Remove Plus Network Hijacker from Chrome/Firefox

Plus Network is a nasty program, part of the hijacker family. Once it invades your system, it proceeds to wreck it. It reveals itself by forcing the plusnetwork.com page on you incessantly. But that’s not all it does. Not by a long shot. Browser hijacker applications are a menace. They use deception and trickery to slither into your PC. And, when they succeed, they corrupt it. And, if you let them stay for long enough, they corrupt it beyond repair. The threat of The Blue Screen of Death looms over you. So, does the risk of having your privacy exposed to strangers. It’s up to you whether they become reality or not. Just know, time is not your friend. The more time you waste deciding whether to delete the tool, or not, the worse your predicament gets. Plus Network is a meddling program. So, at first, the issues seem more annoying than anything else. You get redirected, bombarded with ads. Your PC slows down, and your system crashes more often. But, if you don’t act in time, you WILL regret it. Hijackers are dangerous. Make no mistake. And, Plus Network is no different. Don’t just endure the minor inconveniences, and wait around for the major ones to hit you. Act against the threat you face! Once you see the page take over your screen, acknowledge the hijacker’s existence. Find its exact hiding spot. And, delete it upon discovery. Plusnetwork.com is a warning. Don’t ignore it.

How did I get infected with?

It may seem unbelievable to accept, but you agreed to install Plus Network. Oh, yes. The program asked whether you consent to its installment, and you did. Tools like it have to seek the user’s compliance beforehand. And, if they don’t get it, they cannot get in. But, here’s the thing. Yes, the program has to seek your approval. But that doesn’t mean it has to do it openly. So, it doesn’t. Instead, it asks in the sneakiest way possible. It has its pick from an entire array of sly, sneaky methods of infiltration. Like, freeware, spam email attachments, corrupted links, or sites. The list goes on and on. It can also pose as a bogus program or system update. For example, Adobe Flash Player. So, while you think you’re installing a helpful update, you’re wrong. In actuality, you’re giving the green light to Plus Network. That’s why it’s imperative to read the terms and condition always! Don’t give into naivety and distraction. Don’t rush. Infection prey on carelessness. They rely on it to slither into your system as you’re left oblivious. Don’t let that happen. Choose vigilance. Do your due diligence every time you’re installing a tool or an update. Even a little extra attention can save you a ton of troubles.

Why is this dangerous?

The Plus Network tool is intrusive, annoying, and harmful. It’s a plague on your PC. After it tricks you into letting it in, it begins its parade of troubles. First, it takes over your preferred homepage and search engine. One day, you just come to find them replaced with plusnetwork.com. You didn’t approve the switch, and it took you by surprise. But that’s how hijackers work. They’re free to implement any change on your PC they so want. And, they don’t have to bother to seek your permission, or inform you. They just do what they choose, and spring it on you. Imagine what that can do to your system. What if the tool decides to install so many infections that your PC just gives up? What if there’s so much malware on your PC that, one day, you see The Blue Screen of Death? Granted, the threat of the dreaded blue is rather minuscule. But it’s certainly a possibility. ‘Minuscule’ does not equal ‘non-existent.’ But, here’s what should worry you above all else. Even the risk of The Blue Screen of Death pales in comparison to the worst part of having a hijacker. Plus Network spies on you. It monitors your browsing activities. It keeps a thorough record of your every online move. Once it gathers enough information, it sends it to strangers. To the third parties that published it, to be precise. Are you willing to give these people access to your personal and financial data? Because, if you don’t remove the hijacker ASAP, it’s as if you are. It’s as if you agree to have your private life stolen and exploited. Don’t allow that! Protect your privacy and your PC! Once you discover the hijacker’s presence in your system, get rid of it! Find its hiding place, and delete it the first chance you get.

How to Remove Plus Network virus

The Plus Network 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 Plus Network 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 Plus Network infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Plus Network in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Plus Network startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

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

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Plus Network 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 Plus Network

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 Plus Network, 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 Plus Network 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 Plus Network 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.