How to Remove Search-123.com Redirect

Can’t Remove Search-123.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Search-123.com Removal instructions!

The Search-123.com website is bad news. Its display is a harbinger. It informs you that your computer harbors an infection. Yes, it’s a sign. A signal, there’s now a browser hijacker, hiding somewhere on your system. It conceals its presence, and lurks somewhere in the corners of your computer. And, you best believe it’s wreaking havoc. Once the hijacker invades, it doesn’t take long before it acts up. The same goes for the effects of its influences. When its programming kicks up, you notice its impacts soon after. The repercussion of its stay are quite noticeable. The hijacker meddles, non-stop. It reshuffles system setting. Redirects you all the time. Floods your screen with ads. Slows down your computer. Causes frequent system crashes. And, do you know what? These are the minor grievances. Far worse ones await down the line. If you grant the time, it needs, the hijacker can cause severe damages. Don’t let it! Heed the warning that is Search-123.com! As soon as you first see the site, acknowledge its implication. There’s a browser hijacker, somewhere on your computer. Find where it lurks. Then, delete it. The sooner you remove it, the better. Your prompt reaction earns you the thanks of your future self.

How did I get infected with?

Hijackers turn to trickery to invade. The same goes for the one, hiding behind Search-123.com. It used slyness and subtlety to infiltrate. But, do you know what? As sly and subtle as it may be, it still needs one key ingredient for success. Your carelessness. The program needs you to give into distraction and naivety, to rush. If you don’t, it’s much harder for it to slither in undetected. But, if you do, it’s that much easier. So, ask yourself. Are you willing to ease the tool’s infiltration? Why not prevent it, instead? Don’t discard the importance of due diligence. Be extra careful when installing tools, updates, or anything off the web. Always take the time to read the terms and conditions. Even a little extra attention can save you quite the unpleasantness.

Why is this dangerous?

Hijackers are a severe bother, and a grave danger. They mess up your online activities with their incessant meddling. They make it so, you can’t make a single move without suffering interference. Every step you take, gets intercepted with ads, and Search-123.com. The obnoxious page even replaces your default homepage and search engine. It doesn’t seek permission. It doesn’t bother to inform you. It does it, and leaves for you to discover it. That’s what you can expect of hijackers. But, as stated, these issues fall under the minor category. There are worse threats, you face. The worst of which concerns your privacy. The nasty tool, using Search-123.com as a front, jeopardizes it. It follows instructions to steal your information. Then, expose it, to the people that published it. And, you best believe, it does its best to do just that. As soon as it invades, it begins to spy on you. It doesn’t only interfere with your online habits. It also tracks and catalogs them. There’s a record of every move you make. Let that sink in for a moment. The tool has collected every bit of information, you provided. When it deems it has stolen enough, it sends it. Once these unknown individuals get their hands on your data, that’s it. They can use it as they see fit. Are you willing to place your personal and financial details into their hands? How about, you don’t? Protect your privacy! Don’t let it get stolen and exposed to strangers. Do yourself a favor, and get rid of the hijacker as soon as possible. The Search-123.com site is a clue. Acknowledge it as such, and act on it. Locate and delete the malicious infection. It’s the best course of action you can take.

How to Remove Search-123.com virus

The Search-123.com 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 Search-123.com 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 Search-123.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search-123.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search-123.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search-123.com 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 Search-123.com 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 Search-123.com 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 Search-123.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search-123.com 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 Search-123.com

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 Search-123.com, 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 Search-123.com 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 Search-123.com 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.