Remove Search.privacy-search.net (Chrome and Firefox)

Search.privacy-search.net (by Linkey Inc.) is a browser hijacker. Even though it claims to be a great search engine, it’s a parasite. Obviously, hackers don’t tend to tell the truth about infections. Search.privacy-search.net is their nth lie. According to the parasite’s website, this thing protects your privacy. According to researchers, though, it protects nothing. On the other hand, it exposes you to malware and jeopardizes your privacy. Hijackers are certainly not a threat to be taken lightly. This one is a classic hijacker so it’s no exception. Immediately after it lands on board, the virus starts making changes. Your browsers are the first to test this program’s malicious potential. Their default settings are now completely modified. Furthermore, neither your permission nor consent was required. That is because hackers aren’t trying to enhance your online activities. They’re trying to gain profit instead. You see, Search.privacy-search.net hijacks your browsers. It installs a plugin to them. It also messes with your default search engine and browser homepage. Both get replaced with the parasite’s own domain. As you could imagine, this domain is utterly unsafe. After all, it was brought to you by a pesky cyber infection. The hijacker generates sponsored, tailored, unreliable web links. It also presents them as perfectly harmless search results. You should know better than to believe hackers’ nasty lies, though. Search.privacy-search.net boosts the web traffic to some particular websites. As a result, its developers gain revenue. Yes, you’re basically becoming their sponsor just by keeping the virus. Every single cent crooks gain will be used to create more parasites. Are you actively trying to support hackers’ illegitimate business? If not, make sure the hijacker gets removed ASAP. The more time it spends on board, the more harmful it becomes. Do not test the parasite’s limits. Apart from being annoying, Search.privacy-search.net is also harmful. None of the numerous links it displays could be trusted. Sponsored web links might be leading you to all sorts of corrupted pages full of malware. Before you know it, your cyber situation might drastically worsen. In addition, the virus is responsible for generating third-party ads and other commercials. It floods your PC screen with worthless, obnoxious and dangerous links. You’re also unable to find what you search for online. Last but not least, Search.privacy-search.net poses a threat to your safety. This is a PC infection we’re talking about. Don’t underestimate it.

How did I get infected with?

Compromising your device is a very easy task. So is protecting your safety. However, many people simply don’t pay enough attention when they should. Did you know that freeware bundling is the most popular infiltration method out there? Hackers often attach malware to some harmless bundle of programs. Unless you deselect the bonus beforehand, you will end up infecting your own machine. For example, opt for the Custom or Advanced option in the Setup Wizard. The same thing goes for the EULA (End User License Agreement). Take your time in the installation process to make sure the machine remains virus-free. If you notice some suspicious program in the bundle, don’t install it. Simple as that. Rushing the process leaves your entire PC system vulnerable. Another trick involves spam emails and messages. Be careful what you open as there might be infections in your inbox. Furthermore, you could fall victim to all sorts of vicious viruses. Preventing installation in the first place is much better than deleting malware. Hence, be cautious.

Why is this dangerous?

Search.privacy-search.net takes over all your browsers. Its extension works with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. You’re now left with compromised browsers injected with sponsored links. You get redirected to random pages as well. Installing more infections has never been this easy. Thanks to the hijacker’s shenanigans, your browsing experience is not up to you anymore. It’s up to hackers. They constantly modify your preferred settings in order to cause you damage. Search.privacy-search.net was never meant to be beneficial for you. This piece of malware was created solely to harm you. Stay away from the web links it generates and don’t be naive. The hijacker must be deleted on the spot. To do so manually, please follow our detailed removal guide. You will find it down below.

How to Remove Search.privacy-search.net virus

The Search.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.net infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Search.privacy-search.net in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.privacy-search.net startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.privacy-search.net traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.privacy-search.net 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.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.net traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.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 Search.privacy-search.net 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.