How to Remove Saerch.net Redirect “Virus” (Chrome/Firefox/IE)

Can’t Remove Saerch.net hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Saerch.net Removal instructions!

The appearance of the Saerch.net website as your new homepage is a sign. A sign that your computer is infected with a browser hijacker. This parasite is not a virus, but a malicious app. However, because of its functions, it is also known as “redirect virus.” Don’t panic. We can help you get rid of this infection. Let’s take a moment to explain what a hijacker is. The Saerch.net hijacker is a malicious ad-supported application that has managed to enter your computer. It is invasive and extremely annoying. If you haven’t noticed the symptoms yet, be prepared. The hijacker is designed to bombard its victims with advertisements. This parasite uses a pay per click scheme to generate revenue. Basically, for every ad you click on, the owners of the furtive utility will be paid. Hence, you will be exposed to various commercials. Pop-up, pop-unders, ad banners, in-text ads, video commercials, etc. Do not expect odd banners. The Saerch.net hijacker embeds its advertisements in the body of the opened websites. It can also pause your video to display commercials. You will hate the experience. The issues are not even the worst. The hijacker is also programmed to generate web traffic to some specific websites. To do so, the furtive app will redirect its users directly to the sponsored pages. Every time you click on a link, additional tabs will open in your browser. On top of all this, your computer will start to perform poorly. The hijacker was never meant as a light program. It consumes an enormous amount of computer resources. The more ads you see, the slower your device will become! Luckily, you can remove this parasite completely. Provided you act promptly, of course. To remove it manually, please, follow our detailed guide. If you are not confident in your computer skills, download a trustworthy anti-virus program. The sooner you take action against the infection, the better!

How did I get infected with?

The Saerch.net hijacker is not an ingenious virus. This malicious program uses well-known strategies to reach its victims. The bundling technique is undoubtedly the most commonly used malware distribution technique. Developers would attach the malicious tool as an extra to the installation file of some freeware. When you start the installation of such a bundle, you will be urged to select the Standard/Fast setup option. Do not do it. This process is completely automatic. Once you initiate it, you lose control over it. The setup wizard will install all extras. Your further approval won’t be needed. Whenever you are installing a program, opt for the Advanced/Custom option. This process will present you with the opportunity to deny the installation of all additional applications that are about to be installed. Do not rush. Take your time to understand the terms and conditions. Install only the apps you trust. Other malware distribution techniques involve spam emails, torrents, fake software updates, drive-by downloads, etc. all these techniques will fail if you are vigilant. Always do your due diligence. You can never know where an infection might strike from. Therefore, keep your anti-virus up to date.

Why is this dangerous?

The Saerch.net hijacker is a menace. Once on board, it infects all installed browsers. Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge are its most common victims. Unfortunately, the furtive utility can affect all known browsers. No matter which one you prefer, the hijacker can force its pesky advertisements on you. The hijacker turns your browsing experience into a nightmare. Ad-blocking apps are useless against the hijacker. The only way to stop the advertisements is to remove the malicious tool. You should do it promptly. Otherwise, you risk corrupting your PC with more malware. Every advert displayed by the hijacker is a potential threat. The Saerch.net hijacker does not check what is being promoted or who the advertiser is. Crooks take advantage of such applications. They spread misleading advertisements and redirect the users to questionable websites. You cannot trust the adverts you are exposed to. Hackers, too, use hijackers to spread corrupted links. One click is all it takes for a virus to be downloaded on your computer. The Saerch.net utility brings only troubles. You have no reason to keep it. The longer it stays, the more time it has to trick you into clicking on commercials. At the most unexpected times, the hijacker will open pop-ups right under the cursor of your mouse. Eventually, you will click on one. Stay on the safe side. Remove the parasite before it is too late.

How to Remove Saerch.net virus

The Saerch.net 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 Saerch.net 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 Saerch.net infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Saerch.net related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Saerch.net startup location

STEP 3: Delete Saerch.net traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Saerch.net 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 Saerch.net 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 Saerch.net 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 Saerch.net traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Saerch.net 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 Saerch.net

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 Saerch.net, 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 Saerch.net 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 Saerch.net 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.