How to Remove Search.searchmev2.com Hijacker

Can’t Remove Search.searchmev2.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Search.searchmev2.com Removal instructions!

Your browser experience is being ruined by intrusive pop-ups and advertisements? You’ve noticed that whenever you open a new tab, you get redirected to Search.searhmev2.com? Is this website set both as a homepage and preferred search engine without your knowledge? We hate to be bringer of bad news, but it looks like your computer has been attacked by a browser hijacker. This malware has the ability to record your search queries, as well as obtain your previous browsing history, so it can generate ad content that is most likely to temp you and make you click on it. Such action is not advised, because you never know where the adverts might take you. It is very likely to get redirected to dangerous third-party websites that may contain other malicious software. Browser hijackers are also known to steal not just browsing data, but user’s passwords, IP addresses, bank accounts, credit card numbers, personal files, etc.

How did I get infected with?

Along with opening spam emails and attached files from unknown senders, another common way of browser hijacker distribution is via bundled software. What usually happens is that users use a Quick/Automatic type of installation method. This is a mistake. By following through such process, the victim has no way of knowing what is actually being installed on their computer. Cyber criminals repackage gaming or other kind of software into free bundles that also contain undisclosed malicious software as well. What users are advised to do when downloading programs and applications from the internet is to always opt for an Advanced or Custom installation process and make sure that there are no checked boxes next to any additional software because more often than not, they turn out to be malware in disguise.

Why is this dangerous?

What you should know is that the Search.searhmev2.com redirect is not a virus, but a symptom of one. It can be present in all types of browsers like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, etc. and aims to generate PPC (Pay-Per-Click) revenue, as well as obtain all sort of personal information such as but not limited to social media accounts, passwords, bank accounts, credit card credentials, various file types like photos, documents and executable files. So if you notice that instead of your preferred homepage or when clicking on a new tab you get redirected to Search.searhmev2.com, it is advised to proceed immediately with the removal of this browser hijacker before it can steal your private data and share it with other hackers for profit. This article can help you with this task. Just read the instructions below to learn how you can get rid of this malware for good.

How to Remove Search.searchmev2.com virus

The Search.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.searchmev2.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.searchmev2.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.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.searchmev2.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.