Remove PANDAViewer (Pveiw) Redirect from Chrome, Firefox, IE

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

The name PANDAViewer (Search.pandaviewer.com) may sound like an animal organization. However, it has nothing to do with pandas. It also has nothing to do with improving your browser experience. This program is one of many malicious infections out there. Classified as a browser hijacker, PANDAViewer is not to be underestimated. The virus is also known as Pveiw and it follows the classic hijacker pattern. That means this pest will completely take over your entire online experience. However, if you check out the parasite’s official website, you may believe its bogus functionalities. PANDAViewer is supposed to be “fast, stable, easy to use”. It is also supposed to bring to you harmless as well as accurate search results. What this program’s developers fail to tell you is that all its links are sponsored. You see, by displaying sponsored web links, the virus helps crooks gain revenue. The problem is that you’re one who ends up in trouble. Immediately after it gets downloaded, this program adds a browser extension. In addition, it alters your default search engine and browser homepage. Both get replaced with the parasite’s domain so now you can’t get rid of it. Quite the opposite. You’re being forced to use this program every time you attempt to find anything online. Keep in mind that it’s a cyber infection we’re talking about. Its very last purpose was to enhance your online experience. The one thing this parasite is focused on is generating web traffic. Restrain yourself from clicking the links it displays, though. As mentioned, its search results are actually highly questionable and potentially harmful. Are you willing to download more infections on your already compromised PC? You might worsen your situation by clicking the PANDAViewer web links. This pest might also bring to you sponsored (and equally unreliable) pop-up ads. In this scenario, you could wave your online experience goodbye right away. Nobody could surf the Web while being bombarded with ads. Furthermore, some of the pop-ups are fake and lead you to non-existent products. Others lead you straight to more parasites. To prevent further harm, stay away from the commercials.

Remove PANDAViewer

How did I get infected with?

The virus didn’t seek your consent before installation. Why is that? Because malware has enough sneaky ways to get spread on the Web. Infections simply don’t need your permission because they rely on stealth. Therefore, PANDAViewer landed on your computer behind your back. Infecting your machine is problematic indeed. However, infecting your machine while having no idea about it is significantly worse. The hijacker might have been bundled with some harmless programs. Do you often download bundled freeware or shareware? Then you should check out the bundle for parasites beforehand. Many people choose to rush the process and end up installing malware. To prevent that, always pay close attention to what you agree to install. Opt for the custom or advanced option in the Setup Wizard. If you spot some nasty malicious “bonus” in the bundle, deselect it ASAP. That is a lot more time-consuming than having to remove a virus afterwards. Also, stay away from illegitimate websites or bundles. We would recommend that you read the Terms and Conditions or EULA instead of going for the “I accept” button. Skipping steps exposes your computer to all sorts of parasites. Some viruses might use fake program updates or torrents to get distributed online. Long story short, you can’t afford any mistakes while surfing the Internet.

Why is this dangerous?

To make the hassle even bigger, PANDAViewer works with all three of the most popular browsers. It successfully modifies Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. As a result, you’re left unable to use any of your once trusty browsers. You’re left unable to surf the Web freely. The hijacker stubbornly redirects you and messes with your preferred settings. It’s able to inject your browsers with sponsored pop-up ads as well. Regardless of how attractive these commercials may seem, you should know better than to click them open. Take no chances with this nuisance. The hijacker also serves as a back door to malware and causes a poor PC performance. Your machine may start to crash or freeze. To top it all, PANDAViewer monitors your private details. It steals browsing history, IP addresses and usernames/passwords. If you’re especially unlucky, though, some personally identifiable data could get stolen too. To prevent privacy issues (such as financial scams and identity theft), tackle the hijacker. You will find our detailed manual removal guide down below.Remove PANDAViewer (Pveiw) Redirect from Chrome, Firefox, IE

How to Remove PANDAViewer virus

The PANDAViewer 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 PANDAViewer 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 PANDAViewer infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down PANDAViewer related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate PANDAViewer startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down PANDAViewer 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.

end-malicious-process

  • Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate PANDAViewer 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 PANDAViewer virus from the windows registry

  • Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

win-plus-r

  • A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

regedit

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]

delete backgroundcontainer

  • 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:

hosts-redirect-virus

STEP 3 : Clean PANDAViewer traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

  • Open Google Chrome

  • In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
  • Remove the PANDAViewer by clicking on the little recycle bin
  • Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

disable PANDAViewer from chrome

  • Open Mozilla Firefox

  • Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
  • Disable the unwanted Extension
  • Go to Help
  • Then Troubleshoot information
  • Click on Reset Firefox

remove PANDAViewer from 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

remove PANDAViewer from ie

  • Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by PANDAViewer

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 PANDAViewer, 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.

safebrowsing-biz-shortcut-removal

  • in the target field remove PANDAViewer 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 PANDAViewer 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.

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