Pimmuter Hijacker Removal

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

Pimmuter is a page-rerouting application that occurs when your computer has been infected by a browser hijacker. The most common signs that your browser has been hijacked are altered browser settings, constant bombardment with ads and pop-ups, sudden redirects to unknown pages, new toolbars and extensions, etc. This browser hijacker has the ability to monitor user’s habits, as well as to obtain all browsing history and data. The aim of the cyber criminals is to create PPC (Pay-Per-Click) revenue through generating targeted advertisement that the user is most likely to click on. As a result of this browser hijacker, victim’s browser experience is constantly getting interrupted by intrusive content that is very likely to lead to suspicious third-party websites. Such sites are most likely to contain other virus infections, as well as open a backdoor for hackers to obtain the personal data of the victim.

How did I get infected with?

If your browser has been hijacked, chances are you unknowingly infiltrated your computer by opening spam emails, clicking on suspicious links or through installing free software bundles. One of the most common ways to get infected with malware is via downloading software from unofficial sources. When users opt for a Quick install, they can easily fall victims to all kinds of hacker attacks. Often developers repackage programs and applications along with a type of malware that is not properly disclosed for the user to see. In order to have full control over what is actually being installed on their computer, users are advised to select Custom or Advanced mode in the Setup Wizard. This way, they can deselect any suspicious software that they deem unnecessary and save their system from a potential malicious threat.

Why is this dangerous?

Nobody likes to constantly get interrupted by annoying pop-ups that doesn’t seem to disappear no matter how many times you click on the ‘close’ button. Not only that, but browser hijackers can cause your internet connection to slow down because of all the redirects and advertisements that keep appearing on your screen. This type of malware can also alter browser’s settings in order to work its way in the system without getting interrupted. While the generated ad content pose no danger by itself, the websites they lead to are very likely to contain other malicious threats and potentially give access to cyber criminals who are looking to steal any private data they can get their hands on for profit. If you want to protect your passwords, bank account credentials, IP addresses, etc. from falling in the wrong hands, immediate actions are recommended for the removal of this Pimmuter browser hijacker. Follow the instructions in this article and get rid of this malware before it gets too late!

How to Remove Pimmuter virus

The Pimmuter 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 Pimmuter 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 Pimmuter related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Pimmuter startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

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

• Open Google Chrome

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

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 Pimmuter, 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 Pimmuter 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 Pimmuter 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.