watchdodogg MAXIMUM PC TAKES A BITE OUT OF BAD GEAR
20
IS THE FIX IN WINFIXER?
Can you find out what the deal is with WinFixer? It’s
a program that somehow got onto my machine. I am
very cautious and can’t figure out how it happened.
This program starts with pop-ups and ends with
trying to install software onto your machine, auto-
matically! Once it’s on your computer, the app claims
you have “errors” and that WinFixer can repair
them for $39.95. It took me two hours to get rid of
this crap. This software is distributed by a company
called Winsoftware; can you tell me what the scoop
is with them?
— Greg LambertWinsoftware’s WinFixer has been labeled as
adware by anti-spyware company Computer
Associates: “WinFixer was installed through
social engineering techniques upon visiting
http://www.600pics.com—using confusing ads and
uncloseable messages.” Anti-spyware com-
pany CounterSpy had this to say about the
program: “Typically part of a bundle attack,
WinFixer is a disabled data repair utility that
nags the user to purchase. The program will
scan the computer and report errors. WinFixer
will report to the user that there are repair-
able errors but does not provide any details
of what is at risk. It then recommends repairs
that require a purchase to unlock the program.
It also sets a registry key to automatically
launch the program on startup. Since the pro-
gram is disabled, this essentially nags the user
to purchase the program.”
The Dog downloaded and installed
WinFixer onto a clean install of Windows
XP Pro running under Virtual PC 2005. With
nothing but AVG AntiVirus installed, WinFixer
proceeded to identify hundreds of registry
and file problems that reportedly could not
be fixed without purchasing the application.
Several of the “problem” files were .WAV
files included with XP. When the Dog replaced
one of the “bad” files with a known good filefrom another machine, and reran the scan,
WinFixer continued to identify the file as bad.
Fortunately, the iteration of WinFixer avail-
able at Winfixer.com is easy to remove using
Add/Remove Programs. In WinFixer’s defense,
the Dog’s installation of the app did not exhibit
any signs of pop-up or pop-under ads. And
from what the Dog can tell, WinFixer 2005
doesn’t install without your permission, but
some websites push the application because
they’re paid according to the number of instal-
lations, according to CounterSpy.
WinFixer wasn’t the only application from
Winsoftware.com the Dog received a complaint
about this month. Reader Angie Breakstone had a
run-in with another of the
company’s products:I recently bought and
downloaded WinAntiVirus
Pro from the Internet andimmediately started having memory problems with
my computer. To make a long story short, I took my
computer to a highly recommended local computer
repair business and they removed it and the prob-
lems went away.
When I contacted the company (which was
quite difficult) for a refund, I was asked to down-
load a program that “collects information on all
applications running in your computer” before I
would be issued a refund.
Being uneasy, I printed the instructions and
went back to the computer repair business and
asked if I should do as requested. They emphati-
cally told me I should not follow the instructions;
they didn’t believe any reputable business would
want to do this and said they had never heard of
WinAntiVirus Pro.
What do you know about this business and do
you think I can take a chance and do what they
say, or should I just take the loss and chalk it up to
experience? It makes me mad when I feel takenMA XIMUMPC JANUARY 2006WinFixer won’t fix anything on your computer until you pay for it.Our consumer advocate investigates...
PWinFixer PWinAntiVirus Pro
PEZInkjets.com PAtom Chip PNikon
Toby, Watchdog of the monthGot a bone to pick with a vendor? Been spiked by a fly-
by-night operation? Sic The Dog on them by writing
[email protected]. The Dog promises to answer as
many letters as possible, but only has four paws to work with.