How to Remove ShutdownTime Redirect

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ShutdownTime promises to be a useful time manager. It goes without saying this program is actually a nasty infection. Classified as an adware virus, ShutdownTime floods you with sponsored pop-up ads. It takes over all your trusty browsers and injects them with commercials. We’re talking about an overwhelming pile of pop-ups in every shape imaginable. Wave your browsing experience goodbye right away because the ads are everywhere. ShutdownTime is supposed to be a handy tool that allows you to shut down your computer at a specific time. However, that is just a trick hackers use to make you download the parasite. It goes without saying that you can’t expect any honesty out of cyber criminals. In fact, hackers develop such adware-type infections solely to gain revenue. You see, the pay-per-click mechanism is extremely useful for crooks. All they have to do is make sure you download the adware pest. From that moment on, your default browser settings get modified behind your back. No virus is going to seek the victim’s permission. Hence, you should know ShutdownTime works in silence and is quietly wreaking havoc. The adware adds a browser extension and starts generating pop-ups. Note that all these commercials are sponsored; they serve hackers’ purposes. Hackers’ very last purpose is to enhance your online experience. On the other hand, they are quite interested in boosting web traffic. By generating the dubious ShutdownTime pop-ups, crooks make money online. Unfortunately, you end up in trouble that way. The ShutdownTime commercials are often not as amazing as they seem. Remember that the ads are sponsored. Clicking any of them could lead you straight to malicious websites and let more infections get installed. Yes, you’re exposed to cyber threats as long as the adware is present. Do not trust the devious advertisements generated by this nuisance. ShutdownTime bombards you with discounts, coupons, deals, price comparisons, best prices. Some of the ads could be perfectly safe. Others might be advertising some non-existent products. There is no telling which is which until you click the ad. Then why risk it? Restrain yourself from clicking any of the ShutdownTime pop-ups and take adequate measures ASAP. This program might serve as a back door to malware and also leads to a poor PC performance. It constantly redirects you to unknown pages. In addition, you may spot some questionable software updates that could turn out to be harmful as well. Avoid those so you don’t accidentally make matters worse.

How did I get infected with?

There are plenty of stealthy distribution methods. That makes it very difficult to know exactly how the parasite got downloaded. However, chances are, ShutdownTime was bundled. This technique is actually the most commonly used tactic out there. All types of parasites travel the Web that way which gives you a good reason to take your time in the process. For instance, opt for the Custom option in the Setup Wizard instead of the Basic one. This will let you be in charge of the entire installation process. If you’re not the one in control of it, hackers might be. Always keep an eye out for potential intruders. Note that preventing malware infiltration would take you a couple of minutes. Removing some pesky cyber infection, on the other hand, takes much more. You might cause your PC some immense damage by rushing the installation process. Also, you’d have nobody to blame if you give green light to a virus because you skipped some important steps. Save yourself the hassle that is deleting malware. Be cautious and watch out for infections. Many viruses also use the old but gold technique of spam emails. Instead of opening all emails you receive, first make sure they aren’t fake. Delete anything you find untrustworthy and pay attention.

Why is this dangerous?

The ShutdownTime virus works with all your favorite browsers. It alters Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. As a result of its shenanigans, your computer screen ends up covered with useless ads. These sponsored, misleading commercials could easily cause you further harm unless you avoid them. Thus, ignore the advertisements no matter how attractive they appear to be. ShutdownTime also causes your browsers to redirect you, to freeze and crash. It even steals your browsing history and other sensitive data. To delete the adware manually, please follow our detailed removal guide. You will find it down below.

How to Remove ShutdownTime virus

The ShutdownTime 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 ShutdownTime 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 ShutdownTime in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate ShutdownTime startup location

STEP 3: Delete ShutdownTime traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down ShutdownTime 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 ShutdownTime 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 ShutdownTime 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 ShutdownTime traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the ShutdownTime 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 ShutdownTime

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 ShutdownTime, 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 ShutdownTime 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 ShutdownTime 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.