What is Zingload?
The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Zingload is adware. These adware applications display advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing.
How do I know if my computer is affected by Zingload?
You may see this entry in your list of installed programs:
and notice that the shortcuts for your browsers on the desktop, in the taskbar, and in the startmenu have been altered:
This will be the page that opens when you start those browsers:
and these setting in Chrome (as an example):
How did Zingload get on my computer?
Adware applications use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.
How do I remove Zingload?
Our program Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.
- Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
- Double-click mbam-setup-{version}.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
- At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to:
Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Then click Finish.
- Once the program has loaded, select Scan Now. Or select the Threat Scan from the Scan menu.
- If an update is available, it will be implemented before the rest of the scanning procedure.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that all Threats are selected, and click Remove Selected.
- Restart your computer when prompted to do so.
- You should have a look at Restore Browser page. You can read there how to fix additional browser redirect methods.
We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.
As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Zingload adware. It would have warned you before the adware could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.
Technical details for experts
Possible signs in FRST logs:
GroupPolicy: Restriction - Chrome <======= ATTENTION CHR HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google: Restriction <======= ATTENTION StartMenuInternet: IEXPLORE.EXE - C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} FF Homepage: hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=hp&uid={uid} FF SearchPlugin: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\nch5mqsa.default\searchplugins\zingload.xml [2016-07-15] StartMenuInternet: FIREFOX.EXE - C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} CHR HomePage: Default -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=hp&uid={uid} CHR StartupUrls: Default -> "hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=hp&uid={uid}" StartMenuInternet: Google Chrome - C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Temp\1468571993VkJPWtmp.exe FastCompress-Zip_1.0.2.3_Release (HKLM-x32\...\FastCompress-Zip) (Version: - ) ShortcutWithArgument: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Google Chrome.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe (Google Inc.) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} ShortcutWithArgument: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Google Chrome.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe (Google Inc.) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} ShortcutWithArgument: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\Mozilla Firefox.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe (Mozilla Corporation) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} ShortcutWithArgument: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Google Chrome.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe (Google Inc.) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} ShortcutWithArgument: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Mozilla Firefox.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe (Mozilla Corporation) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} ShortcutWithArgument: C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Google Chrome.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe (Google Inc.) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} ShortcutWithArgument: C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Mozilla Firefox.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe (Mozilla Corporation) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid} ShortcutWithArgument: C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Opera.lnk -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\launcher.exe (Opera Software) -> hxxp://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}Alterations made by the installer:
File system details [View: All details] (Selection) --------------------------------------------------- In the existing folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs Alters the file Google Chrome.lnk 6/28/2016 9:16 AM, 2195 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 2343 bytes, A Alters the file Mozilla Firefox.lnk 2/8/2016 1:27 PM, 1159 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 1307 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default Alters the file Secure Preferences 7/8/2016 8:40 AM, 37517 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 38068 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch Alters the file Google Chrome.lnk 2/10/2016 11:39 AM, 2279 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 2427 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar Alters the file Google Chrome.lnk 3/3/2016 10:14 AM, 2393 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 2541 bytes, A Alters the file Mozilla Firefox.lnk 6/20/2016 11:24 AM, 1159 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 1331 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default Alters the file prefs.js 7/15/2016 10:33 AM, 10586 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 10703 bytes, A Adds the file search-metadata.json"="7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 89 bytes, A Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{profile}.default\searchplugins Adds the file zingload.xml"="7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 534 bytes, A In the existing folder C:\Users\Public\Desktop Alters the file Google Chrome.lnk 6/28/2016 9:16 AM, 2183 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 2331 bytes, A Alters the file Mozilla Firefox.lnk 2/8/2016 1:27 PM, 1147 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 1295 bytes, A Alters the file Opera.lnk 2/8/2016 1:39 PM, 1135 bytes, A ==> 7/15/2016 10:40 AM, 1259 bytes, A Registry details [View: All details] (Selection) ------------------------------------------------ [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command] "(Default)" = REG_SZ, ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\Google Chrome\shell\open\command] "(Default)" = REG_SZ, ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\IEXPLORE.EXE\shell\open\command] "(Default)" = REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\OperaStable\shell\open\command] "(Default)" = REG_SZ, ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\Launcher.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome] "DefaultSearchProviderEnabled"="REG_SZ", "1" "DefaultSearchProviderKeyword"="REG_SZ", "zingload" "DefaultSearchProviderName"="REG_SZ", "Google" "DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL"="REG_SZ", "http://search.zingload.com/web?type=ds&x=fqxavzjbkb-292c0d15&uid={uid}&q={searchTerms}"Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log:
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware www.malwarebytes.org Scan Date: 7/15/2016 Scan Time: 1:20 PM Logfile: mbamZingload.txt Administrator: Yes Version: 2.2.1.1043 Malware Database: v2016.07.15.04 Rootkit Database: v2016.05.27.01 License: Premium Malware Protection: Enabled Malicious Website Protection: Enabled Self-protection: Enabled OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 CPU: x64 File System: NTFS User: {username} Scan Type: Threat Scan Result: Completed Objects Scanned: 315109 Time Elapsed: 13 min, 39 sec Memory: Enabled Startup: Enabled Filesystem: Enabled Archives: Enabled Rootkits: Enabled Heuristics: Enabled PUP: Enabled PUM: Enabled Processes: 0 (No malicious items detected) Modules: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Keys: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Values: 0 (No malicious items detected) Registry Data: 6 PUP.Optional.Zingload, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLIENTS\STARTMENUINTERNET\FIREFOX.EXE\SHELL\OPEN\COMMAND, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}, Good: (firefox.exe), Bad: ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}),Replaced,[a1af37ed88123cfae19a773b00049868] PUP.Optional.Zingload, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLIENTS\STARTMENUINTERNET\GOOGLE CHROME\SHELL\OPEN\COMMAND, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}, Good: (Chrome.exe), Bad: ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}),Replaced,[5df351d3aeec082e602050629c68df21] PUP.Optional.Zingload, HKLM\SOFTWARE\CLIENTS\STARTMENUINTERNET\IEXPLORE.EXE\SHELL\OPEN\COMMAND, C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}, Good: (iexplore.exe), Bad: (C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}),Replaced,[d67adc488b0f55e1fd7f318110f47987] PUP.Optional.Zingload, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLIENTS\STARTMENUINTERNET\FIREFOX.EXE\SHELL\OPEN\COMMAND, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}, Good: (firefox.exe), Bad: ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}),Replaced,[0c44061e9a0079bd1665fab80ff5d927] PUP.Optional.Zingload, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLIENTS\STARTMENUINTERNET\GOOGLE CHROME\SHELL\OPEN\COMMAND, "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}, Good: (Chrome.exe), Bad: ("C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}),Replaced,[f858b86c82180f276e12585ad52f18e8] PUP.Optional.Zingload, HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\CLIENTS\STARTMENUINTERNET\IEXPLORE.EXE\SHELL\OPEN\COMMAND, C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}, Good: (iexplore.exe), Bad: (C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://www.zingload.com/?type=ll&uid={uid}),Replaced,[4a06c163bedc0e287606436fcf35fd03] Folders: 0 (No malicious items detected) Files: 1 Trojan.Downloader, C:\Users\{username}\Desktop\InstallDingjDlr.exe, Quarantined, [2a26ad77207a1422ea33717b3ac729d7], Physical Sectors: 0 (No malicious items detected) (end)As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):
- Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
- Malware Execution Prevention