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Can’t Remove Zip Cruncher? This page includes detailed Zip Cruncher Removal instructions!
Zip Cruncher is supposed to be a free file compressor and extractor. Unfortunately, it is more than that. It is an ad-generating parasite which opens your browser to targeted adverts and surveillance. Security experts have categorized the app as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program). Despite the name of the category, there is nothing potential in your situation. You don’t want this parasite for sure. The PUP is programmed to take control of your web browser and to turn it into an ad-displaying tool. The parasite injects various advertisements on every website you open. For every ad you click on, its owners generate revenue. They get even more money for every sponsored website you get automatically redirected to. And so, that is exactly what their parasite does. It bombards your adverts and redirects your web traffic to sponsored pages. Unfortunately, this aggressive advertising is not safe. The adverts you are exposed to are not random. The Zip Cruncher PUP uses trickery to display appealing advertisements. It monitors your browsing-related data. The parasite knows your every online step. Which websites you visit, what search inquiries you make, what links you follow. Even the Incognito mode of your browser cannot hide you. Everything you do online is recorded and analyzed. This is the tricky part. Anyone can buy access to the data. All sorts of crooks do. They use the PUP and its resources to target potential victims. Be very careful what you do online. Do not reveal sensitive information. With the PUP active on your computer, the risk is too high. Your best course of action is the immediate removal of the parasite. The sooner it’s gone, the better!
How did I get infected with Zip Cruncher?
The Zip Cruncher PUP has an official download. It can also be downloaded off several online platforms. Yet, the majority of its “users” have no idea how did it manage to enter their devices. The thing is, this parasite cannot infect your device on its own. To enter your OS, it needs help. Your help! That is right. You were the one who installed the PUP. Not intentionally, of course. The parasite tricked you. It stole your permission through trickery. This intruder lurks behind software bundles and fake updates. One second of carelessness is all it needs to infect your device. Do not make its job easier. Don’t be careless. Always do your due diligence. Especially when you are about to install a program. Many software developers attach extra apps to the payload files of their programs. If you are not careful, you may install the extras unintentionally. To prevent this, opt for the Advanced/Custom option in the Setup Wizard. Under it, you will be presented with a list of all extras that are about to be installed. Deselect them. You don’t need such software. If you truly wanted it, you would have downloaded it by yourself. Also, don’t skip the Terms and Conditions. If you don’t have the time to read the whole document, use an online EULA analyzer to scan it. If you detect anything out of the ordinary, abort the installation.
Why is Zip Cruncher dangerous?
The Zip Cruncher PUP is not safe. If it was, it’s EULA wouldn’t have to disclose that children under the age of 13 are not to use it. This parasite tracks your activities. Even worse, it uses the collected data against you. The PUP turns you into an easy target! Anyone willing to pay can target you with customized adverts. All sorts of crooks do. They use the collected data to prepare irresistible adverts. But when you click on these ads, bad thing happen. With the PUP on board, you are more likely to be redirected to a bogus website than to a legitimate one. You may end up on scam pages and potentially infected ones. You risk your privacy and security. You also risk losing real money. The crooks target your wallet. They have created numerous online scams which steal personal and financial information. They also found numerous ways to steal your contact information. This is a serious problem. As if it’s not enough that the PUP ruins your browsing experience, but it helps the crooks to do the same via email and other messaging platforms. Do not put up with this situation. Do not allow this small annoyance to escalate into a huge problem. Remove the Zip Cruncher PUP before it gets out of control!
How Can I Remove Zip Cruncher?
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If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Zip Cruncher infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.
- Open your task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
- Locate the process of Zip Cruncher.exe and kill it
- Open your windows registry editor by typing”regedit” in the windows search box
Navigate to (Depending on your OS version)
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
and delete the display Name: Zip Cruncher
Simultaneously press the Windows Logo Button and then “R” to open the Run Command
Type “Appwiz.cpl”
Locate the Zip Cruncher program and click on uninstall/change. To facilitate the search you can sort the programs by date. Review the most recent installed programs first. In general you should remove all unknown programs.
Navigate to C:/Program Files and delete Zip Cruncher folder. Double check with any antimalware program for any leftovers. Keep your software up-to date!