WinPatrol is an all-purpose utility designed to increase the performance and usability of your computer. It allows you to get a better understanding of what programs are being added to your computer. It monitors important system areas that are commonly altered by many malicious programs. This includes the startup groups (registry and startup folder), cookies and active tasks. You can terminate processes and enable or disable startup programs. The cookie monitoring option allows you to automatically delete cookies based on a keyword found in the cookie name. Additional features include a WHOIS lookup tool and an option to alert you on changes. WinPatrol is easy to understand, yet quiet powerful. It’s FREE and has been assisting computer users for over ten years.

WinPatrol PLUS

WinPatrol also has a stand-alone version of WinPatrol Explorer which can run from a USB flash drive or other portable device without leaving any left over files or registry entries on the computer being optimized. If you’re someone who frequently needs to help family and friends, this program is for you! Just download directly to your USB Flash or other portable device. Even if you don’t use WinPatrol, you’ll want this version in your utility toolbox.

WinPatrol Features:

  • Detect and Review New Auto-Startup Programs
  • Automatically Disable Reoccuring Startup Programs
  • Monitor BHO’s and Tool Bars
  • Monitor Creation of Scheduled Tasks
  • Display and Kill Multiple Running Tasks
  • Monitor, Stop and Control Window Services
  • Manage and Automatically Remove Unwanted Cookies
  • Monitor IE Home and Search pages
  • Monitor and Edit HOST File
  • Detect and Lock Changes to File Type Associations
  • Detect and View Newly Created Hidden Files
  • Track Date/Time when programs are first detected on your system
  • Delay Auto-Startup programs for quick bootup
  • Multiple System Report Options
  • Undocumented or HIDDEN Registry Startup Keys
  • Access to WinPatrol PLUS Knowledgebase – PLUS version only
  • Real-time Infiltration Detection – PLUS version only

    • The PLUS version of WinPatrol that cost $29.95 gives your computer real-time infiltration detection and also access to WinPatrol PLUS knowledgebase which is available online 24/7. I manage to find a valid pirated Registration Name and Code that is able to upgrade the WinPatrol to PLUS. Activating WinPatrol PLUS requires online activation and I am sure that the key will be blacklisted sooner or later. The knowledgebase is very useful because it gives us very detailed information about the process for mere humans to read, not just computer geeks. Some of the process information even contains links and program tips that might be useful.

    If you cannot afford the PLUS version of WinPatrol, here is a trick on how to view the PLUS info for a process. The below example is to view the PLUS info for iexplorer.exe (Internet Explorer). If you want to check for another process, simply replace iexplore and iexplore.exe (in bold) with the process that you want to check.

    http://www.winpatrol.com/db/plus2007/iexplore.html?iexplore.exe&1

    As for WinPatrol’s Real-time Infiltration Detection (R.I.D.) technology, the only way to get it working is to activate the PLUS version. Honestly, I would rather use the free version of WinPatrol and spend $24.95 on BitDefender Antivirus 2008 or Avira AntiVir Premium at $29.52 or Rising Antivirus 2008 at $29.95 rather than $29.95 on WinPatrol PLUS. The big difference is antivirus programs are subscription based and you’ll need to renew every year but as for WinPatrol, you only need to pay once.

    The knowledgebase is good but not the best solution because it only checks the process name and not MD5 hash like what RunScanner does. A good trojan developer can easily code an undetectable version of trojan and injects itself into a legitimate process name. I tried infecting my test computer with an old trojan (bifrost) that is no longer in development and WinPatrol PLUS immediately detects a new auto startup program. I removed the auto start up entry and also killed the process (iexplore.exe) that has been injected by the trojan. Rebooted the computer and the trojan infects the computer all over again. I was unable to remove the trojan with WinPatrol…

    Pros: Small, easy to use, knowledgebase is easy to understand, better than HijackThis.
    Cons: PLUS version over priced, doesn’t check for MD5 hash in knowledgebase, unable to completely remove Bifrost trojan.

    [ Download WinPatrol 2008 Install Edition | USB Flash Edition ]

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