ZenSearch.com Virus

What is ZenSearch.com?

The ZenSearch.com virus is a browser hijacker, which infiltrates users' Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) through free software downloads and modifies the homepage and default search engine settings by assigning them to zensearch.com

While this website may seem legitimate (it offers Internet searching using various search engines), computer users should be aware that ZenSearch is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

Developers of this browser settings-changing adware use a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', and thus, Internet users often install this potentially unwanted program (PUP) inadvertently without their consent.

Today, most freeware download websites use 'download clients' - small programs that manage the download process of the chosen free program.

While this is a valid function, download clients also offer installation of advertised browser plug-ins. Some download clients under test promoted browser plug-ins in a deceptive manner, and thus, the majority of Internet users install PUPs such as Zensearch inadvertently without their consent.

The ZenSearch.com browser hijacker is similar to other browser settings-changing adware, including, for example Awesomehp.com, Sweet-page.com, and Nationzoom.com These browser plug-ins claim to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling easy Internet searches, however, they add no real value and cause unwanted browser redirects.

Apart from redirect issues, Zensearch adware also tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording search requests, Internet Protocol addresses, and general web browser information.

Having this browser hijacker installed on your system can lead to privacy issues and malware infections. Computer users who experience browser redirects to zensearch.com are advised to use this removal guide to eliminate adware from their Internet browser/s.

Screenshot of the zensearch.com installer:

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Quick menu:

• What is ZenSearch.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall ZenSearch application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove ZenSearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove ZenSearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove ZenSearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove ZenSearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

ZenSearch.com virus removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for "ZenSearch", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the PUP (which causes browser redirects to the ZenSearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

ZenSearch.com virus removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "ZenSearch", select this entry and click "Remove".

Change the default search engine:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default, then remove "ZenSearch".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the zensearch.com redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "ZenSearch", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Change the default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click on "Manage Search Engines...", in the opened window remove "ZenSearch" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the zensearch.com redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "ZenSearch".

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Options", in the opened window remove zensearch.com and enter your preferred URL that will open every time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "zensearch.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore the default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with zensearch.com redirect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the zensearch.com redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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