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WinSpywareProtect

ParetoLogic's XoftSpySE is our best recommendation for a safe and reliable method to remove WinSpywareProtect. ParetoLogic is a member of the Better Business Bureau and the Software & Information Association, so you can be sure of their ethicacy and ability to resolve your WinSpywareProtect problem:

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Removing WinSpywareProtect

Every day there are new reports of rogue antispyware to worry computer users. One of the most common of these programs, WinSpywareProtect, mimics the normal functions of a machine while misleading the user into believing his computer has more serious security problems than it actually does.

What is WinSpywareProtect?

WinSpywareProtect is a program specifically designed as an advertisement for full spyware removal software packages. An example of rogue antispyware, this program largely hides itself from the user in order to get him to pay for the system's full version. It can run without detection while still being able to display warning messages and access the internet through your machine whether or not you are online.

By displaying warning pop-ups and advertisements on your taskbar, WinSpywareProtect implies that a computer is infected with certain viruses and spyware. Furthermore, the advertisements it displays correspond to the type of program it pretends to find, so users may be lead to believe that purchasing the full version of these programs is the only way to clean their machines. Those who download spyware removal programs like this to a secure machine may find that their problems only get worse. The full-version rogue antispyware, having no real work to do, usually only takes up unnecessary room on a sometimes already crowded hard drive, failing to fix the problems it promised.

WinSpywareProtect Transmission Methods

Rogue spyware programs like WinSpywareProtect are usually backdoor files piggy-backing on other freeware or adware. They must be manually downloaded to a computer, but very often this is done inadvertently, when downloading another program. Such backdoors seem to be particularly associated with video codec and full versions like the Zlob Trojan.

Trojans are programs that, like the legendary Trojan horse, pretend to do one thing while actually doing another, and they are often accidentally downloaded by those who believe they will identify and remove spyware. WinSpywareProtect has an associated website that appears to have some role in distributing the backdoor program, while also offering full versions of the program.

Signs of WinSpywareProtect Activity

Once WinSpywareProtect has been installed on any given computer, the change might be noticeable immediately or it might take a little while for the full effects to be known. This program can run very quietly behind regular desktop applications, but it will probably announce itself through an increased number of security scans. The program may display a machine as being infected by hundreds of files with daunting names, and it always suggests that in order to remove them, one will have to buy a full version of the software.

Also, WinSpywareProtect software runs constantly, so it can slow down the normal functioning of a machine; the longer the software stays active, the more signs it will display, and the more possible problems it can cause a computer.

Removing WinSpywareProtect

Once you know WinSpywareProtect is on your computer, there are several major ways to go about actually removing the program. The first and most obvious step involves selecting the computer's Add/Remove Programs option from the Control Panel, and looking over the list of computer files for WinSpywareProtect. While it may be as easy as clicking "remove file", chances are the program has multiple files, so simply deleting the program not completely remove it. 

When simply deleting the file from the desktop fails, there is also the option of going through and manually removing WinSpywareProtect. This will mean locating and deleting associated files and folders as well as editing the computer's registry to assure that the software has been completely removed. Any time the computer saves a change, the registry is modified to reflect the new information. Simply removing files further modifies the registry, but does not correct the incomplete data and files created through such changes. With the help of WinSpywareProtect registry and file keys, a manual registry scrub can help restore the functioning of a machine.

To really improve the functioning of a computer, the registry must be cleaned, but this task presents a challenge to even the most knowledgeable. A novice attempting to clean a registry can do far more damage to a computer than can WinSpywareProtect and similar rogue antispyware programs, in some cases permanently altering the performance of the machine. For this reason, manual program removal is not a good option for most computer users. If you insist, see the end of this article for a complete list of files and registry keys.

Luckily, there is lots of respected antispyware software that can help. ParetoLogic's XoftSpySE is a good one for removing WinSpywareProtect, but there are others available. For those that recognize the need for a reliable antispyware program there are many options available. After reading the product reviews, and discussing the matter with other computer users, do your own research to choose a product that meets your needs. Then simply download, install, and run the program. An initial scan will reveal the presence of WinSpywareProtect, and it will automatically remove it. Continue to run antispyware scans regularly, at least once a week, in order to assure security.

Preventing Rogue AntiSpyware Installations

WinSpywareProtect is just one of many rogue antispyware programs that can infect and affect a computer. Fortunately, a little awareness and preventative maintenance can go a long way in preventing such problems. While many people ignore the frequent operating system update notices and run old OSs, such updates often contain new patches and adjustments that can help protect a machine from rogue antispyware. Also, updating the web browser helps close up any loopholes in security that allowed WinSpywareProtect to invade in the first place. Finally, acquire reputable antispyware and antivirus programs, and run scans regularly. Check the condition of all firewalls, and just overall be aware of the various malware and rogue antispyware programs.

Although WinSpywareProtect may appear to be helpful, the demands it places on the computer's processor and the potential security risks it poses outweigh any real benefits. For anyone concerned about the condition and speed of their computer, identifying and removing rogue antispyware is a must. 

Program Files:

insthelp.exe
updater.exe
stera.exe
uwasffnt.exe
was6.exe
winantispyware2006freesetup.exe
wasffnt.exe
winantispyware2006setup.exe
was6chk.dll
uwas6chk.dll
shellext.dll
asagents.dll
winantispyware2007.exe

Registry Keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shellexcontextmenuhandlersexploreruwas
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTclsid{_clsid_washellexecutecheck}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTclsid{_clsid_washellexecutecheck} appid
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTclsid{1230649b-b980-44a5-b259-9b09ebea6331}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTclsid{1236de55-eded-4675-af10-ba15eddb4d7a}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTclsid{abcd4567-76b5-4bc7-aac5-396d70925b11}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTclsid{f3ef3329-ccb1-433b-a3ed-6e763665d280}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTdirectoryshellexcontextmenuhandlersexploreruwas
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTdriveshellexcontextmenuhandlersexploreruwas
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTinterface{4567ab12-a884-4ca6-b739-cedb12fef096}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTinterface{abcd4567-4d73-43e9-85e5-53a2dbd95411}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTinterface{abcd4567-d8e8-4df1-a3ea-d0aa72f42611}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTtypelib{12398a44-7dfc-4c46-bd8f-41259d169a0d}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTtypelib{4567ab12-ae24-4fd6-b479-e2b464f32da6}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTtypelib{abcd4567-7437-43ef-ab74-4ab1d3a37411}
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTuwas6.uwas6
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTuwasfsd.creationnotifier
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTuwashellext.shellhook
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTuwashellext.wascontextmenu
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEsoftwaremicrosoftwindowscurrentversionrun winantispyware 2006 scanner
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEsoftwaremicrosoftwindowscurrentversionuninstallwinantispyware 2006 scanner_is1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEsoftwarewinantispyware 2006 scanner
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEsystemcurrentcontrolsetservicesuwasfsd

Occasionally new variants are released to thwart antispyware programs. If you require personal assistance removing WinSpywareProtect please email your log file for analysis by using the Backup List button in XoftSpySE. Otherwise use the Help button in XoftSpySE to contact ParetoLogic support directly.

This webpage was setup to provide information on WinSpywareProtect removal. We do not own or endorse WinSpywareProtect.

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