How to Get Rid of Zapmeta.com Redirector?

What is Zapmeta.com Redirector?
Zapmeta.com redirector is a malicious browser hijacker that installs a search engine and a start page to your web browser. It is a fake search engine which claims to show the best optimized results from the most popular websites. It tracks user’s browsing and search history and sends the data to the hacker, who can sell your private data to a third party. This data can be used to harm the user by disclosing their personal details.

Zapmeta.com redirector is developed by Visymo Universal Search Group. It is spread via software bundling.

Zapmeta.com-search-page
Threat behavior

Zapmeta.com browser hijacker redirects the user searches to third party websites and the content on these websites can lead to other threats that can infiltrate and infringe the security of your system.
Like any other browser hijacker, zapmeta.com browser hijacker is also installed on the system without the user’s consent. This tool, although looks harmless, it can track user search history, browsing details, user password and username, user credential details.

This search engine can create customized ads and show results according to user preferences that it has collected. This can expose you to other threats like phishing, software download websites and misleading online surveys.

Zapmeta.com redirector also changes the default home page for a new tab in the browser. If the user is not aware and continues using zapmeta.com redirector as the default search engine, it will allow the hackers to track additional user data and create more customized ads and links according to user’s choices to lure the user in clicking them. This increases the chances of the user getting exposed to more threats like phishing, unwanted links to new websites and collecting user information through misleading online surveys created from previous user data.

Zapmeta.com redirector is a browser hijacker, which slows down your system and browsing experience, by showing ads and pop-ups while you browse. It takes up the allotted bandwidth and consumes system resources like memory and redirects it to load ads, increasing the time it takes to load a website. The browser will experience lag and sometimes freeze due to increased pop-up ads.
Threat Summary
  • Name – com redirector
  • Browsers affected – Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera
  • Targeted Operating Systems – Windows XP, Windows vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.0/8.1 Windows 10, Mac OS
  • Category – PuP, Browser Extension
How to remove Zapmeta.com redirector?

To remove zapmeta.com from your pc, follow these simple virus removal instructions for browser hijacker removal. Do not attempt to remove the zapmeta.com redirector virus on your own as the removal process is quite complex and any misstep can lead to improper virus removal. This can harm and corrupt your files. Use a Zapmeta.com removal tool to remove this threat properly. It is important to remove zapmeta.com to keep your PC risk free.

How did Zapmeta.com redirector get installed on your system?

The cybercriminals use various strategies for malware distribution which include –
  1. Software Bundling: Software bundling is the process in which a malicious program is distributed with other free software, to get an unnoticed entry into your computer system. When a user installs a free application, the malicious programs gains a front door entry with the free application, the user has downloaded. Thus, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the installation screens while installing these free applications.
  2. Infected Storage Devices: Your system can also get infected by using removable media such as USB hard drives and jump drives without scanning them with an anti-virus.
  3. Spam Emails – Spamming is the most economic and common method used for the distribution of such malware. The targeted users get genuine looking emails which contain .doc, .txt, and other similar attachments. These attachments can be named as anything which can grab the user’s attention and triggers him/her to open the attachment. As soon as the user opens this attachment, the malware infects the user’s computer system.
  4. Malicious Websites or Malevolent Advertisements: The malicious websites are the ones which are created just for promoting the malware infections. Such websites include but are not limited to porn sites, torrent sites and other free downloading platforms. By visiting such websites, the adware infects the user’s computer without permission. Fake advertisements and updates like Flash player and windows updates which ask the user to update to the latest version are a few examples. When the users click on such links, their computer system gets infected. That is why, it is highly recommended to resist clicking on such links. Also avoid clicking on advertisements offering free stuff such as Win an iPhones, cars or free overseas trips etc.

Get the complete step by step procedure on Source: How to remove Zapmeta.com redirector from your system?

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