QwikLinx

Posted: February 19, 2014

Threat Metric

The Threat Meter is a malware assessment that SpywareRemove.com's research team is able to give every identifiable malware threat. Our Threat Meter includes several criteria based off of specific malware threats to value their severity, reach and volume. The Threat Meter is able to give you a numerical breakdown of each threat's initial Threat Level, Detection Count, Volume Count, Trend Path and Percentage Impact. The overall ranking of each threat in the Threat Meter is a basic breakdown of how all threats are ranked within our own extensive malware database. The scoring for each specific malware threat can be easily compared to other emerging threats to draw a contrast in its particular severity. The Threat Meter is a useful tool in the endeavor of seeking a solution to remove a threat or pursue additional analytical research for all types of computer users.

The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:

Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.

Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.

Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.

Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.

% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.

Threat Level:	1/10
Infected PCs:	47

First Seen:	February 19, 2014
Last Seen:	October 14, 2022
OS(es) Affected:	Windows

QwikLinx is a Potentially Unwanted Program with features for displaying its search engine, along with advertisements, in arbitrary Web pages. While QwikLinx may claim that its features are for your personal benefit, malware experts find more security issues than advantages to be had from QwikLinx, and deleting QwikLinx always should be considered. As with most adware, QwikLinx sometimes is installed through a series of freely-distributed bundles, wherein QwikLinx may 'piggyback' off of another program's installer. General Web-browsing security should be taken into account for preventing QwikLinx from being placed on your computer when you're uninterested in what QwikLinx has to offer.

When the Web Links are Coming Too Quickly

QwikLinx is an adware add-on that specializes in providing advertisements on sites that weren't necessarily designed with them in mind. QwikLinx accomplishes this by injecting additional hyperlink content into the text of any Web pages loaded by your browser. The result, as confirmed by malware researchers, is another case of repetitive 'underlined' words that, when clicked, provide pop-ups for QwikLinx's search engine and/or advertising affiliates.

QwikLinx's text hyperlinks or inline text advertisements, as they're often known, aren't intended to be harmful to your PC. However, malware researchers rarely find adware with rigorous security protocols for vetting out compromised advertisements, and allowing QwikLinx to stay on your browser may cause security issues such as phishing attempts targeting your privileged information. There are no meaningful benefits to QwikLinx's advertisements, and its search results, likewise, are of dubious quality compared to those of a reputable search engine.

Separating Your Browser from a Web of QwikLinx Hyperlinks

QwikLinx includes versions for most Windows browsers, and malware researchers verified that QwikLinx is compatible with the most recent versions of Windows OS', as well. Its installation flexibility also has extended to its distribution techniques, which may include being bundled with unrelated software. Installing software from sources with adware-rich histories, such as poor freeware sites or torrent networks, is a particularly easy way to get your browser modified by QwikLinx – or other PC threat.

Detaching your favorite browser from QwikLinx's hyperlink additions should use anti-malware products with proven reputations versus PUPs like QwikLinx, and similar adware. Since normal uninstall routines have a tendency to fail at deleting all browser modifications associated with these unwanted add-ons, the use of non-software-based deletion methods for QwikLinx is discouraged, for your safety. You always should attempt to remove QwikLinx and other adware, rather than block the symptoms of their functions, such as hyperlinks and other, common changes, such as homepage hijacks.

Although avoiding sites and other download sources that more likely than not install adware is wise, it may be the case to take extra steps to keep QwikLinx out of your PC, in some cases. Scanning suspicious installer files could save you the trouble of dealing with QwikLinx, and particular care should be taken around archives and other formats often exploited by unscrupulous persons.

Technical Details

File System Modifications

Tutorials: If you wish to learn how to remove malware components manually, you can read the tutorials on how to find malware, kill unwanted processes, remove malicious DLLs and delete other harmful files. Always be sure to back up your PC before making any changes.

The following files were created in the system:

unins000.exe

File name: unins000.exe
File type: Executable File
Mime Type: unknown/exe
Group: Malware file

Additional Information

The following URL's were detected:

Qwiklinx.net