Updated on: July 19, 2024
Short on time? Here’s how to remove the WinZip Driver Updater:
- Preliminary Step. Uninstall WinZip Driver Updater. Check out my step-by-step guides below for uninstalling programs on Windows 11 and 10.
- 1. Scan Your PC. Use a reliable antivirus (Norton is my favorite) to run a full disk scan on your PC.
- 2. Remove Malware or Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs). Once the scan is done, let the antivirus safely delete all malicious files and PUPs.
- 3. Stay Safe. To avoid further infections, choose a premium antivirus suite to keep you safe online. I like Norton, which offers 100% malware detection rates, great real-time protection, anti-phishing protection, and much more.
WinZip Driver Updater is a fake driver updater that scams users into buying a subscription, then steals their information and slows down their devices. When WinZip Driver Updater scans a PC, it notifies users that they have out-of-date drivers and that they have to buy the premium WinZip Driver Updater package to update these outdated drivers. However, once a user has bought the premium package, WinZip Driver Updater will fail to detect or download any software updates.
If you have WinZip Driver Updater on your computer, you need to uninstall it as soon as possible. What’s more, you probably also have other PUPs, adware, spyware, or other dangerous malware files on your device. That is why you should download and install a comprehensive antivirus program (like Norton 360) that will remove all PUPs and malware files from your computer and prevent future reinfection.
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Preliminary Step. Uninstall WinZip Driver Updater
Uninstalling the WinZip Driver Updater varies depending on your operating system. Click on the operating system you have to jump to the appropriate step:
Windows 11
To uninstall WinZip Updater from Windows, follow these steps:
- Begin by opening up your computer’s Start menu.
- Type “remove” into your search bar, then click Add or remove programs.
- Scroll through your applications until you see WinZip Driver Updater.
- Click the 3 horizontal dots by its name, then choose Uninstall.
- Follow the instructions and click through any prompts that appear.
Windows 10
You can uninstall WinZip Driver Updater by navigating to Windows 10’s Settings menu.
- In the Settings menu, click on “Apps and features” to see every installed application on your Windows 10 computer.
- Scroll through the list of installed applications until you see WinZip Driver Updater and then click Uninstall.
- Clicking this will open a pop-up wizard. Click Uninstall and follow the uninstallation process to safely remove WinZip Driver Updater.
When this is done, you will have safely removed WinZip Driver Updater from your computer. However, if you accidentally downloaded WinZip Driver Updater, chances are your computer is infected with other malware. To identify and remove all malware and PUPs, you must run a virus scan using an antivirus suite. Here’s how.
Step 1. Run a Full System Scan With Your Antivirus
If you suspect you have malware on your computer, you must disconnect your cell phone and other USB storage devices from it — these devices are at risk of getting infected if the malware replicates.
Next, run a full system scan with your antivirus — I’m using Norton in this example. This will check every file and folder on your PC for potential threats. A full scan can take up to 4 hours, so it’s best to schedule one at a convenient time or when you don’t need to use your computer.
However, don’t cancel the scan when you see WinZip Driver Updater appear. Since malware replicates, there’s no way of knowing how many copies are infecting your system, and you want to make sure your scan detects all of the harmful files and is 100% finished.
When the scan is complete, your antivirus will provide you with a list of every piece of malware it identified on your PC. You can now move on to step 2.
Step 2. Delete Any Infected Files
Your antivirus has placed all of the infected files it found in your quarantine vault.
Now, you need to review the infected files in your quarantine vault and identify which ones are malware and which are false positives (safe files that your scanner has identified as being malicious). Advanced users can usually identify false positives and keep these files (by whitelisting them), but beginners should delete every quarantined file.
After you have removed all of the files in quarantine, restart your PC to stop any malware that’s booted into Windows memory. Next, run a second full disk scan (this scan won’t take as long because a good antivirus like Norton will only check for files that have been modified or added since the previous scan).
Once the second scan is complete, go through your quarantined file list again and delete any new malware that has reappeared. If no malware has appeared, you can move on to step 3. However, if more infections show up in the quarantine list, you need to remove them, restart your PC, and continue to repeat steps 1 and 2 until no malware infections are present. When you reach this stage, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Fortunately, your antivirus has removed WinZip Driver Updater and all other malware on your computer. But you now have to take protective measures to ensure your computer doesn’t get re-infected.
Step 3. Keep Your Device Protected From Other Unwanted Programs
You’ve seen firsthand how easy it is to get a malware infection or to download fake software like WinZip Driver Updater, but the good news is that you can prevent future cyber attacks by following these very important precautions.
- Keep Your Software, OS, and Drivers Up-to-Date: The first thing you should do is keep your software, operating system, and drivers up-to-date. This is to prevent an exploit attack, which is a type of attack where hackers and cybercriminals find loopholes in obsolete software and gain unauthorized access to your PC. When this happens, they can make changes, delete and modify important files, and even steal your private data.
- Don’t Download Suspicious Files: You should never download files from unknown sources. For example, avoid downloading pirated content or freeware from untrustworthy websites. Also, if you receive an email from someone you trust and the email includes an unexpected attachment, first check with the sender whether or not they actually sent the attachment. Some phishing scams can hijack emails and spread malware through trusted email accounts. But your antivirus can protect you by scanning emails and downloads before they can make changes on your computer.
- Secure Your Wireless Network and IoT Devices: Another important step is to secure your wireless network and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which include smart doorbells, CCTV cameras, thermostats, smart speakers, and remote locking systems. Without a secure wireless network, a cybercriminal can hack into it and take control of your IoT devices. The solution is to protect your network and all devices with unguessable passwords. It helps to use a password manager like 1Password.
- Download a Secure Antivirus Program: For enhanced cybersecurity, invest in a trusted antivirus. There are heaps of options out there and it can be a bit overwhelming trying to choose, so I recommend taking a look at my recommendations below.
3 Best Antiviruses for Malware Scanning After Removing WinZip Updater
Quick summary of the best antiviruses for removing WinZip Updater:
- 🥇 1. Norton — Best antivirus for removing all traces of WinZip Updater (100% effective and easy to use).
- 🥈 2. Bitdefender — Lightweight and cloud-based malware scanner with strong real-time protection.
- 🥉 3. TotalAV — Powerful antivirus suite with lots of helpful (and intuitive) features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WinZip Driver Updater safe?
No, WinZip Driver Updater is a scam app designed to steal user data and fleece users into paying for a useless premium subscription. While WinZip Driver Updater won’t wreck your computer, you should remove it as soon as possible by following these steps.
If you’re looking for trustworthy driver updaters and software vulnerability scanners, I recommend TotalAV and Avira. Both of these products will scan, detect, and help you remove files like WinZip Driver Updater and other malware.
There are other ways to keep your computer protected from these types of threats. For example, always keep your software and drivers updated with the latest versions to prevent software exploits. Also, don’t download files from shady sources or click on email links from unknown senders. In addition, you should create strong passwords for your wireless network and Internet of Things (IoT) devices by using a good password manager like Dashlane. And lastly, make sure to protect all of your devices with a comprehensive antivirus.
What does WinZip Driver Updater do?
WinZip Driver Updater tells you that you have out-of-date drivers and then asks you to buy a premium plan to update these drivers — but it’s all a scam. If you want to keep your software up-to-date, many antivirus programs like Avira include software vulnerability scanners — they scan your system for vulnerabilities and even automatically perform updates of your drivers and other software.
How can I remove WinZip Driver Updater?
Removing WinZip Driver Updater is really easy. You can manually uninstall it from your computer by following these steps. However, if WinZip Driver Updater is on your computer, chances are you also have other infections. To make sure your computer is free of malware, buy a good antivirus program like Norton and follow our simple steps to remove any threats from your device.
