What is WinThruster?The Malwarebytes research team has determined that WinThruster is a "system optimizer". These so-called "system optimizers" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have problems. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these problems.More information can be found on our Malwarebytes Labs blog.How do I know if I am infected with WinThruster?This is how the main screen of the system optimizer looks:You will find these icons in your taskbar, your startmenu, and on your desktop:and see these warninga during install:and these screens during "operations":You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:How did WinThruster get on my computer?These so-called system optimizers use different methods of getting installed. This particular one was downloaded from their website:How do I remove WinThruster?Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted application.
How would the full version of Malwarebytes help protect me?We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this system optimizer.As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes would have protected you against the WinThruster installer. It would have warned you before the application could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
WinThruster is presented as a program that fixes issues by making other programs load faster and optimizing computers in one click. WinThruster's developers promote it by 'bundling' this program into other software set-ups. This increases the possibility that most people will download and install it unintentionally.
When WinThruster finishes scanning the system, it displays a list of 'issues'. Fixing these detected problems will supposedly improve computer performance, however, the program must first be registered (in effect, purchasing the 'full version'). Many such apps solve none of the detected problems free of charge and, in fact, the problems are fake anyway.
These rogue apps give the impression that there are many issues on the computer and can be fixed using a particular program, however, users are encouraged to purchase them first. There is no information as to whether WinThruster is one of these apps, however, apps promoted by bundling them into set-ups of other software are usually rogue.
Furthermore, developers often bundle more than one app - in many cases, these are adware-type apps, browser hijackers, and so on. PUAs of this kind usually gather information relating to users' browsing activities. For example, geolocations, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, IP addresses, and so on.
Developers share the information with other parties, potentially cyber criminals, who misuse it to generate revenue. Another common issue with PUAs is intrusive ads. They display coupons, banners, surveys, pop-up ads, etc. If clicked, they open dubious websites. In some cases, these ads execute scripts designed to download and install unwanted apps.
The internet is full of apps similar to WinThruster. Some examples are Qbit Speedup Pro, Nero TuneItUp, and Qbit PC Speedup. Do not use apps that are downloaded and installed inadvertently. They usually provide none of the promoted features, tools, and so on.
WinThruster has a download website, however, most users download and install it unintentionally. As we mentioned, this app is promoted by bundling it into other software set-ups, however, developers do not properly provide information about it. They hide bundled applications in "Custom, "Advanced" settings (or other sections) of software download or installation set-ups.
Many users leave these settings unchecked and unchanged, thereby allowing PUAs to be downloaded and installed together with other, regular downloaded/installed software. In some cases, unintentional downloads and installations occur when people click intrusive ads designed to run rogue scripts.
Be cautious when browsing the web and downloading and installing software (especially if it is free). Do not finish any download or installation without checking all available "Custom" or "Advanced" (or other similar) settings and dismissing offers to download/install unwanted applications. Download software from official/trustworthy websites and use direct download links.
Tools such as Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule etc.), unofficial websites and other similar sources should not be used to download software. Do not click intrusive advertisements, especially if they are displayed on pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, and other dubious sites.
If unwanted redirects and ads occur regularly, check installed programs on the operating system and applications (extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons) on the browser. Remove all unwanted, unknown entries immediately. If your computer is already infected with PUAs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
At time of research, WinThruster did not install any unwanted browser extensions, however, note that some unwanted applications can be installed together with adware and browser hijackers. If you experience unwanted ads or redirects when browsing the internet, continue with the removal guide below.
Click the Edge menu icon (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
If you continue to have problems with removal of the winthruster potentially unwanted application, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
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INI problems with win.ini most often stem from a corrupt or missing Office file. Obtaining a new, uninfected copy of your INI file will usually resolve the problem. We also recommend running a registry scan to clean up any invalid win.ini references which could be cause of the error.
These types of errors will normally stop occuring if the correct win.ini file version is placed in the right location, but you should double-check that is the case. You can test the result by running Office application and seeing if the issue still appears.
Office win.ini issues occur with installation, while win.ini-related software runs, during shutdown or startup, or less-likely during operating system updates. It's critical to note when win.ini issues happen, as it helps troubleshoot Office problems (and report to Microsoft).
WinThruster.exe is an executable file that is part of the WinThruster software developed by Solvusoft. This software is primarily used as a Registry Cleaner. It is designed to detect and repair PC errors, enhance system performance, and speed up the computer.
WinThruster is needed for its ability to clean up the Windows Registry, which can become cluttered over time due to the installation and uninstallation of software. By cleaning the registry, WinThruster helps to improve the overall performance and speed of the computer. It also has the ability to schedule automatic tasks, allowing for regular system optimization without user intervention.
Despite its benefits, there are reasons why you might want to remove WinThruster. Some users have reported that the software can be intrusive, often running in the background and consuming system resources. It may display frequent pop-ups prompting the user to purchase the full version of the software. In some cases, it has been reported to behave like malware, with some antivirus software flagging it as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). If you find that it's causing more harm than good, you might want to consider removing it.
Important: Some malware also uses the file name WinThruster.exe, for example PUA:Win32/Systweak (detected by Microsoft), and ML.Attribute.HighConfidence (detected by Symantec). Therefore, you should check the WinThruster.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.
Summary: Average user rating of WinThruster.exe: based on 17 votes with 7 user comments.4 users think WinThruster.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application.One user thinks it's probably harmless.2 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous.3 users suspect danger.7 users think WinThruster.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it.One user is not sure about it.
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