How to remove the winupdates virus

Most antivirus programs identify winupdates.exe as malware, such as Microsoft identifies it as Worm:Win32/Alcan.B, and Kaspersky identifies it as Worm.Win32.VB.an.
The free file information forum can help you find out how to remove it. If you know more about this file, please leave a comment or a hint for other users.

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Winupdates.exe file information

The process known as inno setup or hier8v belongs to software inno setup or Mjuice Components or Acoustica Effects Pack or UnInstall Envy24 Family Audio or nefp1g or MapSource or IconPackager or UnInstall Turtle Beach by inno setup (www.jrsoftware.org).

Description: winupdates.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files". Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 2,379,776 bytes (99% of all occurrences), 69,632 bytes, 2,400,256 bytes or 25,600 bytes.
File winupdates.exe is not a Windows system file. The application starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit). The program has no visible window. winupdates.exe is able to monitor applications and record inputs. Therefore the technical security rating is 55% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.
If you experience any issues with installation of winupdates.exe, you may also uninstall VIA Audio Driver Setup Program or MapSource software via Windows Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows 7/Vista).

Recommended: Identify winupdates.exe related errors

If winupdates.exe is located in the folder C:\Windows, the security rating is 32% dangerous. The file size is 151,552 bytes. The program has a visible window. Winupdates.exe is a file without information about the developer of this file. The program starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Userinit). It is not a Windows core file. winupdates.exe seems to be a compressed file.

External information from Paul Collins:

"Microsoft Office Start" definitely not required. Added by the GAOBOT.BC WORM!

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as winupdates.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the winupdates.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

doesn't seem to bother anything - been on my computer for a long time, hidden folder, 4.0kb, in the folder is a zip file-a.zip. not giving me a problem that I know of

This one is very dangerous, if not stopped immediately it will write itself into your registry, startup programs, rewrite registry entries, duplicate itself into your prefetch folder, write itself into all saved restored points, until it finally restarts computer and blocks all attempts to login, no matter if under normal or any F8 safe mode options. Informed Symantec of seriousness...
Anthony lost computer

can come from downloading and running the setup.exe file in any zip file off of limewire or other P2P network that is 851.7KB. It is known as the W32 Alcra B virus also known as W32/Alcan.worm!p2p It disabled task manager as well as regedit
Julia

This takes up most of the CPU and disables the task manager. I was able to delete winupdate.exe via the link. This doesn't just work for the winupdate.exe virus/spyware file it also gets rid of 99% of other harmful files
Ian Hill (further information)

Harmless system file responsible for keeping windows anti-virus systems updated.
Fred (further information)

creates a file named drsmartload.exe and downloads adware onto your computer and it disables the windows task manager
mike (further information)

this program is part of a worm, it will stop access to your task manager and should be terminated as soon as possible
Michael

while downloading over bittorrent it tries to run a weblink to a modified msconfig.exe and places winupdates.exe in c:\
L0u

More comments can be found here:
(further information)

Summary: Average user rating of winupdates.exe: based on 39 votes with 9 reviews.

1 user think winupdates.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 1 user think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 8 users suspect danger. 29 users think winupdates.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 5 users doesn't grade winupdates.exe ("not sure about it").

Winupdates scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

MalwareBytes detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

SpeedUpMyPC scans, cleans, repairs and optimizes your computer.

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