"I've been getting those very annoying Winfixer popups. My popup blocker is set to High. I have Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy and even Microsoft AntiSpyware. But no matter what I try they keep coming back. I’ve searched for help on removing Winfixer, but all the info I found is too technical for me. Can you help?"
Based on several emails I've seen from readers, Winfixer (also known s WinFixer 2005) is a nasty bit of adware. It tries to install itself through confusing and alarming popups, and is resistant to many removal tools. Here's what I recommend to remove Winfixer.
First, make sure your Windows system is up to date. If you don't have Windows Update running on auto-pilot, I highly recommend that. From Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Windows Update. This will ensure that you have the latest Windows security fixes and patches. Without that in place, you are wide open to many different exploits that can wreak havoc on your PC.
If you search for Winfixer at Google (http://www.google.com/search?q=winfixer), you will find quite a few links to websites, forums and software vendors that claim to have the solution for Winfixer removal. However, as you mentioned, many of them are very geeky and require you to mess around in the Windows system registry. If you are an advanced user and follow these instructions very carefully, you may succeed in getting rid of Winfixer.
But if getting into the guts of the operating system sounds a little scary, you might want to consider using a malware removal tool written specifically for the task. Unfortunately, none of the free adware/Spyware tools seem to be effective in removing Winfixer. Several people have told me they have tried Ad-Aware, Spyware Blaster, Spyware Doctor, Spybot Search & Destroy, Microsoft AntiSpyware and others to no avail. In some cases, the program claims to have removed Winfixer, but it reappears after a reboot.
Two software packages from reputable companies claim to remove Winfixer and other malware, namely ParetoLogic XoftSpy andComputer Associates PestPatrol. They're not free, but they should get the job done with a friendly point and click user interface.
BOB RANKIN... is a tech writer and computer programmer who enjoys exploring the Internet and sharing the fruit of his experience with others. His work has appeared in ComputerWorld, NetGuide, and NY Newsday. Bob is publisher of the Internet TOURBUS newsletter, author of several computer books, and creator of the http://LowfatLinux.com website. Visit Bob Rankin's website for more helpful articles and free tech support.