XLocator

Overview

XLocator, also known as Winlocator, is an Internet Explorer search toolbar with pornographic content. Usually installed when visiting adult sites.

From the vendor: Downloading or installing these ad-supported software applications requires acceptance of these Terms and Conditions authorizeswhich allows IWI to download and install the 'XLOCATORsm AdServer' software, which delivers 'XLOCATOR' branded advertising, software, and various informational or promotional messages to computer screens while users view Internet Web pages ('XLOCATOR Ads'), and is a prerequisite to downloading or installing these ad-supported software applications.. Without collecting ANY personally identifying information, tThe XLOCATOR AdServer uses the computer usage patterns and web browsing history (including the URLs of visited Web sites) of anonymous computer users to determine their likely interests in order to select appropriate XLOCATOR Ads to display on users' computer screens. Please note that advertisements displayed on users' screens Such ads may promote IWI's advertising clients, products or companies who may directly compete with the publishers of Web pages you may be viewing, or may have recently viewed, when such ads appear. identifies the interests of anonymous computer users based on their computer usage and web surfing behavior, including the URLs of Web pages viewed by users and other criteria but which does not collect ANY personally identifying information. The XLOCATOR AdServer displays XLOCATOR Ads on computer screens on behalf of IWI's advertising clients and not on behalf of the Web site the user may be viewing when the ad appears. IWI's advertising clients may be competitors of the publishers whose Web pages users may be viewing, or may have recently viewed. Source

Classification

Adware

Files

winlocator.dll, winlocatorhelper.dll, updatewinlocator.exe

If you have any of the files related to XLocator 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 XLocator software. Thank you very much for your time!

Vendor

XLocator.com

End User License Agreement

2003-11-19

Privacy policy

No privacy policy available

Detection

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

Uninstall procedure

Uninstall XLocator from "Add/Remove Programs" in the Windows® Control Panel. Look for two entries called 'Enhance' and 'XLocator'. If you run into problems uninstalling, please contact the vendor for support.

Uninstall XLocator 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 XLocator. 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 XLocator 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 XLocator remains on your system after stepping through the removal instructions, please double-check by stepping through them again.

1. 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.)
2. Delete 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Classes \ CLSID \ {8F0D6EED-BC11-4E7F-8276-9748947E4A50}\', if it exists.
3. Delete 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer \ Toolbar \ {8F0D6EED-BC11-4E7F-8276-9748947E4A50}', if it exists.
4. Delete 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Shell Extensions \ Approved \ {8F0D6EED-BC11-4E7F-8276-9748947E4A50}', if it exists.
5. Delete 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Classes \ CLSID \ {89AEAB46-8E8A-4045-9003-5614BFBFE90B}', if it exists.
6. Delete 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer\Browser Helper Objects \ {89AEAB46-8E8A-4045-9003-5614BFBFE90B}', if it exists.
7. Delete 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Shell Extensions \ Approved \ {89AEAB46-8E8A-4045-9003-5614BFBFE90B}', if it exists.
8. Exit the registry editor.
9. Restart your computer.
10. Delete the following files:
    %SystemDir%\winlocator.dll
    %SystemDir%\winlocatorhelper.dll
    %WinDir%\updatewinlocator.exe
    Note: %SystemDir% is a variable (?). By default, this is C:\Windows\System (Windows 95/98/Me), C:\WINNT\System32 (Windows NT/2000), or C:\Windows\System32 (Windows XP).
    Note: %WinDir% is a variable (?). By default, this is C:\Windows (Windows 95/98/Me/XP) or C:\WINNT (Windows NT/2000).

Problems uninstalling? Click here.

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Contact information for XLocator's vendor

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