How to Remove Search.searchttw.com Redirect

Can’t Remove Search.searchttw.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Search.searchttw.com Removal instructions!

The appearance of the Search.searchttw.com website is not a good sign. This page signifies the existence of a browser hijacker on your PC. Unfortunately, it is true. Your device is infected. The Search.searchttw.com hijacker has managed to sneak its way into your system and is now wreaking havoc on it. This furtive tool is created with one purpose – to generate revenue for its owners. It uses a pay-per-click marketing. It is true that all big search engines use similar strategies, yet, the hijacker cannot be compared to them. This program is extremely intrusive. It adds its advertisements on all opened web pages. But, don’t expect odd ad banners. No, the hijacker injects is commercials in the body the websites. In-text ads, pop-ups, slide banners and video commercials will blink in all imaginable colors. You will notice that pages that used to be ad-free are now heavy on adverts. Ad-blocking tools are unable to hide the ads. On top of that, your online videos are often paused for commercial breaks. With every passing day, the Search.searchttw.com hijacker becomes more and more aggressive. For every advert you click on, the people behind the hijacker will be paid. Do not become their sponsor. These crooks did not hesitate to invade your computer. Why should you help them?! Furthermore, clicking on their commercials may be dangerous. The Search.searchttw.com hijacker has no verifying mechanism. It doesn’t check what is being promoted or who the advertiser is. People with questionable interests often take advantage of such applications. One click on the wrong ad will take you to websites part of frauds or download more malware on your PC.

Remove Search.searchttw.com

How did I get infected with?

The Search.searchttw.com hijacker did not materialize by magic. You approved its access to your OS. Yes, you did it. Of course, not intentionally. The hijacker tricked you. This malicious tool relies on trickery to reach its victims. It might have arrived via torrents, spam messages or fake software updates. Yet, the most common reason for hijacker infections is the freeware bundling techniques. The scheme is simple. Developers attach additional programs to the installation files of many free apps. These “extras” more often than not, are malicious. And if you are not careful, you will install them unintentionally. Do not make that mistake again. Whenever you are installing a program, opt for an Advanced/Custom button or tab. The Advanced installation is your only chance to deny the setup of all unwanted applications. Under it, you will be presented with a list of all extras that are about to be installed. Examine this list carefully. Do some online research and read the terms and conditions. Install only the tools you trust. This is your computer. You are responsible for its security. Always do your due diligence.

Why is this dangerous?

The Search.searchttw.com hijacker is a menace. This parasite ruins your browsing experience. However, it is also jeopardizing your security and privacy. Dealing with this pest, you must have noticed that all adverts you are exposed to are somehow connected to your interests and needs. No, you are definitely not imagining it. The hijacker selects the ads it displays to you. Yet, it doesn’t have an insight. It simply spies on you. Yes, that is right. It monitors your online activities. Every website you visit, every link you follow, everything is recorded. The hijacker analyzes the collected data and targets ads based on it. Unfortunately, this information is not used for marketing purposes only. It is also sold to third parties. Anyone willing to spend some money can buy your data pack. Your usernames, passwords, IP and email addresses may become a possession of criminals. This scenario is quite possible. Check your inbox now. It is probably full of junk mail. The stream of bad news is not ending here. As we already mentioned, the Search.searchttw.com hijacker exposes its victims to numerous unverified advertisements. At this point, many users think that all they should do is to ignore the adverts. Practice shows that this task is impossible. The hijacker is designed to trick its victims into clicking on adverts. At the most unexpected times, it opens pop-up windows right under the cursor of your mouse. The hijacker also injects adverts among the search results you are provided with. Among all search results. No matter the provider. With this tool on board, you cannot use your computer freely. Don’t put up with this situation. Take immediate measures! Remove the Search.searchttw.com hijacker for good!

How to Remove Search.searchttw.com virus

The Search.searchttw.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.searchttw.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.

STEP 1: Track down Search.searchttw.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.searchttw.com startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.searchttw.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.

end-malicious-process

  • Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Search.searchttw.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.searchttw.com virus from the windows registry

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

win-plus-r

  • A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

regedit

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]

delete backgroundcontainer

  • 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:

hosts-redirect-virus

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

  • Open Google Chrome

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

disable Search.searchttw.com from chrome

  • Open Mozilla Firefox

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

remove Search.searchttw.com from 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

remove Search.searchttw.com from ie

  • Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Search.searchttw.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.searchttw.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.

safebrowsing-biz-shortcut-removal

  • in the target field remove Search.searchttw.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.searchttw.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.

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