Remove SpicySEARCH Malware

Can’t Remove SpicySEARCH hijacker virus? This page includes detailed SpicySEARCH Removal instructions!

SpicySEARCH is a malicious browser hijacker program. These infections are a whole world of trouble. They invade your system undetected via trickery and finesse. Then, once inside, corrupt everything. After infiltration, they spread their clutches throughout. And, pretty soon, you see their influences in every aspect of your PC. They first manifest with your browsing. The hijacker makes it so you cannot make a single online move, without interference. You get redirected, non-stop. Your screen gets overrun with ads. In-text, banner, pop-up, every type of ad there is, you see it. It doesn’t take long before the incessant intrusions have consequences. Since they occur so frequent, they end up causing your system to crash all the time. Your computer’s performance also slows down to a crawl. Going online turns into a nightmare. What’s more, you may even find unwanted reshuffles, forced on you. Yes, the hijacker is free to perform a variety of changes. And, it doesn’t have to bother cluing you into its intentions. Or, seek your permission on the implementation. It does what it wishes to do, and leaves you to discover it yourself. The SpicyStart.com site tends to take over for your default search engine, and homepage. Was that something, you wanted? No. Did you give consent to the switch? No. And, yet, it’s fact. What if the hijacker decides to install malware on your PC? Well, it can. That’s an actual possibility. The infection can flood your system with more infections. The question is, will you let that happen? Keep that scenario from unfolding. Protect yourself, and your system, from the SpicySEARCH threat. Delete it as soon as you become aware of its existence. The sooner you remove it from your PC, the better.

How did I get infected with?

As mentioned, SpicySEARCH invades with the help of trickery and finesse. The tool fools you into giving it the green light of admission. And, manages to keep you oblivious to the fact that you did. How? Well, it has an array of methods to choose from. Freeware is among the most common means of infiltration. That’s because, it offers the easiest way in. Most users are pretty careless during freeware installs. They throw caution to the wind, and choose to rely on luck. Instead of being thorough, they skip reading the terms and conditions altogether. They head straight for the YES at the bottom, and leave their fate to chance. That’s a horrendous strategy. One that, almost always, results in infections. Don’t make it easier for threats, like SpicySEARCH, to invade! Every time, you’re installing freeware, updates, or anything else, be thorough! Take the time to do your due diligence. Read the terms and conditions. Don’t say YES in blind faith. Know what you agree to. Look for the fine print. Double-check everything. Even a little extra attention goes a long, long way.

Why is this dangerous?

SpicySEARCH puts you through quite the predicament. Its presence on your PC results in you facing a plethora of problems. But neither one even compares to the absolute worst part of having a hijacker. The security issue. The annoyance, headaches, and altogether unpleasantness, you have to endure, pale in comparison. The malicious program follows instructions to steal data from you. Then, once it gets a hold of enough information, it exposes it to strangers. The unknown people, responsible for its release, to be precise. The hijacker begins to spy on you from the moment it invades. SpicySEARCH keeps track of every online move you make, and records it. That means, it has access to your personal and financial details. Details, which given the chance, it sends to cyber criminals with questionable agendas. Are you going to allow that scenario to unfold? Or, are you going to protect yourself from the hazardous influences of the cyber threat? Do what’s best for you, and your system, and pick the latter. Delete SpicySEARCH the first chance you get.

How to Remove SpicySEARCH virus

The SpicySEARCH 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 SpicySEARCH 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 SpicySEARCH related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate SpicySEARCH startup location

STEP 3: Delete SpicySEARCH traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down SpicySEARCH 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 SpicySEARCH 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 SpicySEARCH 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 SpicySEARCH traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the SpicySEARCH 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 SpicySEARCH

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 SpicySEARCH, 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 SpicySEARCH 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 SpicySEARCH 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.