Search.pulse.search Pop-ups Removal

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

Search.pulse.search is bad news. If this website has replaced your homepage without your approval, you are in for trouble. Your computer is no longer infection-free. A sneaky browser hijacker lurks in the shadows and plots against you. You are stuck with an ad-generating menace that knows no limits nor boundaries. The hijacker follows programming to corrupt your web browsers and to turn them into ad-displaying platforms. Chrome, Opera, Edge, Firefox – there is no immune program. The hijacker changes your homepage, as well as replaces your default search engine. It also locks the changes and forces you to use its questionable search tool. If you are not sure – that’s dangerous. The hijacker uses a customized search engine that displays more ads than actual results. Apart from the obvious ads, the parasite injects sponsored links that are not marked as ads. You can never know which results are organic and which are there on purpose. Do you think that ends well? Numerous dodgy websites pay for their links to be displayed at the top. The hijacker, of course, has no filters. It doesn’t block the malicious and corrupted links. Do not risk ending up into online traps. Remove the hijacker now. Take action as soon as the Search.pulse.search website appears. Find where the hijacker hides and delete it upon detection!

How did I get infected with?

A browser hijacker displays Search.pulse.search page. This parasite sneaks into your computer and makes a mess out of your browser. Don’t, however, imagine cyber-attacks. The hijacker is a standard app that has many limitations. It, for example, needs you, the user, to approve its access. It can’t get installed without your “yes.” The hijacker, of course, knows how to “ask.” It does so through bundles, fake updates corrupted links, spam messages, and, of course, pirated software. This parasite hides in the shadows and preys on naive users. It infects your computer when you let your guard down. Don’t make that mistake! No anti-virus app can protect you if you throw caution to the wind! Only your diligence can prevent infections. The good news is that even a little extra attention can spare you an avalanche of problems. Make the right decision. Choose caution over carelessness. Don’t visit dodgy websites. Download software and updates from reliable sources only. And don’t skip installation steps. Opt for the advanced/custom setup wizard. Deselect the unwanted bonus apps and go through the terms and conditions. Don’t hesitate to abort an installation process if you notice anything suspicious!

Why is this dangerous?

The Search.pulse.search pop-ups are just the beginning of an ad invasion. You are stuck with a browser hijacker. This parasite constantly increases the number of its ads, as well as finds new ways to ruin your browsing experience. What starts as an occasional ad banner turns into a whirlwind of pop-ups and hyperlinks. Click nothing, of course! The “Powered by Search.pulse.search” ads arise unwarranted expectations at best. At worst, they lure people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information or subscribing to unneeded and overpriced services. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you take a close look at the numerous ads, you’ll realize that you are already in serious trouble. You are under surveillance! The “Brought to you by Search.pulse.search” banners, pop-ups, and commercials are not random but targeted at you. They are based on the websites you visit, the links you follow, the videos you watch. That’s how the hijacker operates. It studies your browsing habits and uses the collected information against you. Do you feel comfortable knowing that any crook out there can use the hijacker and its resources to target you? Do you believe that the hijacker uses the collected data for advertising purposes only? Do not fool yourself! The hijacker is a threat that jeopardizes both your security and privacy. This menace works for shady operators who sell everything on the black market. If you run out of luck, their practices could lead to data leaks and serious consequences. Protect yourself! Remove the hijacker ASAP! That’s your best course of action!

How to Remove Search.pulse.search virus

The Search.pulse.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 Search.pulse.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 Search.pulse.search related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.pulse.search startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.pulse.search traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.pulse.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 Search.pulse.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 Search.pulse.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 Search.pulse.search traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

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