Completely Remove Play-Bar.net Redirect Virus

Play-Bar.net is classified as a aggressive redirect virus, which can come into users’ computers stealthily and replace the default homepage automatically by making some modifications on the original browser settings. It usually attaches itself to SPAM emails, attachments, online chats, instant messages, pop-up ads, suspicious links, unknown websites, peer to peer programs and other unprotected networks. Since the redirect virus looks like a legitimate website which is similar to Google search, most cyber users may pay no attention to it and use it to search for information, being redirected to unwanted websites in the end.

In fact, it is a fake search engine that pretends to be a legitimate site and provides users with multiple utilities and many other search services in order to attract users to visit it. Besides, when uses run their media players, they would also receive all sorts of pop-up ads delivered by the redirect virus. Those ads are created to promote various goods and make profits from the internet. Most of the time, innocent users get lured in by commodity sales promotion, activity coupons, discounts on goods, and bargains that released by the redirect virus. 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.

Since the redirect virus can modify the system security setting, which may lead to more hidden safety trouble. Once browser settings has been under the control of Play-Bar.net redirect virus, loads of perilous extensions, plug- ins and add- on will be allowed to get installed on it which may severely damage the system. With so many unfriendly toolbars being installed, the browsers would not be able to work properly, and sometimes they may stop responding or just crash down completely. Moreover, Play-Bar.net may deliver links that link innocent users to malicious websites that have been compromised by cyber criminals. So, if users click the links and visit those unsafe websites, they would unknowingly get other malware like Trojan horse, worms, and adware downloaded onto their computers.

How to Get Rid of Play-Bar.net Redirect Virus Effectively?

Step 1: Set the default homepage back

For Internet Explorer:
Click on Browser Tools
Select Manage Add-ons on the tools window
Click Search Provider
Here you can see many kinds of search engine option as Bing and Google, select your favorite one to be a default homepage.
Choose Search Results and click on Remove icon to eliminate it
Click Tools, select Internet Options and then the General tab. Here you can option a website you like and save it.
c. Select ‘Search Results’ and click ‘Remove’ to remove it;

For Google Chrome:
Open Customize and control
Click on Settings
Select on Basic Options icon
Here you can reset your homepage (e.g.Google.com）
Once you choose a default homepage, click on Manage Search Engines and then click Google to be your default search engine.
Remove it from the browser by clicking Search Result and then the X’ mark

For Mozilla Firefox:
Click Manage Search Engine
Select Search Results and then click Remove option, click OK
Open Tools, under the General tab, set Google.com as default homepage

Step 2: Locate related files of Play-Bar.net and remove them from the computer
%AllUsersProfile%
%AllUsersProfile%\Programs\{random letters}\
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~r
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~dll

Step 3: Remove cookies on all browsers
Internet Explorer:
Click options on the browser and then choose Internet Options
Open General tab, click Delete Browsing History to remove all related cookies
Select cookies and click Delete

Firefox:
Click option
Select Privacy and then click on Remove Individual Cookies icon
Delete relevant cookies list on the box

Google Chrome:
Click option
Open Under the Bonnet tab
Select Privacy and then click Clear browsing data
Delete all cookies

Step 4: Remove malicious registry entries
Open Registry Editor on the start menu
Type in Regedit and click OK
Remove all the following registry entries
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings “CertificateRevocation” = ‘1’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments “SaveZoneInformation” = ‘0’

Conclusion

Play-Bar.net usually enters the PC by pretending to be a useful optional item bundled with third-party software and many people pay no attention to it and give permission. This unwanted application can be also bundled with free downloads from the Internet and automatically installed on the PC silently without letting users know. Most of the PC users will choose to ignore this virus infection and lose the best time to wipe out this nasty redirect infection.

Users should check whether their computers are infected by the redirect virus when noticing these symptoms on the computer: default homepage has been changed to another unknown one; lots of new add-ons have been added to the browsers unwittingly; numerous ads pop up on the browsers or computer screen. If you ever notice any weird phenomena on your computer such as homepage change, constant popping ups, and new add-ons appearance, you should run your antivirus program to scan the whole system to see if there are any attacks. After, reset the default settings back and give the infected computer more protection. In addition, scan each downloaded file before running it on computer for security, in case of the virus or rogue software mix together with others and invade system and post threaten to computer.