If you find that your current settings of web browsers have been modified to Search by Zooms without your permission then you need to know that your web browser is infected by nasty browser hijacker infection. Once started, it takes control of your computer including installed Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge and imposes certain changes to its settings such as home page, new tab and search engine by default, without your knowledge.
In order to force you to use Search by Zooms as often as possible this hijacker can modify your web-browsers’ search provider. You may even find that your PC system’s internet browser shortcuts and MS Windows HOSTS file are hijacked without your knowledge and conscious permission. The developers of this hijacker infection do so in order to generate revenue via Google AdSence or another third-party ad network. Thus every your click on advertisements which placed on the Search by Zooms generates money for them.
The Search by Zooms browser hijacker infection usually affects only the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge. However, possible situations, when any other internet browsers will be affected too. The hijacker will perform a scan of the personal computer for web browser shortcuts and alter them without your permission. When it infects the web-browser shortcuts, it will add the argument like ‘http://site.address’ into Target property. So, each time you open the web browser, you will see the Search by Zooms intrusive site.
We recommend you to delete Search by Zooms and free your computer of browser hijacker ASAP, until the presence of the hijacker has not led to even worse consequences. Complete the guide below that will assist you to completely remove Search by Zooms startpage, using only the built-in Windows features and a few of specialized free utilities.
Search by Zooms redirect removal tutorial
Fortunately, it is not hard to delete the Search by Zooms hijacker. In the following guidance, we will provide two methods to free your personal computer of this hijacker infection. One is the manual removal solution and the other is automatic removal method. You can select the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal steps below to get rid of Search by Zooms right now!
Remove Search by Zooms without any utilities
The useful removal steps for the Search by Zooms . The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to get rid of Search by Zooms redirect let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.
Uninstalling the Search by Zooms, check the list of installed programs first
It’s of primary importance to first identify and remove all PUPs, ad-supported software software and browser hijackers through ‘Add/Remove Programs’ (Windows XP) or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Windows 10, 8, 7) section of your Windows Control Panel.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the Microsoft Windows logo, and then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown on the image below.
After the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category like below.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and select the ‘Control Panel’ at right as shown below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Windows 7 or Vista) as shown below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and get rid of all software that has the name similar to the page which has been set as your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge and IE home page, new tab page and search provider by default. We suggest to click ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed applications by date. Once you have found anything suspicious that may be the browser hijacker infection, ad-supported software or potentially unwanted software, then select this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious program blocked from removal, then run Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully delete it from your machine.
Fix infected web-browsers
When installed, this browser hijacker may add an argument like “http://site.address” into the Target property of the desktop shortcut for the Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox and Microsoft Edge. Due to this, every time you run the web browser, it will open the intrusive start page.
Right click to a desktop shortcut for your browser. Choose the “Properties” option. It will open the Properties window. Select the “Shortcut” tab here, after that, look at the “Target” field. The browser hijacker can rewrite it. If you are seeing something similar “…exe http://site.address” then you need to remove “http…” and leave only, depending on the internet browser you are using:
- Google Chrome: chrome.exe
- Opera: opera.exe
- Firefox: firefox.exe
- Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe
Look at the example as shown on the image below.
Once is complete, press the “OK” button to save the changes. Please repeat this step for web browser shortcuts which redirects to an intrusive web sites. When you have completed, go to next step.
Remove Search by Zooms from Google Chrome
Reset Chrome settings is a easy way to delete the hijacker, harmful and adware extensions, as well as to recover the web browser’s home page, newtab and search engine by default that have been modified by hijacker infection.
First run the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will open the main menu. Further, click the option named “Settings”. Another way to show the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the browser adress bar and press Enter.
The web browser will show the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as shown below and click the “Reset settings” button.
The Chrome will display the confirmation prompt. You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The internet browser will launch the task of cleaning. After it’s done, the web-browser’s settings including startpage, newtab page and default search provider back to the values that have been when the Chrome was first installed on your personal computer.
Remove Search by Zooms search from Mozilla Firefox
If the FF web-browser program is hijacked, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring FF settings such as startpage, new tab and search engine by default to its default state. It will save your personal information such as saved passwords, bookmarks, and open tabs.
Start the Mozilla Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will show the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as on the image below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will start a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the Search by Zooms hijacker. After, it’s done, click the “Finish” button.
Remove Search by Zooms startpage from Internet Explorer
By resetting Internet Explorer web-browser you return your browser settings to its default state. This is first when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by hijacker such as Search by Zooms.
First, start the Microsoft Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (
). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” like below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then press the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown on the image below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.
You will now need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Use free malware removal utilities to completely remove Search by Zooms redirect
After completing the manual removal guide above all unwanted programs and internet browser’s addons that causes internet browser redirects to the Search by Zooms site should be deleted. If the problem with Search by Zooms browser hijacker infection is still remained, then we suggest to check your system for any remaining malicious components. Use recommended free hijacker removal applications below.
Get rid of Search by Zooms home page with Zemana Anti-malware
We suggest using the Zemana Anti-malware. You may download and install Zemana Anti-malware to find and get rid of Search by Zooms from your PC system. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover will automatically scan and detect all threats exist on the machine.
Now you can setup and use Zemana AntiMalware to remove Search by Zooms start page from your browser by following the steps below:
Click the link below to download Zemana AntiMalware installer called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your machine.
159542 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Start the setup file after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to setup this utility on your PC.
During setup you can change certain settings, but we suggest you do not make any changes to default settings.
When setup is done, this malicious software removal utility will automatically run and update itself. You will see its main window as on the image below.
Now press the “Scan” button It will scan through the whole computer for the hijacker that cause a redirect to Search by Zooms site. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware.
After the scan is finished, a list of all threats found is produced. You may move items to Quarantine (all selected by default) by simply click “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti Malware will delete Search by Zooms browser hijacker infection and other browser’s malicious add-ons. When finished, you can be prompted to reboot your computer to make the change take effect.
Run Malwarebytes to get rid of Search by Zooms
Remove Search by Zooms hijacker manually is difficult and often the browser hijacker is not completely removed. Therefore, we suggest you to use the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your PC system. Moreover, the free program will help you to remove malicious software, potentially unwanted software, toolbars and ad supported software that your computer can be infected too.
- Download Malwarebytes (MBAM) from the link below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
317658 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- When the download is complete, close all programs and windows on your system. Open a file location. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup.
- Further, click Next button and follow the prompts.
- Once install is done, click the “Scan Now” button to begin scanning your PC system for the Search by Zooms hijacker infection and other malicious software and adware. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you may see number of objects and files has already scanned.
- After that process is done, it’ll open a screen that contains a list of malicious software that has been found. Review the results once the tool has complete the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Quarantine Selected”. Once that process is complete, you may be prompted to restart your system.
The following video offers a guide on how to delete hijackers, ad-supported software and other malware with Malwarebytes.
Use AdwCleaner to remove Search by Zooms search
If MalwareBytes anti malware or Zemana antimalware cannot delete this hijacker, then we suggests to run the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal utility for browser hijacker infections, adware, PUPs and toolbars.
- Download AdwCleaner from the following link.
AdwCleaner download
220757 downloads
Version: 8.3.2
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 28, 2022
- Select the file location as Desktop, and then click Save.
- After the download is finished, start the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
- Read the “Terms of use”, and click Accept.
- In the AdwCleaner window, click the “Scan” It will scan through the whole machine for the Search by Zooms browser hijacker and other kinds of potential threats such as malware and adware. This task may take some time, so please be patient.
- As the scanning ends, the results are displayed in the scan report. When you’re ready, click “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to restart your PC system, press “OK”.
The steps shown in detail in the following video.
How to stop Search by Zooms search
It is also critical to protect your web browsers from malicious web pages and advertisements by using an adblocker program like AdGuard. Security experts says that it will greatly reduce the risk of malware, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.
Download AdGuard application by clicking on the following link.
25670 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
Once downloading is done, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the image below.
Follow the prompts. When the install is finished, you will see a window as shown below.
You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and block pop-up advertisements, sites such Search by Zooms, as well as other malicious or misleading web-sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.
How can you prevent the Search by Zooms browser hijacker
Many hijackers like Search by Zooms come from browser toolbars, internet browser extensions, BHOs (browser helper objects) and optional applications. Most often, these items claim itself as programs which improve your experience on the Net by providing a fast and interactive homepage or a search engine that does not track you. Remember, how to avoid the unwanted programs. Be cautious, run only reputable software which download from reputable sources. NEVER install an unknown and suspicious program.
To sum up
Once you’ve done the step-by-step guide shown above, your PC system should be clean from browser hijacker infections, adware and malware. The Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, IE and Edge will no longer show Search by Zooms annoying home page on startup. Unfortunately, if the guidance does not help you, then you have caught a new browser hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
