Remove the ZUpdater.exe error
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ZUpdater.exe?
The zupdate error pop-up window normally states that an error occurred while creating the ZUpdater.exe process and is due to malware such as a trojan, or a virus that has infected the computer.
According to this system pop-up window, however, the error occurred due to insufficient system resources necessary to complete the requested service. If a computer is infected with one of the these malicious programs, it should be removed immediately.
Trojans are malicious programs that are designed to cause damage in different ways. People are usually unaware that their computers are infected with programs of this type. Trojans are used to control and access victims' computers, steal confidential details, and proliferate other infections.
If a computer is infected with a trojan that is categorized as remote access trojan (RAT), cyber criminals might use it to access the victim's system remotely and steal details such as logins, passwords of various personal accounts, logged keystrokes (pressed keys), clipboard data, and so on.
RATs might also be used to download and install other threats such as ransomware or cryptominers. Typically, ransomware-type programs can lead to data and financial loss. They encrypt files stored on the computer and keep them encrypted unless a ransom is paid. Cryptocurrency miners 'mine' using computer resources.
If installed, these programs cause systems to consume more electricity, and thus users of infected computers receive higher electricity bills. Trojans can cause serious problems and lead to financial/data loss, privacy issues, problems with browsing safety, identity theft, and other issues.
If the ZUpdater.exe error occurs due to a virus, it might corrupt the system or destroy various data. In all cases, we strongly recommend that you run a full system scan with a reputable anti-virus or anti-spyware suite and remove all detected threats immediately.
| Name | ZUpdater.exe error |
| Threat Type | Trojan, Password-stealing virus, Banking malware, Spyware |
| Detection Names | Antiy-AVL (Trojan[Packed]/Multi.MultiPacked), Bkav (W32.ADCoinMinerND.Worm), Ikarus (PUA.MSIL.Confuser), Jiangmin (TrojanDownloader.Banload.bnvo), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Malicious Process Name(s) | ZUpdater.exe |
| Symptoms | Trojans are designed to stealthily infiltrate the victim's computer and remain silent, and thus no particular symptoms are clearly visible on an infected machine. RATs allow cyber criminals to access computers remotely, or to install other malicious programs like ransomware. Information stealers record personal, confidential information. Cryptocurrency miners use computer CPU resources to solve mathematical problems. |
| Distribution methods | Infected email attachments, fake update tools, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software 'cracks'. |
| Damage | Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, data loss, high CPU usage, installation of other malicious programs. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Some examples of trojan-type programs that might cause problems and damage are Megumin, Hancitor, Emotet, and LokiBot. Most trojans cause serious damage and must be removed as soon as possible. You might be able remove the infection that causes the ZUpdater.exe error simply by running a virus scan with the installed security suite.
How did ZUpdater.exe infiltrate my computer?
Cyber criminals proliferate computer infections via spam campaigns, untrustworthy software download channels, fake software update tools and software 'cracking' (activation) tools. They use spam campaigns by sending emails to many people and hope that they open the included attachments.
Typically, they send Microsoft Office documents, executable files (.exe), archive files (such as ZIP, RAR), PDF documents, JavaScript files, and so on. Computers become infected when opened attachments download and install a malicious program.
Various free file hosting, freeware download websites, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks, dubious pages and other untrustworthy software download sources often present malicious files as legitimate. Cyber criminals upload these files and hope that some people will download and open them - they then download and install viruses.
Fake software updaters cause damage by downloading and installing malware rather than updating or fixing installed programs. In other cases, they harm systems by exploiting bugs/flaws of outdated software. Software 'cracking' tools supposedly help users to bypass activation of licensed software (to activate it free of charge).
Unfortunately, these tools are used by cyber criminals who seek to proliferate malware. People who use these tools to 'crack' software often allow malicious programs to be downloaded and installed.
How to avoid installation of malware?
To prevent computer infections, do not open attachments that are presented in irrelevant emails, especially if they are received from unknown, suspicious addresses. Update installed software and operating systems with implemented functions or tools provided by official developers. Do not download programs or files with the tools mentioned above.
Use only official websites. Note that software 'cracking' tools are illegal and many proliferate malware. Have a reputable anti-spyware or anti-virus suite installed and scan the operating system with it regularly. If you believe that your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.
ZUpdater.exe detected as a threat by different virus detection engines:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner
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Quick menu:
- What is ZUpdater.exe?
- STEP 1. Manual removal of ZUpdater.exe malware.
- STEP 2. Check if your computer is clean.
How to remove malware manually?
Manual malware removal is a complicated task - usually it is best to allow antivirus or anti-malware programs to do this automatically.
To remove this malware we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. If you wish to remove malware manually, the first step is to identify the name of the malware that you are trying to remove. Here is an example of a suspicious program running on a user's computer:
If you checked the list of programs running on your computer, for example, using task manager, and identified a program that looks suspicious, you should continue with these steps:
Download a program called Autoruns. This program shows auto-start applications, Registry, and file system locations:
Restart your computer into Safe Mode:
Windows XP and Windows 7 users: Start your computer in Safe Mode. Click Start, click Shut Down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer start process, press the F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see the Windows Advanced Option menu, and then select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Video showing how to start Windows 7 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 8 users: Start Windows 8 is Safe Mode with Networking - Go to Windows 8 Start Screen, type Advanced, in the search results select Settings. Click Advanced startup options, in the opened "General PC Settings" window, select Advanced startup. Click the "Restart now" button.
Your computer will now restart into the "Advanced Startup options menu". Click the "Troubleshoot" button, and then click the "Advanced options" button. In the advanced option screen, click "Startup settings". Click the "Restart" button. Your PC will restart into the Startup Settings screen. Press F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 8 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Windows 10 users: Click the Windows logo and select the Power icon. In the opened menu click "Restart" while holding "Shift" button on your keyboard. In the "choose an option" window click on the "Troubleshoot", next select "Advanced options". In the advanced options menu select "Startup Settings" and click on the "Restart" button.
In the following window you should click the "F5" button on your keyboard. This will restart your operating system in safe mode with networking.
Video showing how to start Windows 10 in "Safe Mode with Networking":
Extract the downloaded archive and run the Autoruns.exe file.
In the Autoruns application, click "Options" at the top and uncheck the "Hide Empty Locations" and "Hide Windows Entries" options. After this procedure, click the "Refresh" icon.
Check the list provided by the Autoruns application and locate the malware file that you want to eliminate.
You should write down its full path and name. Note that some malware hides process names under legitimate Windows process names. At this stage, it is very important to avoid removing system files. After you locate the suspicious program you wish to remove, right click your mouse over its name and choose "Delete".
After removing the malware through the Autoruns application (this ensures that the malware will not run automatically on the next system startup), you should search for the malware name on your computer. Be sure to enable hidden files and folders before proceeding. If you find the filename of the malware, be sure to remove it.
Reboot your computer in normal mode. Following these steps should remove any malware from your computer. Note that manual threat removal requires advanced computer skills. If you do not have these skills, leave malware removal to antivirus and anti-malware programs.
These steps might not work with advanced malware infections. As always it is best to prevent infection than try to remove malware later. To keep your computer safe, install the latest operating system updates and use antivirus software.
To be sure your computer is free of malware infections, we recommend scanning it with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
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