Remove Search.searchws.com Hijacker

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

The Search.searchws.com site is a harbinger of trouble. If you see it on your screen, be wary. It’s a clear indication that your system harbors a cyber threat. There’s a browser hijacker, lurking somewhere in the corners. It’s wreaking havoc, and messing everything up. And, it will remain doing so for as long as it remains. That’s why experts urge towards its immediate removal. Cut the infection’s stay as short as possible! It does NOT deserve a place on your computer. To delete it ASAP is to avoid a plethora of problems. To extend its stay further is to set yourself up for a whirlwind of unpleasantness. The hijacker meddles with your browsing. Reshuffles system settings. Slows down your PC, and causes frequent crashes. And, worst of all, jeopardizes your privacy. Do what’s best for you, and delete the threat at once. Protect yourself and your computer from its hazardous influences. The Search.searchws.com page is a sign. It warns of an infection, residing on your PC. Find its exact hiding place, and remove it when you do. The sooner it’s gone, the better.

How did I get infected with?

The page doesn’t take over before a hijacker slithers into your PC. So, how do you suppose that happens? How do you get stuck with such a tool? Well, simple. It asks if you wish to install it. And, you say YES. Oh, yes. No hijacker can access your system before it asks for your approval, and gets it. So, you may not recall the exchange taking place, but it did. And, you may not remember saying YES, but you did. Otherwise, Search.searchws.com wouldn’t take over your screen, non-stop. Don’t be too hard on yourself, though. The hijacker didn’t outright appear to seek your consent. If it were that straightforward, odds are, you’ll deny it. To avoid the risk of rejection, it turns to trickery, instead. The tool employs the old but gold means of infiltration. It uses slyness and subtlety to swindle you out of your okay. More often than not, it uses freeware to invade. Or, spam emails, corrupted links. It has an array of methods to choose from. It can even pretend to be a system or program update. For example, you may believe, you’re updating your Java. But, you’re not. And, what helps you spot the deceit, is vigilance! So, be thorough! Take the time to do your due diligence. Don’t give into naivety and haste. Don’t throw caution to the wind. Even a little extra attention goes a long way. Carelessness, however, tends to be a one-way street to infections.

Why is this dangerous?

Search.searchws.com is a bogus search engine. It claims to enhance your overall experience, and offer better results. But, alas, it improves nothing. What it does is wreck everything. The site provides zero assistance. It displays unreliable and malicious content. So, do NOT trust it! It’s a mistake to use it. Do your best to ignore it. Now, that may prove rather difficult. It appears on your screen, all the time. The hijacker redirects you, non-stop. Open a new tab? It’s there. Type in a search? It shows up among the results. Do anything at all online, and it’s there. Search.searchws.com becomes your shadow. If you wish to cease its intrusion, remove the hijacker. That way, you’ll also protect your security. As stated, the infection places it in jeopardy. It follows programming to spy on you from the moment, it invades. The tool tracks your online activities, and records them. It catalogs every single move you make. When it decides it has gathered enough data, it proceeds to expose it. To whom? Well, to the unknown third parties with malicious agendas, behind it. The strangers, who published it. Are you okay with cyber criminals getting a hold of your private information? Are you willing to trust them with your personal and financial details? Here’s a hint: DON’T! Do what’s best for you, and your system’s well-being. Delete the cyber threat ASAP. Your future self will thank you for its prompt removal.

How to Remove Search.searchws.com virus

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

STEP 2: Locate Search.searchws.com startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

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

• Open Google Chrome

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