How to get rid of redirects to and from zingload.com?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is zingload.com?
Zingload.com is a fake Internet search engine that falsely claims to enhance web browsing experience by generating the most relevant search results. These false claims often trick users into believing that zingload.com is a legitimate website. However, it is promoted using deceptive software, which stealthily modifies browser settings without user permission.
These untrustworthy products are classified as browser hijackers. Zingload.com has been observed being promoted by the Sogo DS browser hijacker.
Furthermore, both illegitimate search engines and browser hijackers typically track users' browsing activity and collect user/system information of interest. Due to the questionable techniques used to distribute browser hijackers, they are also deemed to be PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).
Browser hijackers target the Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and other popular browsers. This dubious software operates by assigning the addresses of fake web searchers (e.g. zingload.com) as browsers' homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs.
Hence, with a browser hijacker installed (e.g. Sogo DS): every new browser tab/window opened and web search done through the URL bar - redirect to zingload.com or other illegitimate search engines.
The web searchers promoted by browser hijackers are seldom capable of providing search results, so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Google, Yahoo, Bing and other legitimate search engines. In the rare cases, when fake web searching tools can generate search results - they tend to be inaccurate and/or contain untrustworthy and malicious websites.
At the time of research, with Sogo DS installed the aforementioned actions caused two different redirection chains. One example began with zingload.com, then redirected to my-search.com, amazonaws.com and culminated in searchnewshighlights.com.
The other example likewise began with zingload.com and firstly redirected to my-search.com, then to search-checker.com and ended with the Bing (bing.com) - a legitimate search engine. Additionally, browser hijackers can install a number of "helper objects" (third party software) to prevent the modifications they make from being reset.
Therefore, recovering an affected browser is impossible without removing the browser hijacker, since any changes users attempt to make to their browsers can be automatically undone (if access to the browser's settings is not denied outright). As mentioned in the introduction, browser hijackers and illegitimate search engines usually have data tracking abilities.
They can record: IP addresses, searched queries, visited websites, viewed pages, and other similar data. This information may seem insignificant, however it can contain private details. What is more, browser hijacker / fake web searcher developers share the gathered information with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), similarly seeking to misuse it to generate revenue.
In summary, presence and/or use of data-tracking content can lead to serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To ensure device and user safety - all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed without delay.
| Name | zingload.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Serving IP Address | 104.31.72.178 |
| Browser Extension(s) | Sogo DS (may vary) |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are thousands of fake Internet search engines that share many similarities with zingload.com, including s3arch.page, searchmulty.com, search-7.com and countless others. Practically all illegitimate search engines claim to generate especially accurate search results - to create the impression of legitimacy.
Sites like zingload.com are designed to generate profit for the developers and provide no genuine value to users. Browser hijackers and PUAs in general - also appear ordinary and offer a wide variety of "useful" functionalities, which are rarely operational.
FunSearchToday, MegaAp, Ultra Tab - are a few examples of browser hijackers. Instead of delivering on any advertised features, PUAs can hijack browsers, cause redirects, run intrusive advertisement campaigns and/or gather personally identifiable information.
How did zingload.com install on my computer?
Some PUAs (e.g. Sogo DS, which promotes zingload.com) have "official" promotional webpages, from which they can be downloaded. These applications can also be downloaded/installed together with other products. This deceptive marketing method of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions - is called "bundling".
Any details concerning supplementary products and/or dubious behavior (e.g. modification of browser settings) - are usually hidden within the "Custom" or "Advanced" download/installation options.
Therefore by rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. by selecting "Easy" or "Express" options, etc.) - users risk inadvertently allowing bundled and/or suspicious content into their devices. Thereby exposing the systems to the risk of potential infections and compromising their own privacy.
Intrusive adverts proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to make stealthy downloads/installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to research products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. All downloads must be done from official and verified sources. Untrustworthy download channels, e.g. unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders - commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content.
When downloading/installing, it is important to read terms, carefully analyze each step/section, select the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out from additionally-included apps, tools, functions, etc. Furthermore, it is crucial not to allow set-ups to make changes to settings that are irrelevant to the installation (e.g. browser or other software setting modification).
Intrusive advertisements appear legitimate, however they redirect to various unreliable and questionable websites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, users must inspect their devices and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
Sogo DS browser hijacker (which promotes zingload.com) asking for various permissions:
Appearance example of Sogo DS browser hijacker promoting zingload.com (redirection chain ending with searchnewshighlights.com) GIF:
Appearance example of Sogo DS browser hijacker promoting zingload.com (redirection chain ending with the Bing search engine) GIF:
Websites used to promote Sogo DS browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is zingload.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove zingload.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove zingload.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove zingload.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove zingload.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
zingload.com redirect removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the zingload.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
zingload.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://zingload.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "zingload.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the zingload.com browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.zingload.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "zingload.com" when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the zingload.com browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove all recently installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://zingload.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with zingload.com browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the zingload.com browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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