Zeta-search.com

Zeta-search.com is not just a regular search engine; the application is actually a browser hijacker and users might find it difficult to get rid of it. It can modify some data on the system and place its files in your computer. One of the ways to delete the browser hijacker is to erase its data manually. The process might be rather complicated for inexperienced users; thus we would advise you to take a look at the removal guide below. Also, you could use a trustworthy antimalware tool that would help you delete Zeta-search.com. Users who want to not only erase the application, but also learn how to avoid browser hijackers in the future should continue reading the article. Our researchers have tested the application, and the text will present you what they have found out.

Zeta-search.com might enter your system with bundled installers that come from various file-sharing web pages. Thus, you might have installed it because it appeared as a suggestion on another program’s setup wizard, and you did not deselect it. Since users often do not read what is written on the installation wizard, bundled installers is a popular way to distribute such unwanted applications as the browser hijacker. Therefore, the next time you install software, make sure that the installer comes from a reliable website, e.g. official developer’s site. It is also important to check if a program was developed by a trustworthy company. Another great idea would be to read some user reviews or ratings.

The browser hijacker settles in the system by creating a folder in the %PROGRAMFILES(x86)% or %PROGRAMFILES% directory. Also, it might add another folder that would be named as zeta-search.com in the %APPDATA% location. Its next step should be to hijack your default browser. Currently, the application can affect Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. The program hijacks user’s browser by setting Zeta-search.com as the default homepage. Users might fail if they try to replace the site simply through browser settings. That is because the browser hijacker modifies specific data on your computer. Naturally, if you want to eliminate the application you have to fix the data that was changed.

Zeta-search.com might seem like a regular search engine, but we can assure you that is not a reliable one. For starters, there are suspicious third-party ads displayed below the search box. Additionally, users should see even more advertising in the provided search results. The application might use another search engine to gather the results, e.g. google.com, yahoo.com, or other, but it can also inject the results with advertising content before they reach you. You may think that a few ads cannot do any harm to the computer, but actually, it could. Especially if the original source of such ads is malicious websites that contain malware. In that case, your computer could get infected if you interact with such ads. Of course, if you have a legitimate antimalware tool it should warn you about the threats, but if you do not, the system might be vulnerable. There might be other risks as well, e.g. the ads could redirect users to web pages that could collect their private data and use it without any permission.

As we mentioned earlier users can delete the program if they fix the data that was modified by the browser hijacker. Also, there are a couple of folders with files that should be erased as well. If you choose to eliminate Zeta-search.com manually, it would be better to follow the removal guide below. It will show users how to fix the modified data and where to find the software’s created folders. However, if you do not think you are experienced enough to deal with the browser hijacker manually, we would suggest you use an antimalware tool. The application would locate the mentioned data that should be removed or altered, and it would take care of it. You simply need to install the tool, set it to scan the system and then you can eliminate the detected threats with one mouse click. In addition, you will have a reliable tool that might help you protect your computer in the future.

Remove Zeta-search.com from browsers

Internet Explorer

1. Press Win+R, type regedit and click OK.
2. Navigate to: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
3. Search for Value Name called Start Page.
4. Right-Click on Start Page and click Modify.
5. Delete Value Data (http://zeta-search.com), replace it with a website you prefer and click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the Explorer (Win+E).
2. Navigate to: C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Unique Mozilla user ID}
3. Find a file named as Prefs.js and open it with Notepad.
4. Locate and delete this line: user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://zeta-search.com”) or erase the second part of the line (“http://zeta-search.com”) and type an address of a web page you prefer between the quotation marks.
5. Press Ctrl+S and close the document.

Google Chrome

1. Launch the Explorer.
2. Locate this path: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
3. Find and delete these files: Preferences, Secure Preferences, and Web Data.

Delete Zeta-search.com created folders

1. Open the Explorer.
2. Insert either %PROGRAMFILES(x86)% or %PROGRAMFILES%
3. Locate a folder called zeta-search.com and right-click it to delete it.
4. Insert this location %APPDATA% into the Explorer.
5. Locate a folder named as zeta-search.com and right-click the folder to delete it.