How to Remove Chromesearch.win “Virus”

Can’t Remove Chromesearch.win hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Chromesearch.win Removal instructions!

Chromesearch.win is a highly suspicious domain. If it has replaced your preferable homepage without your explicit permission, you are in trouble. This website is the face of a nasty browser hijacker. The design of the page is intended to convince the user that it is a legit Chrome Browser homepage. Unfortunately, it isn’t! Neither the Terms of Use nor the Privacy Policy pages mention the Google LLC. The reason for this is simple, Google has nothing to do with Chromesearch.win. The crooks behind this website want to bewilder you, to prevent you from taking action against the infection your PC suffers. The Chromesearch.win hijacker should not remain active on your device. This parasite can cause a lot of damage if you don’t take immediate measures. Let’s elaborate. Once on board, the pest takes control over your favorite browser. It replaces your homepage, as well as your default search engine. It is designed to bombard you with dozens and dozens of commercials. The Chromesearch.win hijacker blocks it competitors’ content and replaces it with its own. Additionally, it injects extra banners, in-text adverts and hyperlinks on every web page you open. Last but not least, it redirects your web traffic to third-party pages. It is extremely annoying. These issues, however, are only the obvious ones. Lurking in the shadows, the hijacker is spying on you. It monitors your browser related data. Which pages you visit, favorite websites, what search inquiries you make, what kind of videos you watch. Everything is recorded, analyzed and sent to a remote server. Keep in mind that the Incognito mode of your browser will not hide you from the hijacker. This parasite is installed on your machine. It is an autonomous program which can bypass your security system. It is in your best interest to remove the hijacker as soon as possible!

How did I get infected with?

The Chromesearch.win hijacker did not materialize by itself. Neither were you hacked. The hijacker is a simple computer program. As any other program, it needs your permission to be installed. Yet, it doesn’t need to ask you openly. This furtive app uses a lot of trickery. It travels hidden in software bundles, torrents, spam emails and as a fake software update. A little extra caution, however, can prevent it from succeeding. Whenever you are installing a program, don’t rush. Opt for the Advanced/Custom option in the Setup Wizard. Under this installation, you will be given the opportunity to deselect all unwanted “bonus” programs that arrived together with the program you’ve downloaded. The software bundling is quite popular among developers nowadays. They tend to attach many additional apps to the installation files of popular programs. If you rush through the installation process, you will overlook the extras. Take your time to check the Terms and Conditions/ EULA. If you spot breaches, abort the installation on the spot. These third-party apps, more often than not, are malicious. Don’t allow parasites like the Chromesearch.win hijacker on board. It is up to you to keep your device virus-free.

Why is this dangerous?

The Chromesearch.win hijacker should not be tolerated. It modifies your browser settings without your approval. It is bombarding you with commercials; it is redirecting your web browser; it is, even, slowing your computer down. There is nothing beneficial about this parasite! On the contrary, if it remains on your machine for too long, it may cause serious harm. As we’ve already explained that the hijacker collects information about you and your online habits. But, what do you think happens with this data? It is sold to third parties, of course. All sorts of crooks may get in possession of your IP, MAC and email addresses. They will know what colors you prefer, what items you are looking to buy, what music you like, etc. A capable trickster can use this information to target you with a custom marketing campaign. The crooks want your money. One way or another, they will get them. Keep in mind that the Chromesearch.win hijacker doesn’t check what is being promoted via its services. The crooks can target you with corrupted adverts. They may even redirect your browser to infected or scam websites. In fact, with the hijacker on board, you are far more likely to be redirected to a scam page than to a legit one. Question everything. If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t. There is no need to live like this. If you act promptly, you can remove the Chromesearch.win hijacker completely. Don’t waste your time. Clean your PC for good!

How to Remove Chromesearch.win virus

The Chromesearch.win 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 Chromesearch.win 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 Chromesearch.win related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Chromesearch.win startup location

STEP 3: Delete Chromesearch.win traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Chromesearch.win 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 Chromesearch.win 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 Chromesearch.win 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 Chromesearch.win traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Chromesearch.win 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 Chromesearch.win

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 Chromesearch.win, 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 Chromesearch.win 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 Chromesearch.win 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.