Win 10 Tweaker (virus) - Free Instructions

What is Win 10 Tweaker?

Win 10 Tweaker was flagged by 30 security vendors as malicious, so can be considered a PUP

Win 10 Tweaker is a PUP disguised as a handy system optimization tool

Win 10 Tweaker is a potentially unwanted program that says can optimize your system but requires you to disable your anti-malware software. That is unusual behavior for a legitimate program that does not have any malicious intent. It is not clear what specific tasks this software performs on your PC, but you should reconsider having it installed in your system as it was marked by 30 security vendors and 1 sandbox^[1] as either suspicious, malicious, or even a Trojan.

Automatic computer maintenance tools have been at the center of discussion for a long time now. Do they actually do something? Some of them do, and some of them don't. The problem is, it is very hard to find one, that would not do something additionally to clearing up cache. Some of these tools cannot even do that simple task.

Many users swear by optimization tools and say that they notice significant boosts of performance after deploying such software. Security researchers agree that it can be a result of the placebo effect.^[2] People watch the progress bar, they see how much space the app cleared or everything that it repaired – it is a very satisfying process.

Everything you need to know about the Windows registry

Do not mess with it! It is a database of settings for all hardware, software, and user preferences on your computer that controls how Windows interacts with your hardware and applications. Windows continually references the registry in the background and it is not designed to be accessed or edited by everyday users.

Some of these registry cleaning utilities like Win 10 Tweaker, suggest that the registry needs to be maintained regularly and cleaned. However, serious issues can occur when you modify the registry incorrectly. These issues might even lead to users having to reinstall the operating system completely due to instability.

Win 10 Tweaker has many functions that might not be functional after all

Microsoft does not guarantee that these problems can be solved without a reinstallation of the operating system as the extent of the changes made by registry cleaning utilities varies. Microsoft support policy^[3] for the use of registry cleaning utilities states:

Microsoft does not support the use of registry cleaners. Some programs available for free on the internet might contain spyware, adware, or viruses. If you decide to install a registry cleaning utility, be sure to research the product and only download and install programs from publishers that you trust.

A damaged Windows registry can exhibit a range of symptoms including excessive CPU usage, longer startup and shutdown times, poor application functionality, or random crashes and errors. This can lead to data loss due to the system's inability to save data back to the storage location during the occurrence.

The rise of potentially unwanted applications

In recent years, the activity of programs that perform unwanted tasks in the background without the user's knowledge has skyrocketed. Apps like Win 10 Tweaker usually generate profit for their developers by showing ads^[4] or by special features that you need to pay for if you want to use them. Usually, these programs are disguised as “handy” tools that help take care of some kind of problem they cannot fix themselves easily.

You can actually launch The Windows Registry editor by executing “regedit” from the Run menu. The reason why it is made that hard is to keep it hidden from people. It is a way to prevent users who may not know what they are doing from making changes that might break their operating system. Why would you think that it is completely safe for a random app you saw an ad for to do so?

Win 10 Tweaker.exe file has been flagged as malicious in the database

The installation of such programs may not always be voluntary. PUPs are often distributed on unofficial sites that distribute freeware. People rush through the installation process and do not notice the additional programs that are included. That is why it is important to always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, so no steps would be hidden from you. That way you will be able to read the Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy as well as inspect the files up for installation. Untick the boxes next to apps that you do not need.

You can also go to Windows Task Manager to check what processes are running in the background and see if there is anything suspicious.

Shut down unwanted processes

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
2. Click on More details.
   
3. Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
4. Right-click and select Open file location.
   
5. Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
   
6. Delete the contents of the malicious folder.

Check program Startup

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
2. Go to Startup tab.
3. Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
   
   

Ways you can remove malicious applications

Manual removal of PUPs may not always work, as you can uninstall the program itself, but leave some related files behind. That is why we suggest using professional security tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes in this instance. These anti-malware tools will completely eliminate the application with all of its files and registries. If you still want to do this yourself, you can follow the guide below:

Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Repair the damaged operating system

Performance, stability, and usability issues, to the point where a full Windows reinstall is required, are nothing unusual after a virus infection. These types of intruders can alter the Windows registry database, damage vital bootup, and other sections, delete or corrupt DLL files, etc. Once a system file is damaged, antivirus software cannot fix it.

Manual troubleshooting of such damage is also very complicated and can take a long time. This is why FortectIntego was developed. It can fix a lot of the damage caused by an infection like this. Blue Screen errors, freezes, registry errors, damaged DLLs, etc., can make your computer completely unusable. By using this actually useful maintenance tool, not a Win 10 Tweaker PUP, you could prevent yourself from having to reinstall WIndows completely.

• Download the application by clicking on the link above
• Click on the ReimageRepair.exe
  
• If User Account Control (UAC) shows up, select Yes
• Press Install and wait till the program finishes the installation process
• The analysis of your machine will begin immediately
• Once complete, check the results – they will be listed in the Summary
• You can now click on each of the issues and fix them manually
• If you see many problems that you find difficult to fix, we recommend you purchase the license and fix them automatically.

If you experience setting changes in your browsers, like the homepage, new tab address, redirects, or push notifications, you can look for instructions on how to deal with that below this article. Guides are available for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, and Internet Explorer.

You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.