Helpme.net Scam Removal

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To be on the Helpme.net platform, you must have a computer issue. Yet, it might not be what you think it is. There are numerous online scams that use the Helpme.net platform to trick their victims. The scheme is simple. You get redirected to a scam website where a pop-up message states that there is a serious problem with your OS. To fix it, you need to contact a customer support center. Don’t rush, though. Take a minute to consider the situation. Microsoft would not use browser pop-ups to notify you about a problem. They won’t offer IT support either. It is always the user the one who seeks help, not the other way around. If you are urged into dialing a phone number, simply don’t. You are most definitely dealing with crooks. Such messages scream SCAM! If you do what you are told to do, you will get in touch with criminals. They will make the matter worse in seconds. The crooks know what to say. They will instruct you to fill the blank boxes on the Helpme.net website. If you follow the instructions correctly, you will give them a remote access to your PC. If this happens, expect trouble. The crooks will start to blackmail you. They will lock your computer and ask for a ransom. They may destroy your system for fun or infect it with viruses. They may try to steal your usernames and passwords. These people are criminals who target your wallet. You cannot expect them to play fair. So, be cautious. Don’t trust a word you read the scam website. There isn’t a critical problem with your PC. It is the bogus page that causes your browser to behave oddly. The Helpme.net scam disorientates its victims and lures them into impulsive actions. Don’t fall victim of this fraud. Exit the phony website at once. If you cannot do so, use your Task Manager to close your browser and start a new session. If the fake error reappears, scan your computer for malware. Such browser redirections are usually caused by adware. If such is the case, clean your computer immediately.

How did I get infected with?

The Helpme.net scam is simple, yet genius. Yet, for it to be successful, there must be an adware that triggers the browser redirection. The nasty adware did not appear by itself. It cannot enter your system without your approval. It was actually your carelessness that made this scam possible. Freeware/shareware often become hosts for such parasites. If you rush through the installation process of a free program, you might infect your computer with adware. To avoid this, opt for the Advanced option in the setup wizard. Under it, you will be presented with a list of additional programs that are also about to be installed. You can deselect them and still install the app you originally planned to set up. Install only trustworthy programs. Other malware distribution methods you should keep an eye out for are the good old spam emails, torrents, and fake updates. Only your caution can prevent these techniques from succeeding. Don’t be lazy! Always do your due diligence!

Why is this dangerous?

The adware behind the Helpme.net scam pop-ups is a breach of your security. This parasite exposes your computer to numerous online threats. The adware is programmed to redirect web traffic to sponsored web pages. Basically, every time you get redirected to such a page, the owners of the adware will get paid. These people don’t care about your well-being. Their adware doesn’t have a security mechanism. It doesn’t distinguish between legitimate and bogus websites. The crooks often take advantage of such applications. They use the adware to redirect web traffic to scam websites. Nauseous fake web stores, IT support scams and infected web pages are promoted through adware services. Having such a parasite on board makes you an easy target. The crooks want our money. They will not hesitate to threaten and blackmail you. These people are criminals. You cannot win against them. So, don’t waste your time trying. Remove the adware as soon as possible.

How to Remove Helpme.net virus

The Helpme.net 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 Helpme.net 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 Helpme.net in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Helpme.net startup location

STEP 3: Delete Helpme.net traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Helpme.net 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 Helpme.net 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 Helpme.net 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 Helpme.net traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

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

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 Helpme.net, 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 Helpme.net 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 Helpme.net Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system 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.