Remove Search.searchdirmap.com Redirect

Developed by Eightpoint Technologies Ltd, this pest is malicious. The Search.searchdirmap.com virus has been categorized as a browser hijacker. Have you had to deal with a hijacker so far? No? Then you were super fortunate as the Web is filled with these parasites. Check out this article because it’s in your best interest to be informed. Search.searchdirmap.com follows the classic hijacker pattern. Despite the fact it doesn’t shine with any originality, this infection is dangerous. After all, it was developed to serve hackers’ purposes. It’s dangerous by default. You see, the sooner you tackle this program, the better. Hijackers get out of hand very quickly. Therefore, if you hesitate for too long, things will get ugly. Do not risk it. You have nothing to lose by deleting the hijacker. On the other hand, you have quite a lot to gain. Once Search.searchdirmap.com lands on board, it modifies your browser settings. Both your search engine and browser homepage get replaced with the parasite’s domain. Keep in mind that this domain is incredibly unreliable. It only generates sponsored web links which may or may not be harmless. The question here is, are you going to keep the virus? Now that you know perfectly well how tricky and stealthy Search.searchdirmap.com is, will you tolerate it? Hijackers boost the web traffic to some particular websites. More often than not, those are dangerous websites infested with malware. You only need one careless click to download more infections. Search.searchdirmap.com brings along a huge variety of corrupted web links and disguises them as accurate search results. You should know better than to trust hackers, though. This program’s very last concern is to enhance your browsing experience. Its main one revolves around hackers’ illegitimate profit. Crooks use the infamous pay-per-click mechanism to make money. Their revenue comes directly at your expense, though. Thanks to the parasite, you’re constantly one click away from more infections. Stay away from its bogus search results and other web links. Search.searchdirmap.com could also generate product deals/offers, commercials, discounts, coupons. All of these must be avoided. Do not underestimate hackers’ capabilities to cause you damage. They even get access to your personal information such as browsing history and IP addresses. The hijacker might also spy on your bank account data as well. Needless to say, you must get rid of this infection on the spot.

How did I get infected with?

We assume you didn’t install this program on purpose. For starters, its official website doesn’t offer a download button. No, parasites rarely rely on your active cooperation. They rely on your distraction instead. The Search.searchdirmap.com hijacker does the exact same thing. The most likely scenario is that this parasite came bundled. Nest time you download program bundles, opt for the Custom option in the Setup Wizard. You won’t regret it. This may be more time-consuming than clicking “I accept”. However, it’s not about rushing the installation. It’s about protecting your device from potential intruders. You must always keep an eye out for parasites. Don’t let hackers fool you and don’t be gullible. There are some much more virulent kinds of viruses than hijackers out there. For instance, ransomware and Trojan horses. Instead of compromising your PC again, be careful on the Web. Stay away from suspicious-looking programs, especially if they come bundled. Pay close attention to what you actually give green light to.

Why is this dangerous?

The Search.searchdirmap.com virus only brings along trouble. This nasty infection takes over your once trusty browsers and modifies them. As mentioned, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer all get their settings altered. This program forces its search engine on you on a daily basis. It generates web traffic and helps crooks gain revenue. The thing is, it jeopardizes both your safety and privacy in the process. As long as Search.searchdirmap.com is on board, it keeps on wreaking havoc. Your browsers are now injected with sponsored and unsafe web links. You might also come across additional toolbars installed behind your back. The hijacker also slows down your PC speed. It leads to a poor computer performance. In addition, your overwhelmed browsers now crash and freeze like nobody’s business. Even your Internet connection becomes unstable due to the infection’s presence. To delete this pest manually, please follow our detailed removal guide. You will find it down below.

How to Remove Search.searchdirmap.com virus

The Search.searchdirmap.com infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Search.searchdirmap.com infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Search.searchdirmap.com infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Search.searchdirmap.com in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.searchdirmap.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.searchdirmap.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.searchdirmap.com in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Search.searchdirmap.com startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Search.searchdirmap.com virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean Search.searchdirmap.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search.searchdirmap.com by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Search.searchdirmap.com

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Search.searchdirmap.com, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove Search.searchdirmap.com argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Search.searchdirmap.com Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.