How to Remove Websearch.live Redirect

Can’t Remove Websearch.live hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Websearch.live Removal instructions!

Websearch.live is a harbinger of bad news. The page’s popping up means you’re in for a rather unpleasant time. There’s a hijacker on your computer. It managed to sneak in undetected. And, the site’s display is the infection’s way of announcing itself. It’s a clue. The sooner you accept it as such, the better. Heed the warning! Once Websearch.live appears, acknowledge the hijacker’s existence. Then, the find its hiding place, and delete it. Its prompt removal is your best course of action. Don’t waste time in debates. Delays lead to regrets. Hijackers don’t waste time, and quickly get down to business. But, thing is, their business is wreaking havoc on your system. They throw you into a whirl of grievances, and overwhelm you with issues. They mess with your settings, perform various unwanted, unapproved changes. Slow down your PC, cause system crashes. They meddle with your browsing experience until it turns hellish. The hijacker throws you into a mess that keeps growing. Issues escalate in both number and severity. The worst threat, looming over you, has to do with your privacy. Would you like to keep your privacy private? Or, would you stand as it gets stolen and exposed? That’s what happens if you don’t delete the cyber threat in time. Don’t allow the scenario to unfold. Websearch.live is your warning. When you see the page, find the hijacker, forcing it on you. And, delete it.

How did I get infected with?

Websearch.live takes over your screen after a hijacker invasion. But how did the hijacker invade? These tools don’t appear out of thin air. In fact, they need permission to install themselves. Such a tool cannot enter a system without seeking the user’s consent first. Think about that. It means, the program behind Websearch.live, sought your compliance on install. And, you gave it. If you hadn’t, you wouldn’t be in your current predicament. But back to the question at hand. How did you agree to install a tool, and not know it? Well, short answer is, you got duped. The hijacker doesn’t outright pop up to seek permission. That leaves too much to chance. What if you deny it? Since it can’t take the risk, it does the next best thing. It turns to trickery and deceit. The application hides behind freeware, corrupted links, spam emails. It also poses as a false update, like Java or Adobe Flash Player. If you wish to catch it in the act, and prevent its invasion, be careful! Always do your due diligence when installing anything off the web. Even a little extra vigilance goes a long way. Carelessness, however, tends to be a one-way street to infections.

Why is this dangerous?

The hijacker, using Websearch.live as a front, spies on you. It places your privacy in jeopardy. That’s because, it follows instructions to steal information from you. It’s designed to begin tracking your browsing from the moment it invades. And, so it does. The tool keeps a close eye on your online activities. And, it doesn’t stop at observing. It records everything, as well. Once it determines it has collected enough data, it sends it. To whom? Well, to the unknown third parties behind it. Cyber criminals with agendas. These are the people, who get a hod of your private details. Do you think the exposure bodes well for you? Don’t allow these strangers access to your personal and financial details. Don’t allow the hijacker to threaten your privacy. Find it, and delete it the first chance you get. That way, you won’t only protect yourself. But, your system’s well-being, as well. After all, it’s not only your security that’s in danger. That’s on top of the issues, one considers ‘minor.’ Like, the endless redirects, and pop-up ad bombardment. The slower PC, and frequent crashes. When you consider all the inconvenience, you face, it’s an easy choice to make. The hijacker doesn’t deserve a spot on your PC. Delete it ASAP! Don’t grant it a chance to cause irrevocable damages.

How to Remove Websearch.live virus

The Websearch.live 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 Websearch.live 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 Websearch.live related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Websearch.live startup location

STEP 3: Delete Websearch.live traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Websearch.live 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 Websearch.live 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 Websearch.live 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 Websearch.live traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Websearch.live 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 Websearch.live

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 Websearch.live, 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 Websearch.live 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 Websearch.live 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.