How to Remove Search Protect Redirect Virus from Your Computer?
Search Protect is an aggressive redirect virus which can control over the web browsers in the infected computers and modify the Internet settings, changing the original homepage and search engine to Search Protect without any permission. By this means, the the tricky redirect virus will completely take control of the user’s default search service. This redirect virus has a seemingly legitimate interface which misleads most users into thinking that it is a useful website providing the search function as Google does, and some users really use the unsafe search engine to do a search, and as a result, they are constantly redirected to some suspicious websites.
Search Protect has the ability to block the access to some legitimate sites, such as antivirus software download centers, and redirect users to specific websites which contain thousands of advertisements and sponsored links. The threat not only hijacks the browsers, but also delivers constant pop-up ads on the target computer screen, especially when users launch some third-party applications, so as to attract users to click on those ads and have a visit. In general, this redirect virus is designed to serve advertising sites to PC users so that hijacker can make profit. Many innocent users are attracted by commodity sales promotion, activity coupons, discounts on goods, bargains, etc. If you click on a coupon or discounts tips on the site, you will be led to another webpage or give the approval to download some third-party programs without your notice.
Just because that Search Protect redirect virus could meet some users’ requirements, so they do not consider this redirect virus as a threat that would bring much trouble to their computers and personal information. This redirect virus can modify users’ browse settings, easily allowing other harmful toolbars or plug-ins to get installed on the browsers. Moreover, the Search Protect will provide random web links to ignorant users, which are likely to be corrupted by cyber criminals. Due to the entire burden the redirect causes to the browser, none of the browsers can work properly and their performance is greatly decelerated. On this occasion, once the victims click on those links, various infections like Trojans, spyware, and ransomeware can be downloaded and installed on the compromised without computer user’s consent.
How to Get Rid of Search Protect Redirect Virus Effectively?
1. Stop running processes related to this redirect virus.
a: When the Windows Task manager appears, switch to Processes tab.
b: Find out and select the processes related to the virus by name random.exe, and click on the “End process” button.
Remove the redirect virus from Internet Explorer:
a: Start IE, go to Tools and select Internet Options.
b: Find General section, remove Search Protect address as a home page.
c: Then go to Search section, find Settings button and choose Manage Add-ons
d: Erase the redirect and after the action, close Manage Add-ons
2. Remove the redirect virus from Mozilla Firefox.
a: Open Mozilla Firefox browser, click on tools and go to Options.
b: Switch to General tab, remove Search Protect address as a startup site.
c: Then, go to: Firefox -> Add-ons -> Add-ons Manager -> Remove.
d: In the Search list, select Manage Search Engines and erase this redirect and choose OK
3. Remove the redirect virus from Google Chrome.
a: Open Google Chrome and navigate to Settings tab and Set pages.
b: Erase Search Protect which was seta as the startup site and choose OK
c: Find Manage search engines and here, erase this redirect.
d: Press on OK, and restart Google Chrome.
4. Delete all registry files created by this redirect virus.
a. While the Registry Editor is opened, search for the registry key “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ Search Protect.” Right-click this registry key and select “Delete.”
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “[RANDOM].exe”
b. Navigate to directory %PROGRAM_FILES%\ Search Protect \ and delete the infected files manually.
%AppData%Local[random].exe
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\*.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\*.*
Conclusion
Generally, Search Protect redirect virus breaks into the targeted computers by coming bundled with a junk email attachment, pretending itself to be a legitimate file (such as audio file, image file, or txt file) and cheating users into click on the attachment. Sometimes, it is also bundled with free downloads, such as music files or movies, and sneaks into the computer without permission. Most of the users don’t realize that being infected with redirect virus is very dangerous and just neglect it, bring a lot of troubles to their computers.
It is necessary to improve the awareness of keeping away from browser redirect virus, while any strange symptoms as replacement of homepage, redirection of search result and additional download are found on the browsers, users need to check if there is a browser virus on the system. The best way to fix the browser hijacking is to remove the unwanted extensions in browser and malicious programs with a professional security tool. After that, reset the browser homepage and other type of settings. It is developed to help users to detect and delete the threat automatically from the computer without damage.
