Instant Directions Search Redirect Removal

Can’t Remove Instant Directions Search hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Instant Directions Search Removal instructions!

Did the Instant Directions Search website replace your preferable homepage? Did you approve this modification or was it forced on you? Well, you are in a bad situation. This website is associated with a nasty browser hijacker. The parasite enters your computer through trickery and takes control of your web browser. The Instant Directions Search hijacker is not a virus. It is an intrusive ad-generating application. The parasite is programmed to generate revenue via pay-per-click scheme. Basically, when you click on an advert provided by the hijacker, its owners get paid. They get even more money for every sponsored website you get redirected to. And so, they’ve instructed the hijacker to manipulate your browser in a way that will lure you into visiting such sponsored pages. The Instant Directions Search hijacker injects adverts on every website you load. It also manipulates the search results you are provided with. The hijacker injects fake entries among the results. These entries are adverts, yet, they are not marked as such. With this parasite on board, you can never be sure which results are organic and which are sponsored. And this is the tricky part. You should not trust the adverts you are provided with as it might be misleading and malicious. The Instant Directions Search hijacker has no security mechanism. All sorts of crooks use it to target potential victims. They spread misleading and false content. They advertise scam and potentially infected websites. Do not risk your security. The parasite is turning you into a target. Remove Instant Directions Search hijacker before it lures you into some online scheme!

How did I get infected with?

The Instant Directions Search hijacker did not materialize by magic. Neither did it hack your computer. This intruder asked you whether you want it on board or not. You said “yes” to its installment. But do you remember doing so? We won’t be surprised if you don’t! The thing about browser hijackers is that these parasites are not advanced infections. They are simple apps. And just like any other app, they need your (the user’s) approval to get on board. No permission, no admission! The crooks, however, have found a way around the rule. They steal your permission through trickery. They hide the hijacker in software bundles, torrents, fake updates and spam email. All they need to succeed is one second of carelessness. Don’t make their job easier. Do not let parasites like the Instant Directions Search hijacker trick you! Always keep your guard up. Especially when you are about to install new programs. Opt for the Advanced/Custom option in the Setup Wizard. Under it, you will be given the opportunity to deselect all additional apps that are about to be installed alongside the program you’ve downloaded. Deselect these extras. More often than not, these third-party apps are malicious. Besides, you don’t need them. If truly wanted such software, you would have downloaded it by yourself. Install only the apps you want and need.

Why is this dangerous?

The Instant Directions Search hijacker is like a pain in the neck: the more you tolerate it, the worse it becomes. This parasite gets more and more aggressive with each passing day. It is instructed to cover your screen with advertisements. The parasite becomes your constant online companion. Every website you open, every link you follow, every video you watch, every search require you make, there are adverts simply everywhere! You cannot escape. All ad-blocking tools are useless against the hijacker. You cannot get a simple task done without some sort of pop-up distracting you. But nothing can be compared to the browser redirection. It drives you crazy, doesn’t it? Every time you as much as touch your browser, some unknown website loads automatically. We understand your frustration. You cannot use your computer normally because of the Instant Directions Search hijacker. Do not tolerate this intruder. Take immediate action against it. Not because it’s annoying, remove it because it’s dangerous. This intruder may redirect you to scam and infected websites. It has no security mechanism. It is, in fact, a breach your security. It may help malware and viruses infect your device. It may also lure you into online scams. Do not waste your time. Remove it now, so you won’t regret it later!

How to Remove Instant Directions Search virus

The Instant Directions Search 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 Instant Directions Search 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 Instant Directions Search related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Instant Directions Search startup location

STEP 3: Delete Instant Directions Search traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Instant Directions Search 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 Instant Directions Search 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 Instant Directions Search 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 Instant Directions Search traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Instant Directions Search 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 Instant Directions Search

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 Instant Directions Search, 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 Instant Directions Search 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 Instant Directions Search 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.