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Winfixer

What is Winfixer?

Winfixer is a part of scare ware rogue security programs developed by ‘Winsoftware’ which claim to repair computer system problems on Microsoft Windows computers if a user purchases the full version of the software. Rogue Security Programs typically use aggressive, deceptive advertising and may be installed without adequate notice and consent, often through exploits. The software is mainly installed without the user's consent.

The Winfixer ensures the customers about it’s reliability and claims that it is a useful utility product to scan and fix any system, registry or hard drive errors. It ensures system stability and performance, clears wasted hard-drive space and recovers damaged Word, Excel, music, audio and video files.

How does Winfixer affect the system?           

The typical infection usually occurs during a visit to a distributing web site using a web browser. A message appears in a dialog box or popup asking the user if they want to install Winfixer, or claiming a users machine is infected with malware, and requests the user to run a free scan.

Download of the software may be triggered when a user attempts to exit the window by clicking Ok or Cancel or by clicking the corner X, it will trigger a pop-up window and Winfixer will download and install itself. The funny part is that, even if the user clicks on the Cancel or X button; it doesn’t act accordingly in the manner expected, and ends up by installing the whole application, regardless of the user’s wishes.

How to remove / fix Winfixer if installed?

Winfixer is a piece of malware which pretends to be a diagnostic tool. The makers of Winfixer claim "Winfixer detects and repairs corrupted files, remove useless data, cleans up clogged and fixes hard drive errors. This useful utility helps you maintain an error-free PC and achieve 100% system performance."
    One doesn’t need to remove Winfixer entirely to get rid of its fake warning messages. Instead, one can simply cause it not to startup each time Windows boots.

1. 1. Click the <Start> button in your desktop.
2. 2. Click the <Run> button.
3. 3. Type "MSCONFIG" and press <ENTER>.
4. 4. The System Configuration Utility (MSCONFIG) will pop-up. Click on the Startup tab.
5. 5. Locate the entry for Winfixer and uncheck the box to its left.
6. 6. Click the <OK> button.
7. 7. Click the <Restart> button to reboot your computer.

After you have stopped Winfixer, you may also wish to remove the Winfixer files from your PC entirely. You can do it manually by deleting the respective directories and files.

If you wish to kill the Winfixer processes without rebooting, you can do so using the Windows Task Manager.

1. 1. Press the <CTRL>, <ALT> and <DELETE> keys simultaneously to start the Windows Task Manager.
2. 2. Click on the Processes tab.
3. 3. Find each of the following processes in the list.
• df_kme.exe
• install.exe
• sr.exe
• wfx5.exe
4. 4. Highlight each process and press the <End Process> button.

Recommendations to the users/ customers

The users are recommended to not to install the version of Winfixer ,unless they themselves are comfortable with the level of risk we identify or until the application is updated consistent with the recommendations in it’s report and appear to be a genuine stuff.
There are some recommendations for Winfixer also:

1. 1.Provide licensing agreements to users during installation and disclose that Winfixer will automatically launch when Windows restarts.
   2. Do Not exaggerate claims of "severe system threats" by flagging beneficial files or components.
   3. Do not install rootkits or any other form of malicious software.

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