Search Protect Redirect Virus Removal Guide

Search Protect is as dangerous as it sounds, which is a malicious browser hijacker that can cause serious PC problems. The browser hijacker forces those whose computers are infected with it to visit Search Protect whenever they start browsers or click on certain links. The purpose of the creator of this browser hijacker is to generate traffic and make pay-per-link profits. In brief, the cyber criminals created this browser hijacker with the ultimate goal of making money. It is strongly recommended that keep your mouse pointer away from any pop-up window about Search Protect and unsafe links, otherwise your computer would get a chance to contain ransomware, spyware or other malware.

Consequences Brought by Search Protect Redirect Virus

Once Search Protect has been installed to the infected browser successfully, the Internet settings on the infected browser will be totally modified. To be more detailed, default browser settings as start page and search engine will be altered by it. The browser hijacker may lead to a number of problems and interrupt users when they are browsing the web, such as keep redirecting users to visit its own site or other specific sites. Besides, the redirect virus may deliver a lot of attractive pop-ups on users’ browsers. Those ads are usually include ads, coupons, deals, revenues, pop-banner, and sponsored links, which are utilized to rope victims into purchasing some fake or non-existent products or services. To avoid the scanning of antivirus and security programs, it is capable of changing its name and location and even disabling your executable programs. Furthermore, cyber criminals may collect their confidential information for illegal use.

How to Remove Search Protect from an Infected Computer?

It may not be an easy task to remove the redirect virus, since it will deep hide its related files in the infected system. Thus, if its files can’t be deleted completely, the browser hijacker might come back again and again even if you have restored all the settings which have been altered by it. To remove Search Protect redirect virus infection, we suggest you a complete machine cleaning.

Guide to Remove Search Protect Redirect Virus from the Infected PC

1. Stop the running unwanted processes via Windows Task Manager

1) Press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys at the same time to open the Task Manager.
2) In the default Processes tab, search for the related processes of Search Protect then select them, click on the End Process button to disable them all.

2. Remove the related programs of Search Protect from the computer

1) Click on the Start icon to open the menu then click on Control Panel.
2) Find out the Programs headline in the pop-up window, then click on the Uninstall a Program link under it.
3) In the Programs and Features, search for the related programs of Search Protect from the list, select them then click on the Uninstall on the top column to remove them one by one.
4) Confirm the uninstall request then follow the wizard to complete the removal.

3. Reset the browser and restore the browser

1) Start the browser.
2) Reset the browser settings to clean the traces left by Search Protect.

Internet Explorer
Click on Tools-> click on Internet Options-> click on Advanced tab-> click on Reset button.

Mozilla Firefox
Click on Firefox button-> locate Help-> click on Troubleshooting Information-> click on the Reset Firefox button.

Google Chrome
Click on wrench icon-> click on Settings-> click on Show Advanced Settings link-> click on Reset Browser Settings button.

3) Reset the browser homepage manually.

Internet Explorer
Click on General tab in the Internet Options dialog-> type a new address in the homepage box-> save the changes.

Mozilla Firefox
Click on Options from the Firefox menu-> click on General tab-> input a correct URL in the homepage section-> save the modification.

Google Chrome
Find out the Advance section in the Settings-> select the Show Home Button-> click on the displayed Change link-> set a new address as the homepage then save the reset.

4) Reboot the browser once finished.

Conclusion

Search Protect can enter a target computer via many different ways, but it mainly comes bundled with freeware/shareware that downloaded from some unsafe websites, so many users do not realize that this nasty virus is downloaded on their computer together with the software they want. Besides, the browser hijacker usually hides its real intent in the End-User License Agreement, which is usually ignored by many computer users. When installing a program, some users don’t care much about what is going on. As thus, Search Protect browser hijacker or other malicious add-ons can be installed on the target computers and then carry out a lot of harmful activities. Then it sends the collected information to the remote severs for illegal benefits, such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, logon names, passwords, ID and other personal information. This will help Search Protect finally redirects browser search results to the web pages run by its adware creators. Have difficulty in removing the browser hijacker manually? Download and use a powerful removal tool right now!