How to Remove Hi.fo Search Redirect

Can’t Remove Hi.fo hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Hi.fo Removal instructions!

Hi.fo belongs to the extensive hijacker family. It’s a malicious website that appears, in case, a browser hijacker invades. If it does, the site becomes your online shadow. It takes over your screen. The page pops up every time you so much as touch your browser. It shows up when you surf the web, open a new tab, do anything at all. You cannot escape the sight of Hi.fo. That’s why, experts consider it a clue. It’s the first sign, there’s something wrong with your computer. Think of the website as a harbinger of bad news. If you spot it, you have a hijacker on your hands. There are no ifs or buts about it. The sooner you accept it as the fact it is, the better. Acknowledge that your system is no longer infection-free, and do something about it. Hijackers have no place on your computer. They’re not only a colossal bother and annoyance. But, they also place your privacy under severe threat. The hijacker, lurking behind Hi.fo is no different. It follows the same programming as all tools of its type. Once it invades your PC, it starts to spy on you. The application tracks your browsing activities, and records every move you make. After it determines that its recordings are sufficient, it hands them over. To whom? Well, to the people, behind the hijacker menace. Cyber criminals with malicious agendas. Are you okay with these people having access to your private data? Are you willing to trust them with your personal and financial information? Don’t. It’s hardly a shocking statement, but it won’t end well. Don’t allow your private details to get stolen and exposed. Protect your privacy, and your system’s well-being. The Hi.fo site is a clue. Heed it. Acknowledge what it’s saying, and act on it. Locate and remove the hijacker, using it as a front ASAP.

How did I get infected with?

Hi.fo pops up, in case of a hijacker invasion. But those don’t occur out of thin air. A hijacker cannot enter your system on its own accord. The program must seek the user’s permission. Only after receiving it, can it proceed with the installment process. That begs the following question. Do you remember the exchange taking place? For, it must have. But, odds are, you have no memory of it. And, that’s not surprising. Yes, the hijacker asks your permission on its admission. But, it doesn’t do it straightforward. Think about it. If it pops up, and outright asks if you agree to install it, you’d deny it, right? Since the infection can’t have you rejecting it, it doesn’t leave its fate to chance. It turns to trickery and finesse. It still does ask approval. Only, it does it the sneakiest way it can. It hides behind freeware or spam email attachments. Or, corrupted links and sites. It can pretend to be a fake update, as well. There are many ways, it can use to deceive you. If you wish not to let it succeed, be vigilant. Choose caution over carelessness. Don’t rush, or give into naivety. Don’t rely on luck instead of due diligence. Always take the time to read the terms and conditions when installing tools, updates, anything off the web. Look for the fine print. Double-check everything. Even a little extra attention goes a long way. Remember that.

Why is this dangerous?

Hi.fo becomes quite the obnoxious companion. Every time, you go online, the site’s there. Open a new tab? It appears to greet you. Type in a search? It’s among the suggested results. You even find it in place of your default search engine and homepage. Did you ask for the switch? Did you consent to it? Did you get an inkling of a clue of its implementation? It’s a “No” on all accounts. That’s the hijacker’s doing. It forces the site on you, non-stop. And, it’s not only the Hi.fo page that plagues your browsing. The infection also floods your screen with ads. Pop-up, banner, in-text, every type there is. They’re all on your screen. The incessant bombardment, of ads and redirects, has further repercussions. It doesn’t take long before your system starts to suffer frequent crashes. Your computer slows down to a crawl, as well. Add the security threat, and the decision gets made for you. The hijacker is trouble. Find its exact hiding place. Then, delete it on discovery. The sooner you remove it, the better. Its prompt deletion earns you the gratitude of your future self. Act against the cyber threat ASAP. Once it reveals itself with the appearance of Hi.fo. Don’t delay. Delays lead to regrets.

How to Remove Hi.fo virus

The Hi.fo 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 Hi.fo 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 Hi.fo related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Hi.fo startup location

STEP 3: Delete Hi.fo traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Hi.fo 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 Hi.fo 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 Hi.fo 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 Hi.fo traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Hi.fo 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 Hi.fo

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 Hi.fo, 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 Hi.fo 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 Hi.fo 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.