Zip Cruncher is a file compressor and a potentially unwanted program that gets into systems together with freeware or shareware
Zip Cruncher is the allegedly helpful application developed by Meme Ltd. and serves as a file extractor and compressor. Publishers offer the program on their official website and Chrome web store, but it mostly ends up in users' PCs with the help of software bundling – a deceptive marketing campaign. Therefore, users mostly do not notice the infiltration of zipCruncher. However, the presence of the PUP can be noticed straight away, as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari or other browser starts displaying intrusive advertisements in the form of pop-ups, banners, in-text links, sponsored links, and similar. The advertisement is annoying and unnecessary, and it can also bring users to malicious websites. Finally, the app, which spreads as a web browser extension, does not even functions properly, as its Browser Files feature does not allow to upload anything. Thus, Zip Cruncher will not only spam you with unwanted ads as most adware-type programs do, but will also not bring any use whatsoever. If you want to zip or unzip files, you should trust reputable software like 7-Zip or WinRar.
| Name | Zip Cruncher |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware |
| Developer | Meme Ltd. |
| Category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Related | Go.zipcruncher.com |
| Symptoms | Delivers pop-up ads, causes redirects |
| Distribution | Freeware installations, deceptive websites |
| Elimination | Clean the system using FortectIntego and remove Zip Cruncher |
According to reports, Zip Cruncher can be added as an extension to web browsers, and redirect to baseapp.zipcruncher.com/#!/. This is where users are meant to upload files to compress them, although this feature simply does not work. Additionally, ZipCruncher PUP possesses browser hijacking capabilities, as it redirects users to Go.zipcruncher.com each time they want to browse the web. The search results are then displayed by Yahoo – a legitimate search engine, although due to rerouting practices, the sponsored links litter search results.
Since Zip Cruncher virus is a potentially unwanted program, it is responsible for the frustration that people tend to complain about the most. Users get annoyed by constant redirects and suspicious pages appearing out of nowhere. Also, commercial content in the form of banners, pop-up ads injected to commonly visited sites keeps them from finding relative information quickly.
Zip Cruncher software uses a pay-per-click scheme[1] which provides profits for Meme Ltd., which explains the intrusive ad behavior. Unfortunately, users do not get any benefit from this useless program, making Zip Cruncher removal a necessary task.
Unfortunately, it is not enough to uninstall Zip Cruncher and call it a day. You need to remove all related programs or even files to get rid of this intruder completely. Researchers[2] note that professional help is required when you are dealing with this type of infections because PUPs can install additional content without your permission.
People often think that Zip Cruncher is safe, but this is not the case. Even though it may sound like a useful tool that compresses your files in one click this program displays tons of advertisements no matter if you want to see them or not.
While searching for genuine Zip Cruncher reviews, we discovered a few facts about this PUP.[3] One of the most common complaints is the difficulty to uninstall the program manually. Also, when commercial content gets to your screen, you can see these indications on every advertisement:
- Powered by Zip Cruncher,
- Advertisements by Zip Cruncher,
- Brought to you by Zip Cruncher,
- Ads by Zip Cruncher;
- Ads powered by Zip Cruncher.
If you wonder how to remove Zip Cruncher, we can give one recommendation – a reputable antivirus program. This is the best method to eliminate similar unwanted programs that can modify browser settings and cannot be easily uninstalled.
We also recommend using FortectIntego after the virus elimination because this repair tool can fix up your machine after the infection of a potentially unwanted program like Zip Cruncher.
Deceptive tools and free programs come from software bundles
Software bundling[4] is technique mostly used to distribute potentially unwanted programs like browser hijackers, adware and rogue tools. The software programs with semi-useful features often can be downloaded from the official websites or deceptive pages but also come packed with freeware.
Software providers and PUP developers bundle their products together so it can be distributed all over the internet. Users tend to skip through important installation steps, and this way potentially unwanted programs get distributed. If you want to avoid these infiltrations, make sure to choose Advanced or Custom options when installing applications or updates.
Only this way you can see and de-select unwanted content from the download list or directly on the installation wizard. Getting your programs from the internet is always risky unless you choose the official provider of the software as the primary source.
Eliminate Zip Cruncher and all the other potentially unwanted programs
When it comes to Zip Cruncher virus or any similar program that falls into the potentially unwanted program category, the main solution is a thorough system clean during which you can delete all potential threats, unwanted programs, corrupted files, and applications.
When scanning the system with antivirus tools, you can remove Zip Cruncher, improve the overall performance of your computer and make sure that there are no cyber threats on the system. Occasional system scan helps you avoid similar infections in the future.
When choosing the anti-malware tool for Zip Cruncher removal make sure to opt for the reliable and trustworthy program. You can use programs that we suggest or employ anti-malware of your choice.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
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