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Can’t Remove Searchiincognito.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Searchiincognito.com Removal instructions!
Searchiincognito.com appears to be an attractive search engine. Its official website does seem legitimate so you might actually believe its lies. However, we wouldn’t be writing a removal guide if this parasite was as great as it promised to be. What you’re stuck with is an irritating browser hijacker. The virus has plenty of malicious potential so you should forget about its bogus functionalities right now. Searchiincognito.com (by Searchi Incognito) isn’t going to be beneficial for you. If anything, it’s only going to be beneficial for its developers. Make sure you tackle this infection as soon as you encounter its malicious presence. There is no reason to be hesitating. Once the hijacker gets installed, it starts making modifications. Unauthorized, dangerous modifications. That means your own opinions on your browsers aren’t even relevant anymore. Now that your safety is compromised, hackers are in charge. And they won’t think twice before destroying your online experience. For starters, both your default search engine and homepage get replaced with the parasite’s domain. There is also a brand new extension added to your once reliable browsers. Thank the virus for these sudden changes. Searchiincognito.com practically hijacks your everyday online experience. It injects your browsers with one very specific category of web links. Sponsored web links. Get yourself prepared to be seeing random, potentially unsafe search results on a daily basis. Apart from the fact it exposes you to malware, this trickery is also super annoying. You can’t find anything you search for online and you witness numerous modifications in your browser settings. The hijacker could install some additional toolbars behind your back as well. Long story short, Searchiincognito.com works in silence. It isn’t going to bother seeking your permission nor take care of your preferences. In fact, the installation of the virus itself happens without your consent too. Due to the parasite’s presence, your browser settings get altered. You might also come across advertisements – coupons, discounts, price comparisons, best prices. Once again, your opinion about these commercials remains out of the picture. All that matters here is the revenue hackers gain through the pay-per-click mechanism. To prevent further damage, avoid clicking anything generated by the hijacker. Also, the sooner you delete this pest, the better.
How did I get infected with?
The one thing you won’t see on this program’s website is a download button. Therefore, you didn’t voluntarily install the virus. A much more plausible scenario is that Searchiincognito.com was bundled. Next time you download program bundles, check out the software there beforehand. You might accidentally install a whole bunch of infections if you’re careless. Why risk it? Having to delete parasites is a much more problematic task than preventing installation. It is your job to protect your computer system from intruders. To succeed, opt for the Custom/Advanced option in the Setup Wizard. In addition to that, go through the Terms and Conditions. You can see how simple these pieces of advice are. However, many PC users skip installation steps and remain completely oblivious to the actual programs they download. Instead of rushing, take your time. You might spot a potential virus that must be deselected on time. Make sure you never underestimate a cyber parasite as the Internet is full of harmful programs. Freeware and shareware bundles are immensely dangerous.
Why is this dangerous?
The Searchiincognito.com virus hijacks your browsers. To make the mess even greater, this program works with some of the most popular browsers out there. That includes Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. As you could imagine, you’re left unable to surf the Web at peace. Let alone find the websites you search for. Since the very moment it gets downloaded, this nuisance starts wreaking havoc. As mentioned already, Searchiincognito.com causes your browsers to redirect you. It also generates sponsored web links and utterly useless, questionable pop-up ads. Clicking those automatically turns you into a sponsor of greedy cyber criminals. The question is, are you going to support their illegal, malicious business? The infection might cause you some privacy damage as well. It sneakily collects your sensitive information and sends your details to hackers. Hence, your data could be sold to third parties with unclear intentions. To delete this program, please follow our detailed manual removal guide. You will find it down below.
How to Remove Searchiincognito.com virus
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The Searchiincognito.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 Searchiincognito.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.
Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Searchiincognito.com infection, you need to purchase its full version.
STEP 1: Track down Searchiincognito.com related processes in the computer memory
STEP 2: Locate Searchiincognito.com startup location
STEP 3: Delete Searchiincognito.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer
STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus
STEP 1: Track down Searchiincognito.com related processes 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 Searchiincognito.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 Searchiincognito.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 Searchiincognito.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer
-
Open Google Chrome
- In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
- Remove the Searchiincognito.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 Searchiincognito.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 Searchiincognito.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 Searchiincognito.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 Searchiincognito.com Virus (automatic) Removal Guide
Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network 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.