STOPzilla FAQs

Due to STOPzilla's new and unique AntiVirus technology, it is able to load and scan your computer faster, detect and remove a wide range of computer related threats, and enforce True Real-time protection to block a large number of complex online threats. STOPzilla AntiVirus uses minimal system resources, giving you a pleasant experience that does not slow down your computer while you carry on your day-to-day computer related tasks.

If you lost the Key originally provided to you when you activated the product previously, contact support and a helpful STOPzilla team member will promptly retrieve your lost key.

It is assumed that you have already downloaded the Trial Version of STOPzilla AntiVirus from the STOPzilla Web site and purchased the product. If not, please download STOPzilla AntiVirus now, and then follow the instructions on your screen.

When you purchase STOPzilla AntiVirus, a message is displayed with your order number, indicating that you have purchased STOPzilla AntiVirus successfully. This means that your Activation Key will be emailed to you within minutes. When you receive your Activation Key, right-click on the SZ System tray icon in the lower right corner of your screen. From the main menu, select Activate STOPzilla. Enter your Activation Key in the appropriate field and click ACTIVATE NOW. You're done!

When you purchased STOPzilla AntiVirus, you bought a one-year subscription for one computer (or more, if you purchased a bulk license.) STOPzilla AntiVirus will allow you to activate only as many copies as you have purchased.

If you have removed STOPzilla AntiVirus and need to reinstall it, purchased a new computer, or had your old computer reformatted, you will need to have your account reset. Click here to send us an email indicating that you have reached your activation limit. Your account will be reset immediately.

If you wish to protect your additional computers with STOPzilla AntiVirus, you can purchase additional licenses at a big discount. To get a quote, please email us and indicate the number of additional licenses you need and a representative will contact you.

Upgrades are new releases (versions) of STOPzilla AntiVirus. Unlike definition updates, which are enhancements that allow STOPzilla AntiVirus to detect new infections, upgrades include major changes in functionality. When you purchase STOPzilla AntiVirus, you are entitled to all definition updates and upgrades for one year, at no additional cost.

STOPzilla will automatically notify you if an upgrade is available. You can also choose to update the product manually. Right-click on the SZ System tray icon in the lower right corner of your screen. From the main menu, select Check for Updates.

You can install STOPzilla AntiVirus on your computer by downloading it directly from the homepage of the STOPzilla website. By default, the system downloads the trial version of the product. If you already have an Activation Key, you can activate STOPzilla AntiVirus once the trial version is installed.

Click here to download STOPzilla AntiVirus

IMPORTANT: Your Activation Key is a string of numbers and letters that is associated with your e-mail address. Be sure to provide your correct e-mail address. When entering your Activation Key, remember that it is case-sensitive. If you see an uppercase letter (ABC), type an uppercase letter, not a lowercase letter (abc).

First, make sure that you are running the latest definitions of STOPzilla AntiVirus. Double-click the SZ system tray icon in the lower right corner of your screen. By default, STOPzilla AntiVirus opens to the Home console. In the lower right corner of the Home console, click Check for Updates to launch the Updater. Follow the instructions in the Updater dialog.

If you reformat your computer or buy a new one, you will need to install STOPzilla AntiVirus again. As long as your subscription is valid, you can remove and install STOPzilla AntiVirus as often as necessary. First, download STOPzilla AntiVirus. Then, activate the product with your Activation Key (STOPzilla AntiVirus will prompt you to activate the product each time you start your computer). If you have your Activation Key, click ENTER ACTIVATION KEY and follow the directions.

You can remove STOPzilla AntiVirus from your computer just as you would any other software application. To remove STOPzilla AntiVirus from your system:

• Ensure that no programs are running. Shut down all Internet Explorer browsers.
• If you are using Windows XP: Click Start in the lower left corner of your screen. From the Start menu, select Control Panel. From the Control Panel menu, select Add or Remove Programs.
• Select STOPzilla from the list of programs in the Add or Remove Programs dialog. Click Remove.
• Follow the on-screen prompts until finished.
• If you are using Windows Vista: Click the Start icon in the lower left corner of your screen. From the Start menu, select Control Panel. From the Control Panel menu, select Programs. From the Programs menu, select Uninstall a Program.
• Select STOPzilla from the list of programs in the Add or Remove Programs dialog. Click Remove.
• Follow the on-screen prompts until finished.

STOPzilla AntiVirus can be reinstalled by downloading from the STOPzilla Web site.

Click here to download STOPzilla AntiVirus

STOPzilla AntiVirus will install and download the latest definition updates. Once the updates are fully applied, the program will then request a complete system reboot. STOPzilla's real-time protection is activated at this time as well. Any active malware will immediately be quarantined and rendered useless and safe.

STOPzilla AntiVirus then prepares the machine for scanning by optimizing and clearing system cache and other junk files. From there a full system scan is automatically launched. STOPzilla scans system files, folders, registry, memory, processes, services, drivers and any other location that malware likes to hide. Once the scan is complete STOPzilla AntiVirus will then display the results of what was discovered within the real-time process plus the full scan results.

Please note that the location found field within the scan results screen only shows where STOPzilla AntiVirus found the active infection. It does not report its current location. If the infection item was active then STOPzilla AntiVirus will move that malicious file from that found location and into quarantine automatically.

The trial version of STOPzilla AntiVirus includes powerful real-time protection that will kill and quarantine any detected active malware. Malicious malware that is active will be rendered useless by STOPzilla AntiVirus and will be moved into the quarantined folder and encrypted. Real-time protection is very effective at preventing infections but if you are already infected a full scan needs to be performed to fully diagnose the machine.

The trial version of STOPzilla AntiVirus does not include full infection removal capabilities. Real-time protection will quarantine any infections detected by our Active Enforcers during the trial but to fully clean your machine, you must become a STOPzilla subscriber.

No. Infections within the STOPzilla quarantine will remain in harmless state and useless even after the trial is exhausted.

If STOPzilla AntiVirus detects active malware using the real-time protection functionality, the file in question is altered by STOPzilla AntiVirus to render it useless and safe. This altered file is moved into the quarantine folder and encrypted. If a safe file was mistakenly quarantined, known as a false positive in the security industry, then the user has the ability to restore that file back to its original state. After 30 days STOPzilla AntiVirus will purge the files in quarantine.

STOPzilla will protect you from threats in real-time and notify you of any infections as they are detected. If there are any unresolved infections, STOPzilla will notify you when your computer first starts up. You can disable this option but if there are unresolved infections you should really remove them as soon as possible.

STOPzilla is preconfigured to scan your machine on a regular schedule to ensure it remains as clean as possible. On the server side, our automated systems are constantly collecting and analyzing new malware samples. We send our researchers home at night but our research systems never sleep. New infections spread quickly and we always want to ensure that our customers are protected as quickly as possible.

The research team strives to release new definition updates once a day, sometimes more than once. It all depends on the malware findings that day. The more we discover, the more we update.

Historically, STOPzilla releases a binary upgrade approximately every two months. An upgrade could comprise of new malware fighting technology, application bug fixes, and new features. There is no additional charge for new upgrades during your subscription.

Given the current threat landscape, this is a completely fair and legitimate question. Fake or "rogue" security programs are one of the most prevalent types of malware being distributed on the internet. These programs masquerade as legitimate security products but instead of providing real protection, they simply flag any and all programs on your machine as a threat and hold your computer for ransom until you give them your credit card number.

STOPzilla is not a fake security program. We have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and have received several awards and recognitions over the years. We have been in the business of fighting online threats since 2002 and are obsessively dedicated to protecting our loyal customer base to the best of our ability.

However, false positives are a byproduct of the industry we are in. We try to update our definitions as quickly as possible to ensure the best protection and sometimes a legitimate file may be targeted in error. It is never an attempt to maliciously fake an infection. We have uploaded thousands and thousands of legitimate programs into our research system to prevent this from happening.

If you feel STOPzilla has flagged a file in error, we want to know about it. Please submit a report our research department with the details and we will address it as soon as possible.

The STOPzilla Safety Network collects and transmits certain scenarios where malware is impacting STOPzilla performance. It also records any circumstances where STOPzilla failed to operate properly. This debugging recording helps ensure quality and performance. Learn more about the STOPzilla Safety Network here.

STOPzilla AntiVirus is fully customizable and is in your complete control. STOPzilla gives you the ability to determine how and when it should run. You can toggle between settings, set scheduled scans and alter STOPzilla's scan locations very easily plus much more. Use STOPzilla's functionality at your complete discretion and consent.

Fighting malware on a daily basis requires a tremendous amount of infrastructure and human resources. Tens of thousands of lines of new malicious code are released on the web on a daily basis. It is our job to discover and protect our subscribers from these new threats. STOPzilla has made significant investments to develop state-of-the-art malware research and analysis tools. In addition, our dedicated research staff is loaded with extremely talented individuals who have devoted their careers to the fight against malware.

This dedication and investment allows STOPzilla to constantly update the application on almost daily basis. Our staff pushes out targets constantly ensuring that with STOPzilla installed, you are always protected from the latest threats.

STOPzilla's Auto Renewal Program is a service designed for your convenience that ensures your computer protection is always active, up-to-date and will never lapse or expire. When this program is active on your account, STOPzilla will automatically renew your subscription and charge the credit card on file. Learn More about STOPzilla's Auto Renewal Program here.

Simply contact STOPzilla and speak to a representative. Once the representative verifies your account, your full refund will be returned via your original payment option. Please allow 7 to 10 business days for the refund to show on your credit card account. Please note that the amount of time it takes for the credit to appear in your account is determined by the credit card company, not STOPzilla. STOPzilla will immediately process the refund on our end once we receive the request.