Problems with WinFixer and WinFixIt

[Ann12]

Hi,

Lately, I'm seem to be having a lot of pop ups from WinFixer 2005, I have run Norton and Anti-Spyware on my computer but this thing keeps coming back.  I have checked Download.com and there doesn't seem to be a WinFixer 2005.  So I presume this is some sort of spyware.   Also, my computer has started crashing and I have to keep "restoring".  Any ideas of how to get rid of it??

Anna

[Berlin-Bob]

Hi Anna,

if you google for winfixer 2005, it sems others have problems too !

one solution is here,
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/143734.html

I have the impression there is a "real" winfixer, and a rogue winfixer, and you have caught the rogue !

hope this helps,
Bob

[1000xlch]

Hi all

I assume you are restoring from XP.  If you are then the last restore point may contain winfixer.  Ideally it could help to turn off system restore, delete winfixer via the spyware killer etc, then turn on the restore point.  XP then starts from there.  Also reduce the amount of restore down to about 3% as Xp does not need the whopping 12% of your disk space!  This is just safety gone mad.  Another good place to look up various spyware definitions is http://cexx.org/

Well worth a visit.

John Rowley

[Ann12]

Hi,

Many thanks to you both   I shall look at the links you both suggest and follow what they recommend.  Yes I do have Windows XP.

Berlin-Bob, thanks for your Rootschat Link about the smilies.  I haven't had a chance to look at it yet but I will tomorrow.

Thanks again to you both

Anna

[goggy]

Hi again folk's!
Just finished a mail to Falkryn,and lo+behold this offer pop's up!
I don't believe that it's pure coincidence,or are we already in the era of computer self repair?
Opinion.s welcome!!
Regard's,Goggy.


Moderator Comment: topics merged

[RJ_Paton]

Be very wary of Winfixer ..... there are at least two versions about ...

1 .... a trojan spyware which is difficult to get rid of and
2.  a program which is not given a very good write up at Spyware guide

Official Description:     This program uses clever business tactics to lure the user into buying something that is not necessary. They have 2 versions available to the public, a bought version and a trial version. The trial version, downloaded from freedownloadscenter.com, came bundled with a search bar from WhenU, as well as a free download manager.
Comment:    This program displays cookies as security threats. This may be true in some situations, but it is not necessary to spend $39.95 to delete them. Internet Explorer does the exact same thing and its free. After you remove the software Winfixer is bundled with, it is no longer a threat. The application will function as it did before with the bundled searchbar from WhenU.

[goggy]

Falkryn,once again on the ball!Thank you,my twitch started twitching after two' Free' system,check's,different times,same system,showed different result's.
     I'm NOT clever at this game,just suspicious!
               Thank's again,Goggy.

[RJ_Paton]

There are several useful tools for getting rid of and keeping your system free from spyware

one is Ad-aware from Lavasoft available from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

spybot search and destroy  available from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html

there is also microsofts own anti spyware software program which although is only a beta is gaining a good reputation available from click here
although I personally disabled the "live" monitoring of my system.


Providing you dont let any program such as these take over your system to provide "full" protection (what they call live monitoring) you can quite happily run them all ....... a good routine to get into is once a month or once a week run these programs and disinfect your system ..... what one may miss the others are sure to get.

[goggy]

Falkryn ,once you mention disabling that's me in a blue funk!!!
I've two system's 'on guard' at the moment and close my eye's to the fact that internecine strife is probably going on 'backstage'.
Still,wait til it goes wrong before fixing it,does me now!
     Regard's,Goggy.