Final answer:
A potentially unwanted application (PUA) is software that may be inadvertently installed and can degrade system performance or pose security risks. Removing PUAs is recommended to maintain optimal computer function.
Step-by-step explanation:
A potentially unwanted application (PUA), also known as a potentially unwanted program (PUP), is a software that might be unwanted on the user's system and is often bundled with other software. It may not be inherently malicious like malware, but it can negatively affect the performance of computers and may come with various types of unwanted behavior, such as displaying numerous ads or tracking user behavior.
PUAs often get onto a system through the installation of freeware or shareware. It's recommended to remove PUAs because they can lead to security risks, degrade system performance, and take up valuable disk space. Reputable antivirus or anti-malware tools can be used to identify and remove these unwanted programs from the computer.