Friday
2008-11-30, 14:32
The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "Winzix" manually.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
adware
Description:
Winzix claims to be a file compression tool but if the user installs it he gets a lot of other trojans and the computer gets a load of pop up advertisement. Winzix is often brought to the users computer by filesharing tools.
Removal Instructions:
Desktop:
Please remove the following files from your desktop.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Shortcuts named "WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.exe".
Start Menu:
Please remove the following items from your start menu.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Items named "Uninstall WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\unins000.exe".
Items named "WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.exe".
Items named "WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\*.exe".
Autorun:
Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd), RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.
Entries named "WinZix Service" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\wakeservice.exe".
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "WinZix".
Products that have a key or property named "WinZix_is1".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\Flexi.skf".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\minime.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\search_error.htm".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\settings.stp".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\SkinCrafterDll.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\support_error.htm".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\t_bg.jpg".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\unins000.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\unins000.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WakeService.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZixManager.dll".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Winzix uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\WinZix".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix".
The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\WinZix".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Winzix uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify folders!
Registry:
You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
Delete the registry key "WinZix.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\".
Delete the registry key "WinZix" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WakeNet\".
Delete the registry key "WinZixManager" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\".
Delete the registry key "winzix.exe" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\".
Delete the registry key "{EE91F4CC-6BA2-424C-A1FE-64910CCB6A42}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
Delete the registry key "WinZixManager" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\".
Delete the registry key "WinZixManager" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\".
Delete the registry key "{41CA7D4D-AE77-4B13-9459-E9AB7EFECAAD}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\".
Delete the registry key "{10954590-2B3A-41EC-97BB-C95A5E646DA9}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\".
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "winzix", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "WinZixManager.WinZixShell", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "WinZixManager.WinZixShell.1", plus associated values.
If Winzix uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Browser:
The following browser plugins or items can either be removed directly in your browser, or through the help of e.g. Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer).
Please check your bookmarks for links to "www2.iesearch.com".
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.
If this guide was helpful to you, please consider donating towards this site (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=donate).
Threat Details:
Categories:
adware
Description:
Winzix claims to be a file compression tool but if the user installs it he gets a lot of other trojans and the computer gets a load of pop up advertisement. Winzix is often brought to the users computer by filesharing tools.
Removal Instructions:
Desktop:
Please remove the following files from your desktop.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Shortcuts named "WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.exe".
Start Menu:
Please remove the following items from your start menu.
To check where they are pointing to, right-click them and choose "Properties" from the context menu appearing.
Items named "Uninstall WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\unins000.exe".
Items named "WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.exe".
Items named "WinZix.lnk" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\*.exe".
Autorun:
Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd), RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) or msconfig.exe to remove the following autorun entries.
Entries named "WinZix Service" and pointing to "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\wakeservice.exe".
Installed Software List:
You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer) to locate and get rid of these entries.
Products that have a key or property named "WinZix".
Products that have a key or property named "WinZix_is1".
Files:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.url".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\Flexi.skf".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\minime.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\search_error.htm".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\settings.stp".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\SkinCrafterDll.dll".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\support_error.htm".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\t_bg.jpg".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\unins000.dat".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\unins000.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WakeService.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZix.exe".
The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix\WinZixManager.dll".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Winzix uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!
Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) to remove them.
Folders:
Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.
The directory at "<$PROGRAMS>\WinZix".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix".
The directory at "<$COMMONPROGRAMS>\WinZix".
The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\WinZix".
Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If Winzix uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify folders!
Registry:
You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.
Delete the registry key "WinZix.exe" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\".
Delete the registry key "WinZix" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\WakeNet\".
Delete the registry key "WinZixManager" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\".
Delete the registry key "winzix.exe" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\".
Delete the registry key "{EE91F4CC-6BA2-424C-A1FE-64910CCB6A42}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
Delete the registry key "WinZixManager" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\".
Delete the registry key "WinZixManager" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\".
Delete the registry key "{41CA7D4D-AE77-4B13-9459-E9AB7EFECAAD}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\".
Delete the registry key "{10954590-2B3A-41EC-97BB-C95A5E646DA9}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\".
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "winzix", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "WinZixManager.WinZixShell", plus associated values.
A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "WinZixManager.WinZixShell.1", plus associated values.
If Winzix uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=regalyzer), RootAlyzer (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=8) or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins (http://forums.spybot.info/downloads.php?id=3).
Browser:
The following browser plugins or items can either be removed directly in your browser, or through the help of e.g. Spybot-S&D (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=spybotsd) or RunAlyzer (http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=runalyzer).
Please check your bookmarks for links to "www2.iesearch.com".
Final Words:
If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,
Please read these instructions (http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288) before requesting assistance,
Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.