WinAdTools

Overview

WinAdTools as a variant of SyncoAd.

The following is the vendor description's of the software: "Windows AdTools is free ad delivery software which provides targeted advertising offers. You downloaded Windows AdTools from a Website that is able to offer its content for free because it shows the Windows AdTools ActiveX popup. The Wind Update program is installed only once the user has agreed to do so by clicking on "yes". Through the ActiveX, the user can review the license terms and privacy policy before installing the software. Each and every distributor is carefully reviewed to make sure that their distribution techniques abide by a strict code of conduct."

WinAdTools is according to the vendor bundled with other software products: "If you do not remember having seen an ActiveX prompt, you might have downloaded Windows AdTools from a popular free software product (screensavers, games, file sharing software, etc.). Users always will have to opt-in before installing the Windows AdTools software.". WinAdTools is bundled with other software products that may not function if you remove WinAdTools: "Windows AdTools supports many free software products through its advertising relevancy technology. If you remove Windows AdTools from your system, certain free software that you installed may no longer function properly and you may have to reinstall them from a backup. If you are sure that you want to remove Windows AdTools from your computer just follow these two easy steps: 1) Click Start -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs 2) Scroll to Windows AdTools and click Remove "

The WinAdTools end user license agreement states that you have to abide the license agreement of four potentially unwanted applications: "You also specifically agree to abide by the Software Licensing Agreement and Terms and Conditions of Golden Palace.com, n-CASE Privacy Policy, BetterInternet End User License Agreement and Bargain Buddy License Agreement."

Classification

Adware

Files

WINSERVAD.EXE, WinCtlAd.exe, WinAdTools.exe, WinRatchet.exe, WinWrench.dll, info.txt, WinAdServ.exe, WinTaskAd.exe, WinSched.exe, Winad.exe

If you have any of the files related to WinAdTools on your system, please send them for additional analysis. Generally, I have only analysed a few versions for each software component listed at this web site. With your help I will be able to look at both old and more recent versions of the WinAdTools software. Thank you very much for your time!

End User License Agreement

2004-11-11

Vendor

windupdates.com whois_cache whois

Detection

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner detects WinAdTools. Bazooka is freeware and detects spyware, adware, foistware, trojan horses, viruses, worms and other potentially unwanted applications. Read more »

Uninstall procedure

Uninstall WinAdTools from "Add/Remove Programs" in the Windows® Control Panel. Look for an entry called "DeskAd Service", "Windows ServeAd", "Windows AdTools", "Windows AdService", "Windows ControlAd", "Winad Client" or "Windows TaskAd".

Uninstall WinAdTools with FreeFixer

I'm working on a general purpose tool for removing unwanted software. The tool is called FreeFixer and can help you remove unwanted Browser Helper Objects, Internet Explorer toolbars and software that starts automatically when you reboot your computer, so it can offer some assistance while uninstalling WinAdTools. The manual removal instructions listed below will help you to identify what to delete with FreeFixer.

Read more about FreeFixer.

Manual removal

Please follow the instructions below if you would like to remove WinAdTools manually. Please notice that you must follow the instructions very carefully and delete everything that is mentioned. In most cases the removal will fail if one single item is not deleted. If WinAdTools remains on your system after stepping through the removal instructions, please double-check by stepping through them again.

1. Start your computer in safe mode.
2. Start the registry editor. This is done by clicking Start then Run. (The Run dialog will appear.) Type regedit and click OK. (The registry editor will open.)
3. Browse to the key:
   'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Run'
4. In the right pane, delete the values called 'DeskAd Service', 'Windows ServeAd', 'Windows ControlAd', 'Windows AdTools', 'Windows AdService', 'Winad Client' and 'Windows TaskAd', if they exists.
5. Exit the registry editor.
6. Start Windows Explorer and delete:
   %ProgramsDir%\DeskAd Service\
   %ProgramsDir%\WINDOWS SERVEAD\
   %ProgramsDir%\Windows ControlAd\
   %ProgramsDir%\Windows AdTools\
   %ProgramsDir%\Windows AdService\
   %ProgramsDir%\Windows TaskAd\
   %ProgramsDir%\Winad Client\
   Note: %ProgramsDir% is a variable (?). By default, this is C:\Program Files.

Problems uninstalling? Click here.

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Contact information for WinAdTools's vendor

In order to provide correct, accurate and updated information about WinAdTools I encourage the vendor to contact me if any part of this write-up needs a revision.