Remove Zinkwink.com virus (Easy Removal Guide) - Free Instructions
Things to know about Zinkwink.com redirects
Zinkwink.com is a shady search tool that provides results filled with advertisements. It can instantly replace your homepage and default search settings to hxxp://zinkwink.com/ if you install ZinkWink Desktop software. It belongs to browser hijackers category due to its ability to redirect users to shady third-party sites only to generate pay-per-click revenue[1].
This suspicious search tool is offered by a shady company that is also a developer of Query Browser, Zwankysearch.com, Kwanzy.com and other potentially unwanted programs (PUP). These programs should be avoided at all costs. Not only ZinkWink spies on the computer user by collecting one’s browsing-related data, but it also inserts hardly reliable links into search results, willing that the victim will click on them.
As a result, the victim can be thrown onto hazardous third-party sites, which instantly earns some money for the developer of the PUP. However, LesVirus.fr[2] says that there is not much benefit for the user. By exploring results brought by ZinkWink redirect virus, he or she risks visiting untrustworthy, malicious, or even phishing sites[3].
Although the search tool itself cannot infect victim’s computer, it is a tool that creates an environment for visiting untrustworthy web pages. This is the main reason why we recommend you to remove Zinkwink.com.
If you detected http://Zinkwink.com/ in your browser, read the instructions provided below the article and get rid of the Zinkwink Desktop. In case you are not looking for manual Zinkwink.com removal guidelines and you would rather use a professional malware removal tool, we recommend choosing Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego or SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner.
ZinkWink.com redirect virus is a tool set to change victim's browser settings and force him to use ZinkWink search engine.
Potentially unwanted programs infiltrate computer without user’s notice
Potentially unwanted programs have a tendency to spread in a shadow of popular free programs that offer them as “recommended” third-party programs. Whenever you decide to download a new free program to your computer, we suggest choosing the right installation settings and removing checkmarks next to suggestions to install unknown additional software to your PC.
We usually recommend opting for Custom or Advanced settings – these will give you a chance to see the list of added programs and allow you to deselect the unwanted ones. Make sure you deselect all of them – these programs are hardly trustworthy, and their main function is to display ads based on victim’s browsing activities.
Remove Zinkwink.com from Chrome, Safari, and other browsers
Now that it is time to remove Zinkwink.com virus, you have to decide how do you want to do it. There are two methods that you can choose from:
- The manual removal method;
- The automatic removal method.
Depending on your choice, you will need to use either anti-malware software or Zinkwink.com removal instructions provided below. Usually, we suggest trying to delete the hijacker manually and finishing the removal using anti-malware software. This way, no spyware/malware programs would have a chance to remain in your system if they infected it a while ago.
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Zinkwink.com virus, follow these steps:
Uninstall Zinkwink.com from Windows systems
First of all, uninstall ZinkWink Desktop. Then, remove other suspicious programs such as QueryBrowser or Kwanzy. After completing the removal of unwanted programs, delete suspicious URLs from browser shortcuts using the example given below.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall Zinkwink.com and related programs
Here, look for Zinkwink.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Zinkwink.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties.
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Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
Get rid of Zinkwink.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Zinkwink.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Zinkwink.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons.
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You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Zinkwink.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Zinkwink.com removal.
Eliminate Zinkwink.com virus from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Zinkwink.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Erase Zinkwink.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions.
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Here, select Zinkwink.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information.
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Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Zinkwink.com removal.
Remove Zinkwink.com from Google Chrome
Delete ZinkWink, Kwanzy, and other extensions that look suspicious.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions.
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Here, select Zinkwink.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Zinkwink.com removal.
Uninstall Zinkwink.com from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences.
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Here, select Extensions and look for Zinkwink.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Zinkwink.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari....
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Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Zinkwink.com removal process.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer various losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Software issues created by malware or direct data loss due to encryption can lead to problems with your device or permanent damage. When you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work.
It is crucial to create updates to your backups after any changes on the device, so you can get back to the point you were working on when malware changes anything or issues with the device causes data or performance corruption. Rely on such behavior and make file backup your daily or weekly habit.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware occurs out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the system restoring purpose.
About the author
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References
- ^ Pay-per-click. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.
- ^ LesVirus. LesVirus. Malware Removal Guides.
- ^ How to Spot a Phishing Website. GlobalSign Blog. Myriad of In-depth Articles from Industry Experts, Product Managers, and Senior Engineers.
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