Remove Initial Site 123 Virus

Can’t Remove Initial Site 123 Virus? This page includes detailed InitialSite123.com Removal instructions!

Initial Site 123 (InitialSite123.com) is a nasty browser hijacker. If you’re reading this article, you’ve already stumbled across the virus. You will find out detailed manual removal guide down below. Make sure you tackle this parasite as soon you encounter its presence. Hijackers aren’t a threat to be taken lightly. To begin with, Initial Site 123 didn’t seek your permission in order to get installed. The virus relied on various lies and tricks instead. Secondly, this pest messes with your default browser settings. Hijackers are called that way for a reason. Immediately after installation, the parasite adds a new extension or a plugin to your browsers. Your permission is irrelevant yet once again. This virus was developed by hackers. And, to put it mildly, crooks aren’t trying to take care of your preferences. They are trying to gain profit. It’s quite a simple scheme, actually. The Initial Site 123 hijacker takes over your browsers. As mentioned, it installs a browser add-on. It might also install some additional toolbars as well. What is much more worrisome, though, is the fact your search engine and homepage get changed. Both are now replaced with the hijacker’s own domain. As a result, you can’t get rid of Initial Site 123. Every single time you attempt to surf the Web, you’re being harassed by the virus. Remember, this program is malicious despite its promises to provide accurate search results. You’ve fallen victim to a cyber infection. If it generates a certain web link, that is only because hackers want you to see it. Initial Site 123 bombards you with deceptive, misleading, sponsored web links. None of them is to be trusted. A sponsored link could lead you straight to malware and cause you further harm. Are you actively trying to worsen your situation? If not, stay away from anything displayed by your browsers now that they are modified. The parasite may also generate random pop-up and commercials. No matter how attractive those seem to be, pay attention. These ads are just as unreliable as the search results. Put your safety first and restrain yourself from clicking any of them. Also, make sure you uninstall the hijacker for good ASAP. Apart from altering your browser settings, Initial Site 123 also jeopardizes your privacy. It collects some sensitive details which it then sends to crooks. As you could imagine, that may cause you great privacy issues. To prevent them, you have to delete Initial Site 12. The sooner, the better.

How did I get infected with?

The most common scenario involves bundled software. Hackers often attach their malicious creations to freeware/shareware bundles. Unfortunately, you do the rest. You see, if you rush the installation process, you remain completely unaware what you give green light to. There might be a virus hidden in the bundle. There might be a whole bouquet of viruses. To save yourself the trouble, you must be careful what you download. Avoid illegitimate bundles. Stay away from unverified websites too. We would also advise you to opt for the Custom or Advance option in the Setup Wizard. Take your time so you don’t have to uninstall malware afterwards. Preventing infiltration is indeed the easier option. Your caution will eventually pay off so don’t skip steps. There is no such thing as being too careful while browsing the Web. In addition, many viruses get attached to spam messages and emails. Instead of clicking those open, delete them. Crooks may send infections directly to your inbox. They rely on your curiosity so it’s up to you whether your device will remain safe. To protect your security, you have to constantly watch out for potential intruders.

Why is this dangerous?

The hijacker makes it impossible for you to use your computer. It takes over Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. That way, all your preferred browsers get modified. They begin to generate dubious web links and irritating pop-up ads. Consider your private life online no longer private too. Initial Site 123 redirects you to unknown websites thus standing in your way on a daily basis. This nuisance quickly turns your browsing experience into a cyber nightmare. It even causes a poor PC performance so your device now crashes and freezes all the time. Long story short, the hijacker simply doesn’t belong on your computer system. Do yourself a favor and uninstall this program right away. Please follow our comprehensive removal guide down below.

How to Remove Initial Site 123 virus

The Initial Site 123 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 Initial Site 123 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.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Initial Site 123 infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Initial Site 123 in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Initial Site 123 startup location

STEP 3: Delete Initial Site 123 traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Initial Site 123 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 Initial Site 123 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 Initial Site 123 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 Initial Site 123 traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Initial Site 123 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 Initial Site 123

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 Initial Site 123, 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 Initial Site 123 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 Initial Site 123 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.