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Can’t Remove Search.searchwfaa.com? This page includes detailed Search.searchwfaa.com Removal instructions!
The Search.searchwfaa.com page does its best to appear legitimate. It poses as a reliable search engine, but here’s the thing. It’s not. The page is far less than trustworthy. Think if it as a front. It’s a shield, used by an infection, to lurk behind. So, if you spot the page, you’re dealing with an infection. A browser hijacker, to be precise. There are no ifs or buts about it. A hijacker managed to dupe you into installing it, and you’re now reaping the ‘rewards.’ In case, you’re unfamiliar, these are malicious programs. They sneak into your system undetected, and proceed to wreak havoc. And, do you know what? They don’t stop. They use all the time, you give them, to make a mess of your PC. So, the more time you allow them, the more opportunities for them to make a bigger mess. What begins as minor intrusions can grow into a severe security risk. Not to mention, you also face the threat of The Blue Screen of Death. Yes, the dreaded blue is a possibility. It looms over you. Don’t stand by and watch it take over. Avoid the nastiness, the hijacker throws at you. Don’t let it spread its reach throughout your system. Do yourself a favor, and act as soon as you see Search.searchwfaa.com. The site’s display is a warning. Take it as such. Locate the hiding spot of the hijacker, forcing it on you. Then, once you do, delete it! It’s the best thing you can do. But do it fast. Or, you risk getting stuck with the despicable blue. And, that’s on top of having your privacy stolen and exposed. Yes, the hijacker does that, too.
How did I get infected with?
We mentioned above that the hijacker duped you into installing it. And, it did. The infection asked whether you agree to allow it in, and you did. These programs can enter your system only after receiving your consent. So, it asked. And, you obliged. You wouldn’t be stuck in this mess if it had been otherwise. However, we’re willing to bet, you have no memory of the exchange taking place. And, that’s not surprising. The tool doesn’t pop up out in the open, and seek entry. That leaves too much room for refusal. And, it can’t have you denying it. That’s where trickery and deceit kick in. The hijacker turns to every known trick in the book. It uses freeware, bogus updates, spam email attachments. Just about anything and everything, to get you to allow it in. But here’s the thing. Whichever invasive method it uses, it needs a crucial ingredient for success. Your carelessness. It needs you to throw caution to the wind, and rush. It relies on you to give into naivety. So, here’s a thought. How about you don’t do that? Instead, be extra attentive. Take the time to do your due diligence. That way you increase the odds of NOT allowing an infection into your PC. Do yourself a favor, and pick caution over carelessness.
Why is this dangerous?
After you agree to install the hijacker, issues ensue. The tool, that now lurks on your PC, is quite invasive. It meddles with your settings constantly. And, it begins with your browsing. The hijacker makes your experience unbearable. It replaces your default homepage and search engine. In their stead, you find Search.searchwfaa.com. The tool makes it so every time you so much as open your browser, you see the site. Open a new tab, it’s there. Surf the Internet, it’s there. Type in a search, it’s among the results. You can’t seem to escape Search.searchwfaa.com. But it’s not alone. You also get redirected to other websites. And, they’re just as unreliable as Search.searchwfaa.com. Not to mention, the avalanche of pop-up ads that comes your way. And, there aren’t enough ways to stress this. Nothing the hijacker shows you is reliable. If you click on anything it displays, you’ll only bring about more issues your way. Take the ads, for example. They’re bundled with malware. When you press a pop-up, by accident or choice, you let malware into your system. Yes, a click equals consent on installment. Like how you got stuck with the hijacker in the first place. If you’re not careful enough, you can overwhelm your PC with threats. And, that’s what brings about the threat of The Blue Screen of Death. Think about it. What if, you install so many infections on accident, that your PC gives up? Yes, we admit, that’s a rather unlikely outcome. But ‘unlikely’ is not quite the same as ‘non-existent,’ is it? And, even if you manage to put all that aside, there’s one risk, you simply can’t ignore. The security hazard. The hijacker, behind Search.searchwfaa.com, threatens your privacy. It spies on your every online move, and records it. After it gathers enough information, it hands it over to the people behind it. It’s a rather simple programming, but it certainly does the trick. It grants access to your personal and financial data to cyber criminals. Ask yourself if that’s a desirable outcome. Or, is it one, you wish to avoid at all costs? Don’t let strangers into your private life. Do what’s best for you and your system. Locate and remove the hijacker menace ASAP. The sooner, the better.
How to Remove Search.searchwfaa.com virus
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The Search.searchwfaa.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.searchwfaa.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.
Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Search.searchwfaa.com infection, you need to purchase its full version.
STEP 1: Track down Search.searchwfaa.com in the computer memory
STEP 2: Locate Search.searchwfaa.com startup location
STEP 3: Delete Search.searchwfaa.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer
STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus
STEP 1: Track down Search.searchwfaa.com 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.searchwfaa.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.searchwfaa.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.searchwfaa.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer
-
Open Google Chrome
- In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
- Remove the Search.searchwfaa.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.searchwfaa.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.searchwfaa.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.searchwfaa.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.searchwfaa.com 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.