Remove Zhinku.info Redirect (Chrome, Firefox, IE)

Obviously, Zhinku.info isn’t harmless. We wouldn’t be preparing a removal guide if this program was as great as it claims to be. It has been classified as a browser hijacker. A typical browser hijacker, to be more specific. Even though it doesn’t shine with originality, the virus is more than capable of causing damage. Are you willing to try out this program’s malicious potential? Are you willing to keep a nasty parasite on your PC knowing perfectly well it’s dangerous? Don’t be naive. The sooner you tackle this infection, the better. Hijackers are certainly not a threat to be taken lightly. Zhinku.info has to be uninstalled ASAP. The virus gets installed completely behind your back. That is because you wouldn’t download this pest voluntarily. You’ll notice that your browsers are now modified. Once again, your permission or authorization isn’t required. Zhinku.info adds a plugin or extension to your browsers. It also modifies your search engine and default homepage. Both are now replaced with the parasite’s own (questionable) domain. Don’t even for a minute forget that you’re dealing with a virus. Zhinku.info’s very last concern is to enhance your browsing experience. Its real purpose is much more prosaic and aggravating. It involves money. You see, hackers modify your browsers so they get control over them. As a result, crooks generate web traffic to some particular pages. They actually use the pay-per-click mechanism to gain illegitimate profit online. The problem is that you end up exposed to malware in the process. By keeping the hijacker on board, you become a sponsor of crooks. Furthermore, a sponsored link is never to be trusted. That means all seemingly safe search results displayed by the parasite are unreliable. Sponsored links may be leading you straight to malicious websites filled with viruses. You’re now one click away from compromising your device further. To prevent that, stay away from ANYTHING generated by the hijacker. Clicking is not a risk worth taking. We’re talking search results, pop-up ads, product deals and commercials, even software updates. Zhinku.info is boosting web traffic and exposing you to infections. It could bring along all sorts of parasites straight to your PC screen. To top it all, this nuisance puts your privacy in danger too. It collects browsing-related information and sends your data to crooks. Nobody could feel safe while hackers are spying on their details.

How did I get infected with?

As mentioned, the parasite didn’t rely on your cooperation. It took advantage of your distraction instead. Most infections get distributed via secretive, sneaky techniques. This pest is no exception. The easiest infiltration method involves freeware and shareware bundles. Do you often download questionable bundles off of the Internet? You might want to change that habit in the future. Avoid installing illegitimate programs, especially if they come bundled. That could save you quite the headache so watch out. Skipping installation steps leaves your PC vulnerable too. We would recommend that you opt for the Advanced or Custom option in the Setup Wizard. Yes, this is indeed more time-consuming than clicking “I agree”. However, it will save you much more time, energy and nerves in the long run. Also, keep an eye out for dangerous websites and unverified programs. Some parasites get sent to your inbox as spam messages and emails. Delete anything you don’t trust and make sure your computer remains safe. You won’t regret it. Remember, your security depends on your caution.

Why is this dangerous?

The virus messes with your default browser settings. After all, it isn’t named a browser hijacker for nothing. Zhinku.info installs a plugin which works with all your browsers. Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer are now untrustworthy. Their settings are altered without you even knowing it. You might stumble across some random toolbars added by the virus too. As mentioned, all these tricks aim at boosting web traffic. You get redirected to bizarre websites which may or may not be harmless. The hijacker might generate sponsored pop-ups and other unreliable commercials. Restrain yourself from clicking these misleading advertisements and be careful. Don’t allow cyber criminals to wreak havoc and harm you. Zhinku.info also causes privacy issues. It slows the PC speed to a crawl. Your browsers now crash and freeze and the Internet connection becomes unstable. Long story short, this program doesn’t belong on your machine. To delete it manually, please follow our detailed removal guide down below.

How to Remove Zhinku.info virus

The Zhinku.info infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Zhinku.info 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.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Zhinku.info infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Zhinku.info in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Zhinku.info startup location

STEP 3: Delete Zhinku.info traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Zhinku.info in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Zhinku.info startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Zhinku.info virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[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: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean Zhinku.info traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Zhinku.info by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Zhinku.info

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Zhinku.info, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove Zhinku.info argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Zhinku.info Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.