How to Remove Googlo.co Hijacker

Can’t Remove Googlo.co hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Googlo.co Removal instructions!

Googlo.co is not a legitimate website. If you get redirected to this page, or if it has managed to replace your preferable homepage, brace yourself. You are in for trouble. The appearance of this shady page is a clear sign of browser infection. Somewhere in the corners of your OS, the nasty Googlo.co hijacker lurks. This invader is an aggressive ad-generating menace. It corrupts your web browsers and throws you into a whirlwind of advertisements. Chrome, Opera, Edge, Firefox; there is no immune program. The hijacker alters their settings and takes over your user experience. This parasite injects various ads on every website you visit. You would notice that even pages that used to be ad-free are now heavy on in-text and banner ads. Coupons and discounts cover your screen every time you as much as touch your browser. That’s right. It’s the hijacker. It gets paid when you click on its ads, so it floods you with them. And it doesn’t limit itself to website-based adverts. It also pushes notifications and opens pop-ups. The hijacker even dares pause your online videos for commercial breaks. The more ads you see, the bigger the chance you click. But if you refuse to do so, the parasite changes its approach. It starts browser redirection. The Googlo.co hijacker loads third-party websites directly in your browser. Do you feel comfortable knowing that any web page out there may pop up on your screen? The hijacker has no filters. It redirects traffic to inappropriate websites, as well as displays deceptive content. Spare yourself many future headaches. Remove the Googlo.co hijacker for good!

How did I get infected with?

Torrents, fake updates, corrupted links, software bundles; there are myriads of ways for the Googlo.co hijacker to reach your system. If you take a closer look at these distribution strategies, you would realize that they are not flawless. They deliver the hijacker, but they don’t install it. Only you can do that. Only you, the user, can let the hijacker on board. If you, however, act recklessly, if you don’t pay attention to the red flags, you are very likely to do it! Do not give into naivety. No anti-virus app can protect you if you act recklessly. Only your caution is powerful enough to keep your device secure and virus-free. Don’t visit shady websites. Download software from reliable sources only. And forget about the “Next-Next-Finish” installation strategy. When available, use the advanced/custom setup option. Make sure that you know what you are installing. Read the terms and conditions before you agree to them. If you cannot spare enough time to go through the whole document, scan it with an online EULA analyzer. Abort the installation process if you notice anything suspicious!

Why is this dangerous?

The Googlo.co hijacker is a complete and utter menace. This invader interferes with your every online activity. Whether you type a search query or browse your favorite website, the parasite is always there to annoy you. It bombards you with ads and redirects your browser. You may also notice other unwanted changes, such as new toolbars and extensions. That’s right, the hijacker may “upgrade” your browser. It is also capable of replacing your homepage and default search engine. This pest knows no boundaries. It forces numerous reshuffles on you. Its interference, of course, is very hazardous. The parasite installs unknown apps that are quite risky. This invader opens your browser to numerous online threats. But let’s not forget that the hijacker is the biggest threat. The Googlo.co parasite threatens to steal sensitive information and to send it to unknown criminals. The hijacker spies on you from the moment it invades. It studies your browsing habits and records your every move. This pest knows your preferences. What’s worse is that it also knows how to use this information against you. The parasite uses the data for ad targeting. It shows you what you want to see, but when you click, bad things happen. The Googlo.co hijacker is very likely to redirect you to phishing, phony, scam, and even infected websites. Do not test your luck! Remove the hijacker before it lures you into an online trap!

How to Remove Googlo.co virus

The Googlo.co 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 Googlo.co 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 Googlo.co related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Googlo.co startup location

STEP 3: Delete Googlo.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Googlo.co 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 Googlo.co 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 Googlo.co 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 Googlo.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Googlo.co 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 Googlo.co

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 Googlo.co, 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 Googlo.co 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 Googlo.co 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.