Do NOT trust WinZix and the .zix file format
I’ve learned something important today, and that is never to trust the .zix file format. It is a fake format developed by a bunch of scammers under the name “WinZix”. It claims to be a super-efficient compression utility, but functions as nothing more than a file container – it doesn’t compress files one bit. It instead, loads a large party of spyware and malware on your system.
They often create garbage files (mostly AVIs) and upload them to torrent trackers, with the files neatly packed in a .zix file. First off, look for the .zix format in the files and comments for the file you are about to download. Abort immediately if a .zix file is present. While there is still a chance of the file inside being valid, you’ll do better without it.
I’ve found UnZixWin to be the most helpful so far. Its latest version, 0.0.9 also allows you to open up version 2 files, so it’s the most up-to-date, in a way. There’s also a chance that the AVI file will be “encoded” in a special video format that only a player named 3wplayer can read. That player is filled with as much crap as WinZix. UnZixWin seems to do a good job of clearing up the AVI file as well.
Most importantly, avoid the format from the start. If you see anyone using it, tell them to stop it (unless it’s perpetrated by WinZix themselves – in such cases, it should be fairly obvious. Do not seed torrents with .zix files in them. You will be doing more harm to the community than good.
the internet is full of greedy ****bags trying to steal our money in any way !!!! i understand if company’s that create software want to charge us , but if it’s stolen software of movies that’s just not right charging people !!!! **** YOU “DOMPLAYER”
November 28, 2007 at 4:31 pm
the fix for ZIX http://www.kennethsorling.se/scams/zix_file_format.htm
December 17, 2007 at 10:45 pm
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cheers for the heads up Norton caught this shit b4 it could do anything harmful
January 23, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Thanks, for the heads up, I was a bit suspicious when I downloaded a torrent and it had a few exe’s and a winzix file contained in the rar file, but you’ve confirmed it for me….Cheers!!
Eoin
March 11, 2008 at 1:26 am
Yup its all crap inside a zix file just wasted half a day downloading one stay away from zix file its all garbage.
March 25, 2008 at 3:35 am
I was just searching for WinZix today, when I ran into this. It did seem a little fishy, an obvious rip-off.
June 21, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Thank god for Windows defender,NOD didnt give shit
July 27, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Well I slightly have to agree Win-Def picked it up but only because of me installing it boy was i pretty pissed when i read this nowwww only how to get rid of it……wipe and reformat my HD……..or hey why not just “00″ it out sounds fun we will see!
October 25, 2009 at 4:45 am
thank you for the info
October 14, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Really made me suspicious when a software I was gonna download notified me that I needed “WinZix” to open it. Luckily I searched the net for info bout WinZix before downloading it.
October 26, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Gah I hate this program! Found some more info here 2 http://dotwhat.net/zix/8674/ . What do I do now, this zix program should be banned!
November 4, 2008 at 7:22 pm
yup its fake ..i isntaled sooooooooooo many virusesss norton kikd asss that day….
November 12, 2008 at 3:38 am
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Look:- http://forums.techarena.in/windows-update/1108316.htm
May 8, 2009 at 4:55 am
I was searching for the winzix when i found this article .
Thank you for ur info (about torrents too)
May 24, 2009 at 10:20 am
thankx dudes, i was just gng to download the winzix player until i came across here. many thankx.
May 29, 2009 at 10:17 am
i have downloaded 9 in one window torrent it says for winzix and had a web link i downloaded.
later on kaspersky starts shouting, winzix says its ok .i foolishly trust zix and pause protection like a dumb fool ,then i came to know that this is bomb planted in my pc. i think it gives all of my information to them all the time ,even my internet connection speed is halfed
really exactly halfed
BUT I SAVED MYSELF USING ACRONIS TO ALL PEOPLE I WANT TO SAY KIK ASSSS OF THIS ZIX CROWD
THESE ARE BUNCH OF THEIVES
July 5, 2009 at 12:38 am
thanks a lot …..
July 10, 2009 at 2:46 pm
thanks alot for the info although mine avg has got that ball bstard on time cheers to avg
September 6, 2009 at 10:10 am
Thanks Dude,
I just completed a clean system install, d/l a crappy torrent, got a little suss with a *Zix.exe setup prog inside the rar.
My spidy senses went off, no one likes double dipping.
Thanks for setting it straight.
CHAMPION !!!
September 15, 2009 at 1:32 am
Well, there goes my chances of using YouTube Freezer. XD
September 20, 2009 at 11:54 pm
thanks man .. it was really helpful
October 24, 2009 at 8:51 am
thaaanks dude
December 10, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Tks guys,
I ‘ve downloaded winzix and my antivirus software kicked it out.
January 6, 2010 at 11:15 am
I’ve read this blog after installing and using WinZix.
What’s important to note is that WinZix will not be able to install other software into your computer (other than the bogus WinZix itself) if your antivirus and firewall works as they should. (i.e. monitoring and blocking incoming and outgoing connections etc.) During installation, somewhere in the end, it will try to access a site somewhat like network.winzix.com. This is the time the WinZix installer downloads other crap. Thankfully the connection was blocked by my system and the installation registered an incomplete setup, however the WinZix program works as it should and I was able to extract whatever file I need to process. Found this out to my friend’s expense. LOL
February 21, 2010 at 6:40 pm
No AV program is 100%. While the proggies are important, common sense is the best chance you’ve got. I was looking for a FB hack and ran into one that required you to download WinZix. The links to the hack and to the file to decompress it were the same. Looked to much like a scam to me so I did some research.
Thanks for the info, but now I’m curious and am looking for that WinXP VM I’ve got somewhere.
April 20, 2010 at 9:26 am
here are some other informations about ZIX http://www.file-extensions.org/zix-file-extension-winzix-compressed-archive-file
April 21, 2010 at 4:08 pm
what a bunch of cunts winzix sucks ass
May 19, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Confirmed I used it… Panda cloud is raping it off of my system as we speak!
May 29, 2010 at 10:37 am
DO NOT USE FILES WITH .ZIX EXTENSION ,,,THOSE ARE FULL OF VIRUS DROPPER PROGRAMS
June 10, 2010 at 12:07 pm
NOD 32 stopped this before downloading.
Thanks!
Do not download this stupid program!
June 19, 2010 at 1:59 am
thanks for help…i had downloaded a game and found .zix file..and while about to search in internet i found your article which helped me most…to take care of my lap…once again thanks for your article….
http://www.harriernet.wordpress.com
July 11, 2010 at 4:05 pm
thanks for your info…
very nice man!
January 6, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Hey, The official WinZix Site has some user reviews, but I can’t find any “LEAVE A REPLY” section!! Hahaha then how were these people able to give their reviews? are they VIPS??? Hahaha… Winzix developers may have that brain to create such a virus, but they made that mistake which consolidated the fact that they are fake!
April 27, 2011 at 3:03 pm
i ve downloaded winzix.and also had 3 antivirus progrms avg norton and kaspersky.3 of the showed MORE THAN 50 Alerts SO PLS DONT DOWNLOAD WINZIX and the.zix files Ive found a scary fact.winzix is both A MALWARE INJECTOR AND A PASSWORd and A CREDIT CARD number stealer(lost 500.00$)
May 22, 2011 at 6:22 pm
AND by the way thnx | |
_
May 28, 2011 at 1:34 pm
hey yes Adnan is right u know that program IS A FULL OF SHITTING VIRUSUS TRYING TO STEAL MY SHITTING MONEY
June 1, 2011 at 2:12 pm