrable, everybody should have a whole arsenal of tools and scanners for periodic supplemental scanning too. You might want to check out my sticky,
Practicing Safe Computing for some ideas once this is resolved.
But for the immediate issue, I recommend you purge the hard drives of clutter using Windows (
XP or
Vista) Disk Cleanup,
ATF Cleaner or
CCleaner. If using CCleaner, uncheck option to install Yahoo toolbar during installation. Before first use, go to
Options >
Settings >
Advanced and ensure
Only delete files in Windows Temp folders older than 48 hours is
unchecked.
Note: Know your site credentials (user name and password) for sites you frequent before cleaning; you may have to login again at next visit.
Download and install
Malwarebytes's Anti-Malware (MBAM) as a supplemental scanner, then proceed as follows:
Check for updates before scanning,
Select Perform quick scan > Scan,
When complete, click OK, then Show Results,
Ensure all is selected and click Remove Selected,
When complete, save the log in Notepad to a convenient place for future reference.
Do the same for all computers on your network (everything on your side of the Internet "gateway" device - typically a Cable or DSL modem).
If McAfee still reports this PUP after that and research reveals it to be potentially malicious or you can't find any information about this program, then I recommend you have your HJT log analyzed by one of our Malware Removal experts by following these
HijackThis Procedures.
In any case, good luck and keep us posted.