GameZooks Adware

What is GameZooks?

GameZooks is a deceptive application  claiming to allow users to play a variety of addictive Flash games. On initial inspection, this functionality may appear legitimate and useful, however, GameZooks is categorized as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

After successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, GameZooks displays various intrusive online advertisements and tracks Internet browsing activity.

GameZooks generates banner, pop-up, interstitial, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers of GameZooks employ a virtual layer, which enables placement of third party graphical content on visited websites.

These advertisements diminish the Internet browsing experience by overlaying unwanted content, and in some cases, redirecting users to untrusted sites, some of which might contain infectious content. Therefore, clicking the ads can lead to further computer infections.

Furthermore, GameZooks records IP addresses, operating system and browser types, search queries entered into search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.), websites visited, pages viewed, and other software/hardware information.

This information may contain personally identifiable details and is later shared with third parties who can misuse it to generate revenue. Thus, having GameZooks installed on your system can result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

GameZooks is similar to Teras Games, CrushArcade, GamerForest, and hundreds of other applications claiming to the enhance Internet browsing experience by enabling 'useful features'.

All adware-type applications deliver fake promises simply to trick users to install. After successfully infiltrating the system, these applications display advertisements and collect private information. Their sole purpose is to generate revenue for the developers - they are useless to users.

How did GameZooks install on my computer?

Although GameZooks has an official download website, developers mainly use a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to distribute this app. This allows developers to stealthily install their product during installation of other software.

Many users are unaware that rogue applications such as GameZooks are usually concealed within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. By skipping this section and rushing the download/installation processes, users often inadvertently install dubious applications, thereby exposing their systems to risk of further computer infections.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The key to computer safety is caution. Do not rush the download or installation processes. Closely analyze each step and cancel all third party applications included. To successfully perform a safe download/installation procedure, use the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any bundled apps listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.

GameZooks adware installer set-up:

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Quick menu:

• What is GameZooks?
• STEP 1. Uninstall GameZooks application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove GameZooks adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove GameZooks ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by GameZooks' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove GameZooks ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

GameZooks adware 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 "GameZooks", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes GameZooks ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove GameZooks adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, GameZooks did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the gamezooks ads, 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 "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the gamezooks ads, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with gamezooks ads 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the gamezooks ads, 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:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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