FileChecker New Tab Hijacker Removal

Can’t Remove FileChecker hijacker virus? This page includes detailed FileChecker Removal instructions!

There are various apps that provide free file-editing services. The FileChecker browser extension is not one of them. You pay with your privacy when you use the app. Security experts have categorized this parasite as a browser hijacker. Once on board, the hijacker wastes no time. It takes over your web browser and turns your user experience into a nightmare. The FileChecker New Tab hijacker is an aggressive advertising tool. It injects various ads on every website you load. Every time you click, it gets paid. So, it doesn’t limit the number of its ads. The hijacker drowns its victims in a sea of online advertisements. The parasite knows no boundaries. It even dares pause your videos for commercial breaks. And when you finally decide that you are used to it, the pest surprises you with something new. Like browser redirection, for example. If you don’t click on its ads, the hijacker takes immediate measures. It starts automatic browser redirection. The bad news is that the loaded websites could be bogus. This parasite promotes numerous deceptive platforms. Bear this in mind the next time a “great” offer pops up on your screen. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t. The hijacker’s ads are unreliable. They may arise unwarranted expectations at best. At worst, they’ll redirect you to scam and potentially infected websites. Spare yourself many future headaches. Do what’s best for you and your computer. Remove the FileChecker New Tab hijacker before it lures you into an online trap!

How did I get infected with?

The FileChecker New Tab hijacker cannot hack your computer. This parasite is not that advanced. It needs an invitation to enter your OS. Yet, as you can imagine, it knows how to steal one. The hijacker lures its victims into installing it. That’s right, it tricked you too. You either clicked on a corrupted link or installed a malicious software bundle. The good news is that you can learn a lesson. The FileChecker New Tab hijacker tricked you once, don’t let other parasites do the same. Avoid shady websites. Download your software from reputable sources only. When installing a program, pay attention to the fine print. Forget about the “Next-Next-Finish” installation strategy. No anti-virus app can protect you if you act that recklessly. Take your time! When available, use the advanced/custom installation option. Deselect all bonus programs that are about to be installed. Many software developers attach extras to the payload files of their apps. These bonuses, however, are often parasites. Make sure you know what you are giving your approval to. Read the terms and conditions (you can speed up this step by using an online EULA analyzer). If you detect anything out of the ordinary, abort the installation immediately. The key to a secure and infection-free computer is caution. Don’t be lazy. Always do your due diligence!

Why is this dangerous?

The FileChecker New Tab hijacker is very intrusive and annoying. Yet, it’s equally dangerous. The parasite threatens to steal sensitive information. This invader spies on you. It studies your browsing habits. And, when it determines it has enough data, it sends it to its owners. You wouldn’t want your personal and financial details to become a possession of criminals, would you? Well, with the FileChecker New Tab hijacker on board, this becomes a possibility. The nasty parasite sells access to its resources. Anyone willing to pay can use it. Numerous crooks do. They use the collected data target you. The crooks use the adware to prepare customized adverts and to push them on you. They show you what you want to see. Yet, when you click, bad things happen. You are very likely to end up on phishing and scam pages. The crooks want to either lure you into revealing financial information or trick you into installing rogue programs. The FileChecker New Tab hijacker is a breach of your security. This parasite turns you into an easy target. Do not put up with it. Protect your privacy! Remove the parasite the first chance you get! The sooner it’s gone, the better!

How to Remove FileChecker virus

The FileChecker 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 FileChecker 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 FileChecker related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate FileChecker startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

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

• Open Google Chrome

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

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 FileChecker, 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 FileChecker 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 FileChecker 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.