ZX Player adware. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
According to Duuqu Group (developer), ZX Player “is the media player that fills all your needs. With dozens of advanced features and built-in codecs it can handle any media format, and can play Audio CDs, DVDs, (S)VCDs, TV / Radio cards, YouTube™ and SHOUTcast™ streams and even incomplete or damaged media files.” We can admit that marketing team that manifests this tool work great because it’s quite easy to fall for believing that ZX Player is just what you need. Unfortunately, but such promotion does not correspond to the reality. Online forums are flickering with the users who doubt whether ZX Player extension is safe. So, in this short article, we will try to answer these questions:
- Is it safe to use this media player;
- How does it spread;
- How to remove it.
Is ZX Player reliable? Can it cause security-related issues?
ZX Player is deemed as adware and PUP (potentially unwanted program). Yes, these categories indicate the fact that this extension is one of the cyber threat. However, if compared to ransomware, keyloggers, spyware, and similar viruses, adware software is NOT dangerous. However, it doesn’t mean that you should keep it. ZX Player is ad-supported, what means that it may exhibit potentially dangerous advertisements while you browse. Although most of the pop-ups may catch your eye due to relevant offers, you should better bypass “Ads by ZX Player” without clicking because they may contain misleading content, such as installers of other adware or browser hijacker. In the worst case scenario, you may be tricked into installing malware, so be careful.
Questions about ZX Player adware
By the way, you should consider what makes ZX Player ads so appealing-looking. The truth is that this adware type software uses tracking cookies to analyze what pages you prefer viewing, what data you type in them, what ads you click on, what data you download/upload, your search queries, PC’s IP address, search queries, and browsing-related information. The more information is gathered, the more personalized advertisements ZX Player malware can deliver. Thus, do not get fooled. All in all, we can come up with a conclusion that this advertisement supported media player is not reliable and can cause some security and privacy-related issues. Thus, remove is using Reimage without a delay.
Is zxplayer.dll process running within Task Manager? How did ZX Player hijack my computer without being noticed?
If you are tortured by ZX Player redirects and silly offers to install other potentially unwanted software, most probably you want to learn how this program spreads and how did it install on your machine without being noticed. According to our malware specialists, ZX Player adware spreads using the following methods:
- Direct installation option. The app has the official page and a direct download links.
- Software bundling. ZX Player virus may appear on the system right after you finish the installation of a freeware.
- Misleading software updates. This adware type application can also be promoted via Java, Flash Player, Media Player, and similar software updates.
In a nutshell, it’s very important to be cautious when installing free programs to the system. Do not download programs without checking the developer, EULA, Privacy Policy, and other information related to it. Besides, when you attempt to download a freeware even from a reliable source, don’t rush and check what Advanced/Custom installation wizard indicates. There is always a chance that the software contains additional installers, like ZX Player adware. If you find a notification saying that “By clicking Next I agree to install ZX Player,” unmark the tick that is marked alongside it and only then complete the installation. Lastly, DO NOT trust software update prompts that pop-up on your screen randomly. If you have already been tricked to install ZX Player, you should go to the next page and find a removal guide there.
How to remove this potentially malicious adware?
To perform ZX Player removal, you have two options. You can either perform the steps that are shown down below. This way, you will delete the adware permanently, but may leave some of its hidden components, or it’s relative PUPs. The second option requires installing a professional malware removal tool. However, a full system scan will help to delete ZX Player virus along with all other suspicious apps.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove ZX Player adware, follow these steps:
Delete ZX Player from Windows systems
-
Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
-
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 ZX Player and related programs
Here, look for ZX Player or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
Erase ZX Player from Mac OS X system
-
If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for ZX Player or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate ZX Player from Internet Explorer (IE)
-
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. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for ZX Player and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
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.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete ZX Player removal.
Get rid of ZX Player adware 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.
-
Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
-
Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
-
Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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, ZX Player should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariUninstall ZX Player from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
-
Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select ZX Player and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete ZX Player removal.
Remove ZX Player from Google Chrome
-
Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select ZX Player and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
-
Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
-
When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
-
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.
-
Click Reset to confirm this action and complete ZX Player removal.
Delete ZX Player 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. -
Here, select Extensions and look for ZX Player or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
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 ZX Player removal process.