What is zoek.exe?
zoek.exe is part of Zoek and developed by http://hijackthis.nl/smeenk according to the zoek.exe version information.
zoek.exe's description is "Search Tool"
zoek.exe is usually located in the 'c:\users\%USERNAME%\downloads\zoek\' folder.
Some of the anti-virus scanners at VirusTotal detected zoek.exe.
If you have additional information about the file, please share it with the FreeFixer users by posting a comment at the bottom of this page.
Vendor and version information [?]
The following is the available information on zoek.exe:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Product name | Zoek |
| Company name | http://hijackthis.nl/smeenk |
| File description | Search Tool |
| Internal name | zoek.exe |
| Legal copyright | 2010 - 2014 (c) Smeenk http://www.hijackthos.nl |
| Product version | 5,0,0,0 |
| File version | 5,0,0,0 |
Here's a screenshot of the file properties when displayed by Windows Explorer:
| Product name | Zoek |
| Company name | http://hijackthis.nl/smeenk |
| File description | Search Tool |
| Internal name | zoek.exe |
| Legal copyright | 2010 - 2014 (c) Smeenk http://www.hi.. |
| Product version | 5,0,0,0 |
| File version | 5,0,0,0 |
Digital signatures [?]
zoek.exe is not signed.
VirusTotal report
5 of the 49 anti-virus programs at VirusTotal detected the zoek.exe file. That's a 10% detection rate.
| Scanner | Detection Name |
|---|---|
| CMC | Packed.Win32.Zcrypt.3!O |
| McAfee-GW-Edition | Heuristic.BehavesLike.Win32.Suspicious-PKR.S |
| Sophos | NirCmd |
| Symantec | WS.Reputation.1 |
| TrendMicro-HouseCall | TROJ_GEN.R047H0AAF14 |
zoek.exe removal instructions
The instructions below shows how to remove zoek.exe with help from the FreeFixer removal tool. Basically, you install FreeFixer, scan your computer, check the zoek.exe file for removal, restart your computer and scan it again to verify that zoek.exe has been successfully removed. Here are the removal instructions in more detail:
- Download and install FreeFixer: http://www.freefixer.com/download.html
- Start FreeFixer and press the Start Scan button. The scan will finish in approximately five minutes.
- When the scan is finished, locate zoek.exe in the scan result and tick the checkbox next to the zoek.exe file. Do not check any other file for removal unless you are 100% sure you want to delete it. Tip: Press CTRL-F to open up FreeFixer's search dialog to quickly locate zoek.exe in the scan result.
c:\users\%USERNAME%\downloads\zoek\zoek.exe 
- Scroll down to the bottom of the scan result and press the Fix button. FreeFixer will now delete the zoek.exe file.
- Restart your computer.
- Start FreeFixer and scan your computer again. If zoek.exe still remains in the scan result, proceed with the next step. If zoek.exe is gone from the scan result you're done.
- If zoek.exe still remains in the scan result, check its checkbox again in the scan result and click Fix.
- Restart your computer.
- Start FreeFixer and scan your computer again. Verify that zoek.exe no longer appear in the scan result.
Hashes [?]
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| MD5 | 084be4d9b1c2b51f423c97285b89e558 |
| SHA256 | 2e147c84e18b33ba9b322457aaf402526f9be3fd85dde6c61188e5291d96623b |
Error Messages
These are some of the error messages that can appear related to zoek.exe:
zoek.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
zoek.exe - Application Error. The instruction at "0xXXXXXXXX" referenced memory at "0xXXXXXXXX". The memory could not be "read/written". Click on OK to terminate the program.
Search Tool has stopped working.
End Program - zoek.exe. This program is not responding.
zoek.exe is not a valid Win32 application.
zoek.exe - Application Error. The application failed to initialize properly (0xXXXXXXXX). Click OK to terminate the application.
What will you do with zoek.exe?
To help other users, please let us know what you will do with zoek.exe:
What did other users do?
The poll result listed below shows what users chose to do with zoek.exe. 28% have voted for removal. Based on votes from 46 users.
NOTE: Please do not use this poll as the only source of input to determine what you will do with zoek.exe.
Comments
Please share with the other users what you think about this file. What does this file do? Is it legitimate or something that your computer is better without? Do you know how it was installed on your system? Did you install it yourself or did it come bundled with some other software? Is it running smoothly or do you get some error message? Any information that will help to document this file is welcome. Thank you for your contributions.
I'm reading all new comments so don't hesitate to post a question about the file. If I don't have the answer perhaps another user can help you.
For what it's worth, Zoek.exe saved me from tearing what remains of my hair out.
MBAM and Spyhunter could not get rid of what appeared to be a set of very annoying adware related viruses. Zoek.exe did.
All the virus/s did was to to cause my anti-virus software to issue alarm notices, with bleeps, in a series of popups.
This happened mainly when connecting or disconnecting to the internet. Some of the listed url's were: www.reduled.info, www.blackled.info, www.blackfight.info.
Anyway - full marks to Smeenk for this really great solution, which appears to work across many different Windows platforms (I'm running Windows 8.1). It also creates a system restore point!
# 19 May 2015, 16:33
Anne Ramalho writes
Zoek.exe removed an extension that was causing me endless problems (UtubeADBlock) - I am finally free of the endless pop-ups.
# 11 Sep 2015, 17:03
james halliday writes
is there anyway to undue the changes zoek made? it scrambled my password manager.
# 22 Sep 2016, 17:49
Simon Morgan writes