WinZip Malware Protector, also called Malware Protector by Winzip, is advertised as an “ultimate security program that investigates every corner of your PC for threats and vulnerabilities and completely neutralizes them.” WinZip Malware Protector claims to automatically seek and destroy all security threats around the clock to keep your PC and personal data secure.
The developer insists that there are 2 versions of the program including a free and registered, or full version. The supposed free version is said to scan for and remove adware, browser helper objects, malware, password stealers, rogue programs, browser hijackers, monitoring programs, potentially unwanted programs, key loggers, heuristics, trojans, and riskware. However, that is not exactly the case since the free version is a scanner only that will not remove what it detects.
The free version is considered to be an advertisement for the full version. Once a scan with the free version is complete it will state that numerous items were found, but they can’t be removed unless a user pays for the full version. The free version also bolsters the full version and claims it will make your PC perform faster, increase startup seeds, and keep your PC running like new.
This is recognized as an unethical and deceptive marketing practice which is often utilized by malicious programs (malware) and rogue software and is one of the reasons why WinZip Malware Protector is recognized as unsafe and a potentially unwanted program (PUP) by antivirus programs such as ESET-NOD32, Cylance, Malwarebytes, and even Microsoft.
Updated versions of Microsoft’s Windows Security program for Windows 10 and other versions of Windows will automatically quarantine and remove files associated with WinZip Malware Protector. The detection name Microsoft uses for this program is PUA:Win32/InstallCore.
WinZip Malware Protector is compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista.
Deceptive marketing
Like all WinZip programs including WinZip System Utilities Suite, WinZip Malware Protector utilizes deceptive marketing practices to dupe users into installing the program and obtain customers. As previously noted, the free version is not actually free to use, it is only a scanner which makes it an ideal promotional platform for the registered full version. Furthermore, Winzip does not mention that the free version is only a scanner and users typically become aware of the fact after using the program to scan their computers.
WinZip also claims that the full version of WinZip Malware Protector can make a PC perform faster and running like new; However, these claims are arguably disputed by Microsoft and other legitimate entities. For one, deleting files will not enhance a computer’s performance and secondly, tampering with the Windows registry may have negative effects on a computer system and is not recommended by Microsoft.
Microsoft does not support the use of registry cleaning utilities like this and cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the use of a registry cleaning utility can be solved. Microsoft also states that some programs available for free on the internet might contain spyware, adware, or viruses.
To make matters worse, the program is often advertised alongside or bundles with third-party malware, viruses, and other threats. The program may be introduced to a computer by third-party malware and may also be promoted during the installation process as a custom program.
How to remove WinZip Malware Protector
WinZip Malware Protector can be uninstalled from Windows through the Control Panel or Apps and Features. However, uninstalling the program through the Control Panel will not remove malware, adware, spyware, viruses, and other potential threats from an infected computer. To remove WinZip Malware Protector we recommend scanning your computer with reputable security software known to detect and remove WinZip Malware Protector and to use a second anti-malware program to eradicate remaining malware, adware, spyware, and viruses. Follow the removal instructions below to remove WinZip Malware Protector and other threats from an infected computer.
1. Download and install ESET Smart Security to remove WinZip Malware Protector. ESET will detect files associated with the program as “A Variant Of MSIL/AdvancedSystemProtector.F Potentially Unwanted.” *When installing ESET Smart Security, select the option to enable detection of potentially unwanted applications (if applicable).
2. Once ESET Smart Security is installed, open the program and navigate to the Computer scan tab.
ESET Smart Security may automatically update and perform an initial scan. The ‘initial scan’ takes longer to complete than a normal computer or removable media scan. It is recommended to perform a second scan following the initial scan.
3. Click Scan your computer to scan all local disks and clean threats.
4. Next, download and install Malwarebytes to perform a secondary-scan to remove remaining files, malware, adware, spyware, and potentially unwanted programs. Malwarebytes will detect files associated with the program as “PUP.Optional.WinzipMalwareProtector.”
5. Once Malwarebytes is installed, click the Scan Now button to begin scanning the computer.
6. When the scan is complete, click the Quarantine Selected button to remove all threats detected by Malwarebytes.
7. Reboot the computer.
Terminate WinZip Protector immedatley
why cannot i remove WinZip Protector after trrying several time. This is an illegal process you are processing.