isearch.zoo.com Virus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Zoo Toolbar
The Zoo Toolbar browser add-on was created by InfoSpace LLC. This browser hijacker infiltrates Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. Commonly, Internet users install isearch.zoo.com adware without their consent when downloading or installing free software.
After successful infiltration, this browser settings-changing adware assigns the browser homepage and default search engine fields to the isearch.zoo.com website. This browser hijacker is not technically a virus or malware, however, redirects to this site may lead to malware infections (when clicking third party ads displayed by this website).
Zoo Toolbar tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, referral data, browser types, search terms, and links clicked. This information can be personally identifiable, thus, the presence of this browser hijacker on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft.
The isearch.zoo.com website can be used to search the Internet, however, be aware that the search engine used by this site contains many deceptive sponsored search results, which may lead to offensive and objectionable content.
Using this website for your daily Internet searches is not recommended and may lead to installation of additional potentially unwanted applications or malware infections.
The main purpose of this potentially unwanted program is to generate revenue from Internet users who click third party ads generated by this bogus add-on. For these reasons, you are advised to remove isearch.zoo.com from your homepage and default search engine settings.
The isearch.zoo.com browser hijacker is similar to other potentially unwanted programs, which modify browser homepage and default search engine settings.
Examples include Xeesearch.com, Znoo.net, and Looksafesearch.com These websites claim to make users' Internet browsing experience more productive, however, browser plug-ins which redirect to these sites only diminish browser performance and add no real value.
Today, most freeware download websites employ 'download clients' - small programs offering installation of advertised browser extensions (commonly, adware). To avoid installation of the isearch.zoo.com browser hijacker, express caution when downloading free software - inspect each download step and decline installation of any promoted browser extensions.
When installing downloaded free programs, use the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal installation of any bundled adware. Computer users who experience browser redirects to isearch.zoo.com should use this removal guide to eliminate the Zoo Toolbar from their Internet browser/s.
Deceptive free software installer used in isearch.zoo.com browser hijacker distribution:
Screenshot of the Zoo Toolbar installer:
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Quick menu:
- What is Zoo Toolbar?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Zoo Toolbar using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Zoo Toolbar from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Zoo Toolbar from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Zoo Toolbar from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Zoo Toolbar extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
isearch.zoo.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 "Zoo Toolbar", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes browser redirects to the isearch.zoo.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
isearch.zoo.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 "Zoo Toolbar", select this entry and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove isearch.zoo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your 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 and then remove "Zoo Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the zoo toolbar, 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 "Zoo Toolbar", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over isearch.zoo.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your 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 "Manage Search Engines..." remove "Zoo Search" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the zoo toolbar, 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 "Zoo Toolbar".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove isearch.zoo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your 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: "zoo.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with zoo toolbar 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 zoo toolbar, 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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