Remove Search-encrypt.com Redirects

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

Search-encrypt.com is indicative of a browser hijacker. The sooner you perceive the page as the warning it is, the better. Acknowledge its display as the infection’s way of cluing you into its existence. Then, when you do accept its presence, take immediate action against it. Hijackers are quite hazardous and harmful. They wreak utter havoc, and make a mess of your system. Not long after invasion, you begin to suffer the consequences of the tool’s stay. You start to see the Search-encrypt.com site, at every turn. The hijacker seizes every opportunity to display it. Open a new tab, and it’s there. Search the web, and it’s among the results. All the ads that flood your screen, are ‘Powered by Search-encrypt.com.’ Not to mention, the hijacker replaces your default homepage and search engine with it. No, you didn’t ask for the switch. And, no, you didn’t approve it. But it’s fact nonetheless. That’s what you can expect from the hijacker. It’s meddlesome and malicious, and throws you into a whirl of trouble. Spare yourself the dangers, the hijacker forces on you. Get rid of it as soon as you get the chance. In other words, as soon as you spot Search-encrypt.com on your screen.

How did I get infected with?

Search-encrypt.com takes over your screen, because of the hijacker, behind it. But the hijacker takes over your PC, because of you. Yes, you got careless, and the infection used that to its advantage, and invaded. Confused? Let’s elaborate. Hijackers have to gain your approval on their entry. They have to ask whether you agree to install them. And, then, they can continue with installment, only if you give them the green light. That’s why, they make sure to get it. How? Well, they seek your permission in the sneakiest way they can. After all, having to ask for your approval, doesn’t mean having to do it outright. So, instead, they do it in the most covert manner possible. They lurk behind corrupted links, freeware, fake update, spam emails. And, if you’re not thorough enough, to catch them in the act, that’s it. They slip past you, unnoticed, and wreak havoc. That’s why, vigilance is so crucial. It lets you catch these threats in the act, and deny them access. Always make sure to do your due diligence. Don’t rush, or give into gullibility. Even a little extra attention goes a long way. Make sure to choose caution over carelessness. That earns you the gratitude of your future self.

Why is this dangerous?

The hijacker doesn’t only mess with your system’s well-being. It also threatens your private information. You see, the tool, behind Search-encrypt.com, spies on you. It follows instructions to track your every online move. And, to keep a thorough record of it. That includes, all manner of personal and financial details. Links and ads you click, and sites you visit. Credit card and bank account details, passwords and logins. When the tool deems it has collected enough data from you, it sends it. Let tat sink in. The infection exposes your stolen data. To whom? Well, to the unknown individuals that published it. In other words, cyber criminals with malicious intentions. Not people that deserve access to your sensitive information. Keep it out of their hands! Don’t allow the hijacker to fulfill its thieving agenda. Don’t let it mess up your system. Get rid of it as soon as you become aware of its stay. The appearance of Search-encrypt.com, is your sign. Heed it, and act. It’s the best thing you can do, and you’d do best to do it ASAP.

How to Remove Search-encrypt.com virus

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

STEP 2: Locate Search-encrypt.com startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

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

• Open Google Chrome

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