ThinkPoint is a rogue (fake) antivirus program that is distributed through the use of Microsoft Security Essentials Alert trojan. Important to know, the program is unable to detect or rid your system of parasites nor will be protect you from legitimate future threats. You need to remove ThinkPoint from your computer as quickly as possible!
When started, this malware configures itself to start automatically every time, when your computer loads. Immediately after launch, ThinkPoint starts scanning your computer and list a lot of infections to trick you into thinking your PC in danger. It will report that was able to clean the majority of infected files, but was not able to cure a few important Windows files, such as firefox.exe, taskmgr.exe, iexplore.exe and offer to purchase its full version to clean them. However, the scan results is a scam, because the program can`t detect any infections. So, you may easily ignore all that ThinkPoint will display you.
What is more, while ThinkPoint is running, it will hide your desktop, Start button and Windows taskbar. Moreover, the rogue will also block Windows Task Manager. When you try to run it, this malware will display a security alert that states:
The application taskmgr.exe was launched successfully but it was forced to shut down due to security reasons.
This happened because the application was infected by a malicious program which might pose a threat for the OS.
It is highly recommended to install the necessary heuristic module and perform a full scan of your computer to exterminate malicious programs from it.
As you can see, ThinkPoint is a totally scam, which created with one purpose to scare you into purchasing so-called “full” version of the program. Most important do not purchase it! Please use the removal guide below in order to remove ThinkPoint and any associated malware from your computer for free.
More screen shoots of ThinkPoint
Use the following instructions to remove ThinkPoint
Step 1. Stop ThinkPoint process
Once Windows loaded you will see a window similar to the one below.
Now press CTRL + ALT + DEL. It will open Windows Task manager. Select hotfix.exe process as shown in the screen below.
Click “End Process” button. It will close ThinkPoint.
Now click File, New Task. Type explorer and press Enter. It will back the Start button and task bar.
Step 2. Remove ThinkPoint associated malware
Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Close all programs and Windows on your computer.
Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
Once the program has loaded you will see window similar to the one below.
![malwarebytes-antimalware1 malwarebytes-antimalware1](http://www.myantispyware.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/malwarebytes-antimalware1-500x377.jpg)
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window
Select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan, it will start scanning your computer for ThinkPoint infection. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below. Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.
![ThinkPoint remover](http://www.myantispyware.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/MicrosoftSecurityEssentialsAlert_remover-500x290.jpg)
Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items
Make sure all entries have a checkmark at their far left and click “Remove Selected” button to remove ThinkPoint. MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now remove all of associated ThinkPoint files and registry keys and add them to the programs’ quarantine. When MalwareBytes Anti-malware has finished removing the infection, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.
ThinkPoint removal notes
Note 1: if you can not download, install, run or update Malwarebytes Anti-malware, then follow the steps: Malwarebytes won`t install, run or update – How to fix it.
Note 2: if you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.
Note 3: your current antispyware and antivirus software let the infection through ? Then you may want to consider purchasing the FULL version of MalwareBytes Anti-malware to protect your computer in the future.
ThinkPoint creates the following files and folders
%AppData%\hotfix.exe
%AppData%\{RANDOM}.bat
ThinkPoint creates the following registry keys and values
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PAV
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings | “WarnonBadCertRecving” = “0”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings | “WarnOnPostRedirect” = “0”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon | “Shell” = “%AppData%\hotfix.exe”
This really helped, i tryed safe mode, nd then using avg to remove but never found one file.
The program searched through millions of files in seconds and found 58 infected files and removed brilliantly, my pc is faster and virus free. Thanks Alot Keith Pagan 🙂
Thank you sooooooo much!!! Its awesome
I’m so happy I found this site it helped so much you guys are awesome…all those other sites didn’t work but ur step by step instructions did the trick…thank you
Fantastic Fix! What a headache; it’s what I get for surfing over onto the MSNBC website, where this bug jumped my computer. Malwarebytes gets 5-Stars today and myantispyware.comgets a High-5!
Mahalo!
Thank you so much for this, fantastic!
Thank you so much for posting this – when Think Point started running on my computer – and not letting me open Explorer, I was a little pissed. My laptop is brand new and I couldn’t believe I was already having problems.
This really helped me and eased my mind, finally! I thought I was going to have to have serious work on it and I don’t have money! So this free download is fantastic.
Again, thank you so much –
Much appreciated.
Thank you so much. This was a big help. I was so upset when thinkpoint took over my computer I had malwarebyte downloaded on my computer but was unable to remove the virus. Your step was right on the money. Great website.
It worked fine. I was also infected by THINKPOINT today and was searching multiple websites.
Thanks to myantispyware.com for the step by step insturctions which was not available anywhere else in any popular websites. And thanks to malwarebytes too.
I fully believe the makers of Mallwarebytes and thinkpoint virus are in bed together. You cant have one without the other either to fix it or gain info about it. I have also forwarded my suspicions to the US Attorney General.
At the point where you should be able to open explorer.exe i cant since i am not having the correct rights(?) Eventhough i only have this one account and i logged in with it.
WHAT CAN I DO???
This worked very well, thank you for the help! My dad was freaking out lol.
How do I get right of this spyware when it wont allow me to access my explorer and its disabled my task ? I’m really hacked off with this, I thought my McAfee was supposed to protect me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You Thank You Thank You. I got taken in by the official looking Thinkpoint logo and after multiple sites and downloads yours was the only one that worked, and was free. I will definitely be looking into purchasing your products!!!
Thank you for placing the free removal information. Thinkpoint was really making me angry. After following your easy step by step instructions I also bought the product. Many thanks…Patrick / The Bahamas
It did work, but how long will it last? Thanks for getting rid of thinkpoint.
steffi and Olly, what shows your PC when you trying to run explorer ?
i heb alles gedaan, maar ik kan explorer.exe niet openen omdat ik daar geen machteging voor heb, terwijl ik maar 1 account heb. plz help me!!!! jeffrey
thank you. the video was easy to follow . i talked my 13 yr old through the process over the phone and it worked. i will definitely be buying you product when i get home.
Did it and THINKPOINT still there after restart! What now?
awesome, highly recomended man, thank you very much
I had been looking for 3 days to get rid of the lousy Thinkpoint virus, and as I followed your instructions, it was as good as gone. Thank you so much, my laptop is as good as new!
I echo everyone else’s comments. You provided a great service by posting this VERY helpful information. Thank you so much.
Pete and jeffrey, start a new topic in our Spyware removal forum. I will help you to remove this malware.
This didn’t work. At all.
I’m getting the same problem as Steffi and Olly. When I try to run explorer from the task manager I get a message claiming I do not have the rights. I shall try tonight to download malwarebytes onto a USB dongle from a clean computer, and run that from task manager. I don’t hold out much hope for this, though, as it appears all executable files are being blocked.
Rory, try the following:
1. Open task manager and stop hotfix.exe process
2. Click File, New task.
3. Click browse, open disk C, Program Files, Internet Explorer, IExplore (or iexplore.exe)
4. Click OK.
5. It will run Internet Explorer.
6. Download Malwarebytes from myantispyware.com/mbam
7. Install Malwarebytes and perform a scan.
8 Remove all what it found.
Thank you so much! You’re information & video should be named “ThinkPoint Removal for Dummies” because I’m definitely a dummy when it comes to some stuff like this. But I was able to get it removed & clean up some other junk, too. Thanks again!
It totally works!!!!!!!!! I had some problems but I take some time and try to find a solution and finally I found it.. you guys have the answers
THANKS A LOT!!
y el video en youtube es lo maximo! muchas gracias! salvo mi computadora 🙂 si funciona!!!!! y si aparece un problema, te dan las opciones de lo que puedes hacer para corregirlo
I’m so happy!!!
Phenomenal! Thanks!!
I’m still getting the error message:
“Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.”
This message appears with any executable file I try to run, even when running mbam from a clean USB dongle.
Time to resort to formatting, I believe!
Thanks for all the help, anyhow!