PublicHotsp

If you have downloaded PublicHotsp onto your Windows operating system, besides obtaining a tool that allows creating a WiFi hotspot, you might have also let in adware. Although the application itself does not showcase advertisements, the files that come bundled with it can take care of that. Is it possible to acquire the hotspot creator without the adware files? It probably is, but the sample tested in our internal lab showed that the PUP (potentially unwanted program) comes packaged with the adware elements without the user’s notice. In fact, users are unlikely to realize that adware exists until they research the situation or inspect their systems with a reliable malware scanner. Some users remove PublicHotsp hoping that that would solve the issue, but, unfortunately, that is not how things go. Although the PUP and adware come bundled together, they work separately, which means that they need to be deleted separately too.

At the time of research, a representative download page where users could learn more about PublicHotsp did not exist. It is not known if a website like that does not exist at all or if it is still being built or if it has been taken down in the past. Whatever the case is, at the moment, you cannot acquire the PUP in a transparent manner, and that is a bad sign. Since the creator of this program does not have a source to represent it, most likely, its distribution is in the hands of third parties. In many cases, unpopular and unfamiliar tools like PublicHotsp are spread in software bundles, and since the services of this program are likely to attract some users, the PUP could be used as bait. Unfortunately, it could be used to trick Windows users into downloading unreliable or even malicious software. For example, adware. There are other PUPs that can be distributed in the same way too, including DiskPower and Speedownloader. If you have acquired any of them, install a malware scanner ASAP to inspect your operating system. Needless to say, if malware is uncovered, you should delete it as quickly as possible.

The files of adware should be dropped to the same directory as the files of PublicHotsp, which is either %PROGRAMFILES% or %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%. Of course, the location is different, and while the files of the PUP have their own folder, the files of adware have one too. In our case, the folder was named “M4IS7KPXV7,” and the file found inside was named “M4IS7KPXV.exe.” We cannot guarantee that the name of the folder and the file will match in every case, but this could happen. Also, note that the name is random, and so you have to be cautious when removing what you believe to be adware. At the end of the day, you do not want to remove the wrong thing. When it comes to PublicHotsp, the folder representing the PUP is the same, and so you should have no trouble deleting it. So, why should you remove this software? Adware can showcase unreliable ads created by unreliable parties. The PUP is not represented in a transparent manner, and it is possible that its creator is specifically spreading it bundled with other threats. Overall, this program is not reliable or highly useful, and so removing it is recommended.

As you already know, you will not get rid of adware by removing PublicHotsp, which is why uninstalling the potentially unwanted program is not the ideal option. If you end up uninstalling the PUP, do not forget that you need to eliminate adware files too. You can also follow the instructions below that explain how to erase the files of the PUP and the adware. The third option you have is to use anti-malware software. Since it can simultaneously protect your system and automatically erase malware, installing it is recommended by our research team. Even if you can successfully delete PublicHotsp, adware, and any other unreliable software yourself, you want the protection that this software can provide you with, which is why you should not hesitate to utilize it. If there is anything about the PUP or its elimination that we have not explained clearly enough, post a comment below, and we will happily converse with you.

PublicHotsp Removal

1. Tap keys Win+E to access Windows Explorer.
2. Enter %PROGRAMFILES% (or %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%) into the bar at the top.
3. Right-click and Delete the folder named publicHotsp.
4. Right-click and Delete the folder representing the adware (the name is random, such as M4IS7KPXV7).
5. Tap keys Win+R to access RUN and then enter regedit.exe.
6. In the Registry Editor pane on the left navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\.
7. Right-click and Delete the key named ShutdownTime_is1.
8. Empty Recycle Bin to eliminate these components completely and then employ a reliable malware scanner to inspect your operating system for any malicious leftovers.