Remove SearchDefence.com Redirect

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

Your system harbors a dangerous cyber threat. One, part of the browser hijacker family. The appearance of the SearchDefence.com site is an indication of it. Consider the page a clear sign of the invasion. Acknowledge the website as the warning it is. It clues you into the existence of the infection, and hints at the dangers to come. And, they will be many. Your grievances begin not long after the tool settles. All of a sudden, you cannot make a single move online, without interference. Intrusions become a part of your browsing experience. The SearchDefence.com page turns into your shadow. It traces your every move. Each time, you so much as touch your browser, it pops up. It greets you when you open a new tab. Type in a search, and you’ll find it among the suggested results. SearchDefence.com even takes over for your default search engine and homepage. Did you want it there? Did you agree to the switch? Were you even aware of it, prior to its implementation? The answer is the same on all accounts. No. Despite that, there it is! The website is everywhere. You cannot seem to escape the sight of it. And, you have the hijacker to thank for it. Yes, it’s an annoyance, and quite the intrusion. But, it’s nothing, compared to the more severe issues, awaiting you down the line. The longer the hijacker remains on your PC, the more it messes everything up. That’s why, experts advise towards its immediate removal. Delete it as soon as it clues you into its presence, with the SearchDefence.com page. Acknowledge the site as the warning it is. Accept the danger, you’re in. Act to prevent it. ASAP.

How did I get infected with?

SearchDefence.com shows up, courtesy of a hijacker. But how do you imagine it found its way into your PC? Well, it’s simple. You gave it the green light of admission. Oh, yes. Odds are, you don’t remember it. But it did seek your approval on its install. And, you gave it. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t be in the current mess. It may seem confusing, but it’s pretty straightforward. You got duped. Let’s explain. Hijackers cannot enter a user’s system on their own accord. They must ask the user for permission on their admission. No approval, no access. But if they outright pop up to seek entry, what are the odds, you’ll say YES? It’s quite unlikely. So, the tool chooses a different approach. It doesn’t leave its fate to chance. Instead, it employs the old but gold means of infiltration. Freeware, spam emails, fake updates. And, does its best to trick you. The more distracted you are, the easier its invasion. The hijacker preys on your carelessness. It hopes you throw caution to the wind, and rush. That you, not bother to read the term and conditions. That you skip doing your due diligence, but rely on luck. If the infection doesn’t leave its fate to chance, why do you? Don’t choose carelessness over caution. One keeps infections away. The other invites them in. Choose wisely.

Why is this dangerous?

SearchDefence.com turns into the bane of your browsing. You get redirected, non-stop. Alongside the shower of advertisements, surfing the web becomes a nightmare. But, despite the immense frustration of the experience, it’s still a walk in the park. The absolute worst part, of dealing with a hijacker, is the privacy risk. The infection, using SearchDefence.com as a face, spies on you. It begins to track your online activities as soon as it invades. Every move you make, it records. That means, it has access to your personal and financial details. And, what do you imagine happens next? After the tool deems it has stolen enough information from you? Well, simple. It exposes it to strangers with malicious agendas. The third parties that published it, to be precise. The question becomes: Are you going to allow that? Or, would you rather, keep your privacy private? Do yourself a favor, and don’t extend the hijacker’s stay by even a moment longer. As soon as you become aware of its existence, get rid of it. The display of SearchDefence.com is your sign. Heed it.

How to Remove SearchDefence.com virus

The SearchDefence.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 SearchDefence.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 SearchDefence.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate SearchDefence.com startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down SearchDefence.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 SearchDefence.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 SearchDefence.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 SearchDefence.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

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