Search-encrypt.com Ads Removal

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

Search-encrypt.com is not a reliable website. This web page and its search engine are associated with a browser hijacker. If the Search-encrypt.com website replaces your homepage, if ads “Powered by Search-encrypt.com” flood your browser, brace yourself. Your browser is infected. A sneaky hijacker lurks in the shadows of your OS and wreaks havoc. The good news is that you are dealing with one relatively easy to tackle type of parasite. Provided you act promptly, you can remove the invader without any serious consequences. If you postpone the removal, however, prepare for trouble. The Search-encrypt.com hijacker is a complete and utter menace. It threatens to steal sensitive information and to lure you into online traps. The sneaky parasite opens your device to surveillance and targeted ads. That’s right! The hijacker follows programming to spy on you and to use the gathered data against you. The hijacker follows you around the Web and analyzes your every online move. When it deems it has enough data, it initiates an aggressive customized ad bombardment. And it doesn’t stop here. The hijacker also manages the collected data as an exchangeable resource. It sells the collected data to unknown third parties. Do you think that ends well? The Search-encrypt.com hijacker jeopardizes both your privacy and security. This annoying parasite has no place on your system. Do what’s best for you and your OS. Remove the invader ASAP!

Remove Search-encrypt.com

How did I get infected with?

The Search-encrypt.com hijacker does not target individual users. No, the parasite uses mass distribution strategies to reach a broad spectrum of potential victims. The key word here is “potential”. It’s up to you whether this menace will infect your OS or not! The hijacker needs you, the user, to approve its installation. No permission, no admission. That’s the rule. There is no exception. There’s a catch, though. The hijacker has no need of straightforwardness. The parasite asks in the sneakiest way possible. It hides in the fine print. All it needs to succeed is one moment of carelessness. Do not make its job easier. Do not give into naivety. No anti-virus app can protect you if you do. The key to a secure and infection-free device is caution. Even a little extra attention can spare you an avalanche of problems. Always keep your guard up. Download software and updates from reliable sources only. When available, use the advanced/custom setup option. And, of course, read the terms and conditions before you agree to them. If you cannot spare enough time to go through the whole document, scan it with an online EULA analyzer. Opt out of the installation if you notice anything suspicious!

Why is this dangerous?

The Search-encrypt.com hijacker is a complete and utter menace. As soon as it sneaks into your system, corruption ensues. The parasite replaces both your default search engine and preferable homepage. It alters your browser settings and throws into a whirlwind of ads. The parasite injects adverts on every website you visit. Even web pages that used to be ad-free get heavy on coupons and discounts. Pop-ups and notifications load every time you so much as touch your browser. Even your videos get paused. The numerous ads, of course, take a toll on your device. Their great number makes your browser prone to freezes and crashes. The aggressive hijacker ruins your browsing experience. This intrusive parasite is menacing, annoying and irritating. But do not discard it as a mere annoyance! This invader is dangerous. It threatens to get you in serious trouble. The Search-encrypt.com hijacker has no filters nor security mechanisms. Its adverts arise unwarranted expectations at best. At worst, they redirect to dangerous websites. Numerous crooks employ the hijacker to reach potential victims. They flood your browser with irresistible offers. The crooks show you what you want to see, but when you click, bad things happen. Do not test your luck. Do not tolerate the hijacker. Remove this parasite before it gets a chance to get you in trouble! The sooner you delete it, the better!

How to Remove Search-encrypt.com virus

The Search-encrypt.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-encrypt.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-encrypt.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search-encrypt.com startup location

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

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search-encrypt.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.

end-malicious-process

  • Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Search-encrypt.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-encrypt.com virus from the windows registry

  • Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

win-plus-r

  • A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

regedit

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]

delete backgroundcontainer

  • 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:

hosts-redirect-virus

STEP 3 : Clean Search-encrypt.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

  • Open Google Chrome

  • In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
  • Remove the Search-encrypt.com by clicking on the little recycle bin
  • Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

disable Search-encrypt.com from chrome

  • Open Mozilla Firefox

  • Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
  • Disable the unwanted Extension
  • Go to Help
  • Then Troubleshoot information
  • Click on Reset Firefox

remove Search-encrypt.com from 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

remove Search-encrypt.com from ie

  • Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Search-encrypt.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-encrypt.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.

safebrowsing-biz-shortcut-removal

  • in the target field remove Search-encrypt.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-encrypt.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.

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