Search.com redirect virus is an annoying browser hijacker which
secretly alters default settings of Firefox, Chrome and Internet
explorer and then redirects search results from Google to
http://Search.com. That website is an online search engine like Google
but it uses malicious tactics to attract more users because it is a
commercial web which earns money through the advertisements displayed to
users on infected PCs. The Search.com tool-bar if installed, changes
DNS and home page without user permission. You will be irritated with
frequent redirects when searching on Internet.
There are two main sourced of being infected by Search.com redirect virus. First, you might have downloaded it yourself from its official site, secondly, it can get installed on a computer bundled with freeware programs. In the case two, user is mostly unaware of this program, one gets to know about this problem when his home page and Google search results lead to http://Search.com or this search bar starts appearing as a toolbar in the browser. This application makes the system slow down and collects user information through cookies. It should be eliminated in order to surf the web safely.
Disadvantages and risks of having Search.com toolbar:
To manually remove Search.com toolbar, follow the instructions.
First of all, Uninstall the program. (Skip to the next step if the application is not listed in Control Panel).
“Start > Settings > Control Panel. Now Locate and open “Add or Remove Programs” or “PROGRAMS AND FEATURES”. Find “Search.com toolbar”. Now click Uninstall/Remove.
Now remove the program from Browser.
Internet Explorer users:
Click “Tools” (if on Internet Explorer 9, click gear icon), Then “Manage Add-ons”. Look for Search.com toolbar. Disable if found any.
Block pop-ups of Search.com toolbar
To stop pop-ups from malware,
Click on TOOLS > POP-UP BLOCKER, then click TURN ON POP-UP BLOCKER. and then go to POP-UP BLOCKER SETTINGS. (Type any website you wish to block popups from)
Firefox users:
Go to “Tools” (at the top), > “Add-ons” > “Extensions” and disable “Search.com toolbar”
Chrome Users:
Click “Tools/Settings” (Wrench incon), > “Add-ons” > “Extensions” and disable any file associate with malware.
Still Spyware Search.com toolbar lurking in the system? Remove manually
Stop processes of this malware:
Open Task Manager to stop processes.
Remove associated registry settings:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\urlsearchhook.toolbarurlsearchhook
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\urlsearchhook.toolbarurlsearchhook
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\extensions,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\webbrowser
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “.exe”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings “WarnonBadCertRecving” = ’0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop “NoChangingWallPaper” = ’1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments “SaveZoneInformation” = ’1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System “DisableTaskMgr” = ’1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download “CheckExeSignatures” = ‘no’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main “Use FormSuggest” = ‘yes’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced “ShowSuperHidden” = 0
Delete Search.com toolbar infected files:
%Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\
%ProgramFiles%\
%UserProfile%\
There are two main sourced of being infected by Search.com redirect virus. First, you might have downloaded it yourself from its official site, secondly, it can get installed on a computer bundled with freeware programs. In the case two, user is mostly unaware of this program, one gets to know about this problem when his home page and Google search results lead to http://Search.com or this search bar starts appearing as a toolbar in the browser. This application makes the system slow down and collects user information through cookies. It should be eliminated in order to surf the web safely.
Disadvantages and risks of having Search.com toolbar:
- It may change & corrupt default settings of browsers like Firefox, Chrome or Internet explorer
- Changes home page and displays unwanted pop-ups advertisements
- Causes frequent web redirects to wrong websites, hijacks search engine settings and leads to unexpected webpages
- Keeps record of browsing activities and interests
- Collects Personal user information which may include sensitive financial data such as logins, usernames, accounts
- It may bring further infections are direct the user to infectious sites
- Makes the browser run slow, uses a big part of system resources
To manually remove Search.com toolbar, follow the instructions.
First of all, Uninstall the program. (Skip to the next step if the application is not listed in Control Panel).
“Start > Settings > Control Panel. Now Locate and open “Add or Remove Programs” or “PROGRAMS AND FEATURES”. Find “Search.com toolbar”. Now click Uninstall/Remove.
Now remove the program from Browser.
Internet Explorer users:
Click “Tools” (if on Internet Explorer 9, click gear icon), Then “Manage Add-ons”. Look for Search.com toolbar. Disable if found any.
Block pop-ups of Search.com toolbar
To stop pop-ups from malware,
Click on TOOLS > POP-UP BLOCKER, then click TURN ON POP-UP BLOCKER. and then go to POP-UP BLOCKER SETTINGS. (Type any website you wish to block popups from)
Go to “Tools” (at the top), > “Add-ons” > “Extensions” and disable “Search.com toolbar”
Click “Tools/Settings” (Wrench incon), > “Add-ons” > “Extensions” and disable any file associate with malware.
Still Spyware Search.com toolbar lurking in the system? Remove manually
Stop processes of this malware:
Open Task Manager to stop processes.
Remove associated registry settings:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\urlsearchhook.toolbarurlsearchhook
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\classes\urlsearchhook.toolbarurlsearchhook
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\extensions,
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\microsoft\internet explorer\toolbar\webbrowser
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “.exe”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings “WarnonBadCertRecving” = ’0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop “NoChangingWallPaper” = ’1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments “SaveZoneInformation” = ’1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System “DisableTaskMgr” = ’1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download “CheckExeSignatures” = ‘no’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main “Use FormSuggest” = ‘yes’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced “ShowSuperHidden” = 0
Delete Search.com toolbar infected files:
%Profile%\Local Settings\Temp\
%ProgramFiles%\
%UserProfile%\
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