ZipArcade Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ZipArcade?
ZipArcade is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to allow users to play various addictive arcade games. Initially, this app may seem legitimate, however, due to rogue behavior (stealth installation, tracking of web browsing activity, and display of intrusive online advertisements), ZipArcade is classed as adware.
Once infiltrated, ZipArcade generates various intrusive ads such as banner, pop-up, and coupon ads. These do not originate from websites visited by the user and, therefore, often conceal underlying content, thereby significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience. In addition, ads by ZipArcade can lead to various malicious websites.
Thus, clicking them risks further high-risk adware or malware infections. Be aware that users' web browsing activity is continually monitored, since ZipArcade gathers various user/system information including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar data that might be personally identifiable.
In addition, developers of ZipArcade share these details with third parties who often misuse personal data to generate revenue. Thus, having a data-tracking app installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to remove ZipArcade adware immediately.
There are hundreds of other adware-type programs also offering various games including Jogotempo, ArcadeCake, and GamerForest - these are only just some examples from a long list. These claims are merely attempts to trick users to install. Adware-type apps are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
ZipArcade, and other similar programs, simply generate intrusive ads and continually gather private data. They deliver no significant value for regular users.
How did ZipArcade install on my computer?
Research shows that although ZipArcade has an official download website, many users install this application inadvertently, since they do not express enough caution when downloading and installing various software. Aware of this, developers often use a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of PUPs with other (usually legitimate) apps.
They hide potentially unwanted programs within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings of the download/installation process and, therefore, users who skip this section often install unwanted adware or other similar apps inadvertently.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The key to computer safety is caution. Never rush the download or installation processes. Closely analyze these stages using the 'Custom/Advanced' settings. Furthermore, all additionally-included programs should be cancelled. Bundled software is often rogue and, thus, should never be installed.
ZipArcade adware installer set-up:
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Quick menu:
- What is ZipArcade?
- STEP 1. Uninstall ZipArcade application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ZipArcade adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove ZipArcade ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by ZipArcade' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove ZipArcade ads from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
ZipArcade 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 "ZipArcade", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes ZipArcade ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove ZipArcade adware from Internet browsers:
At time of research, ZipArcade 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 ads by ziparcade, 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 ads by ziparcade, 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 ads by ziparcade 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 ads by ziparcade, 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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