How to Remove Search.hwatchtvnow.co Hijacker

Can’t Remove Search.hwatchtvnow.co hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Search.hwatchtvnow.co Removal instructions!

The Search.hwatchtvnow.co page is a sign. There’s a browser hijacker on your computer. It slithered its way into your system via deception and finesse. And, is now spreading corruption throughout. The nasty tool affects every aspect of your system. It wreaks utter havoc, and messes everything up. You first notice its touch, when you browse. The hijacker intrudes on your every move. And, forces the Search.hwatchtvnow.co site on you, every chance it gets. You see it, non-stop. Open a new tab, and it’s there. Type a search, and it’s among the suggested results. The hijacker even replaces your default homepage, and search engine, with it. Oh, yes. One day, you come to find the switch already in place. Did you ask for it? No. Did you approve it? No. Did you have knowledge of it, prior to its implementation? No. It takes you by surprise. That’s how hijackers work. They can force a variety of reshuffles on you, without bothering to clue you in. Or, seek your consent. They meddle with your system settings, yes. But, they can also approve the installation of malware. They can fill your system to the brim with threats. And, how long do you think it can last, should that happen? How long until it gives up? Yes, The Blue Screen of Death is a valid possibility. The odds of it occurring may be minor. But ‘minor’ doesn’t equal ‘non-existent.’ Don’t gamble with your system’s well-being! Don’t prolong the hijacker’s stay. Do what’s best, and remove it the first chance you get. Its immediate deletion is the best course of action, you can take. Take it ASAP.

How did I get infected with?

Search.hwatchtvnow.co pops up, because of the hijacker forcing it on you. But what about said hijacker? How did it end up on your PC? Do you recall approving its install? Odds are, you don’t. But that doesn’t change the fact that you did. Don’t be too hard on yourself, though. Let’s elaborate. Hijackers have to ask you, the user, if you agree to allow them into your system. Only if they gain your permission can they proceed with admission. So, they do ask, but do it in the most covert way possible. After all, id they outright popped p to seek consent, you can deny them. The straightforward approach leaves too much to chance. To avoid rejection, they resort to trickery. They hide behind spam emails, freeware, corrupted links, sites, or torrents. They can also pose as system or program updates. Like, Java or Adobe Flash Player. Hijackers have their pick of tricks. Whichever one, they end up choosing, it’s up to you whether they succeed. Caution helps you to spot these tools, attempting invasion. You can catch them in the act, and prevent their success. Carelessness, however, has the opposite outcome. It eases their infiltration. Don’t provide your distraction and naivety. Don’t rush. Instead, take the time to be extra thorough. And, always do your due diligence. Make the right choice, and choose caution over the lack thereof.

Why is this dangerous?

Search.hwatchtvnow.co is a fake search engine. Its developers claim that it’s useful and legitimate, but it’s not. Supposedly, you can use it to watch a variety of TV-related content. Like, shows, movies, and related links. Its selling point may be reliability, but it has none. The page gets forces on you by the nasty hijacker. The longer you allow the hijacker to remain, the more you’ll see the site. Not to mention, you’ll suffer the repercussions of its stay, of which there are many. Hijackers don’t only run rampant on your PC, making a mess. They also threaten to steal your private information. And, then, expose it to the people that published them. The tool, hiding behind Search.hwatchtvnow.co, is no exception. It starts to spy on your every move, from the moment it invades. The application tracks your browsing habits, and records everything you do. When it deems it has gathered enough data, it sends it. Don’t allow that to happen. Don’t let cyber criminals get a hold of your personal and financial data. Get rid of the hazardous hijacker at once.

How to Remove Search.hwatchtvnow.co virus

The Search.hwatchtvnow.co 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.hwatchtvnow.co 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.hwatchtvnow.co related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.hwatchtvnow.co startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.hwatchtvnow.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.hwatchtvnow.co 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.hwatchtvnow.co 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.hwatchtvnow.co 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.hwatchtvnow.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search.hwatchtvnow.co 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.hwatchtvnow.co

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.hwatchtvnow.co, 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.hwatchtvnow.co 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.hwatchtvnow.co 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.