subject: What Is The Rogue AntiSpyware Program ThinkPoint and What Does It Do? [print this page] What Is The Rogue AntiSpyware Program ThinkPoint and What Does It Do?
Is your computer being bombarded with pesky security alerts and pop-ups? As a result, are you getting frequent recommendations to purchase ThinkPoint? If you answered yes to both questions then you have been infected with the "trial version" of ThinkPoint. As much as ThinkPoint presents itself as a legitimate anti-spyware it is nothing other than a malicious program that will do more damage to your computer than good.
What is ThinkPoint and what does it do?
ThinkPoint is a rogue anti-spyware application created to swindle unsuspecting users out of their money. On entering a computer system, ThinkPoint will simulate a fake system scan where it will automatically report the detection of numerous malware infections. Then, in order to alarm the user even more, a number of bogus security alerts and pop-up warnings will also be displayed. All of this is done to scare the user into believing that his/her system is infected and then coerce the user into purchasing the "full version" of ThinkPoint to remove all the threats.
Of course, all the security notifications displayed by ThinkPoint are fabricated and you are better off just ignoring them. Additionally, ThinkPoint will also disable certain security software, disable Task Manager or Registry Editor and hijack your browser causing you to be redirected to malicious websites.
How does your computer get infected with ThinkPoint?
ThinkPoint typically spreads via computer Trojans (a type of dangerous computer parasite that can install itself without a computer user's knowledge). These Trojans can be disguised as legitimate elements such downloadable videos, plug-ins or e-mail attachments. ThinkPoint can also enter a computer system via drive-by downloads or the exploitation of system vulnerabilities.
How do you remove ThinkPoint?
ThinkPoint can be removed manually, however it is not recommended if you are not computer savvy. The manual removal process is a tedious one that requires a good knowledge of your system directories as well as the system registry. Remember, just one mistake and you can mess up your whole system. ThinkPoint can also be removed automatically with legitimate security applications. All in all, ensuring that your computer is always protected with an up-to-date security program will help you avoid getting infected with rogueware such as ThinkPoint.