Search-encrypt.com Hijacker Removal

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

Search-encrypt.com is a page that’s trouble. Its appearance on your screen is a sign of trouble. The website indicates that your system harbors a threat. One that belongs to the hijacker family. These types of infections make for horrible companions. They spread corruption throughout your system, and deteriorate its performance. You get thrown into a whirlwind of annoyance, headaches, and troubles. And, that’s not even the worst part. The biggest issue, you face, because of the hijacker, is the privacy risk. The nasty tool follows programming to spy on you from day. As soon as it invades, it starts to keep track of your browsing habits. Links and ads you click, sites you frequent, passwords and logins you input. Not to mention, credit card and bank account details. The hijacker keeps a thorough record of everything. And, what do you imagine it does next? Well, once the tool deems it has gathered enough data, it sends it. Yes, it exposes the stolen information. To whom? Well, to the unknown individuals that published it. In other words, cyber criminals with malicious intentions. Not people, you can trust with such sensitive details. So, don’t! Protect your private information from clutches of the hijacker. Don’t let it run rampant on your PC, wreaking havoc. Get rid of the atrocious cyber threat ASAP. The sooner it’s gone, the better.

How did I get infected with?

The tool, behind Search-encrypt.com, is sneaky. It got you to approve its install. All, while keeping you clueless. How? Well, it’s simple. It turns to the old but gold methods and, above all, preys on your carelessness. Let’s elaborate. The hijacker can’t enter your system without your consent. It has to ask whether you agree to allow it in. And, only if you do, can it proceed. So, it does its best to gain consent, and avoid rejection. Hence, the old but gold invasive methods. It hides behind freeware, fake updates, spam emails, corrupted sites, links, torrents. It has its pick of tricks. However, neither can prove successful, if you’re cautious. If you’re vigilant, you can catch the tool in the act of trying to trick you, and deny it access. But if you’re not, you end up with Search-encrypt.com. The hijacker preys on your carelessness. It relies on you to rush, give into naivety, and skip doing due diligence. Your lack of attention eases its covert infiltration. Don’t choose carelessness over caution. Take the time to be thorough, and remember. Even a little extra attention goes a long way.

Why is this dangerous?

The hijacker makes sure to force Search-encrypt.com on you, non-stop. You get stuck with the site all day, every day, regardless of your actions. Open a new tab? Search-encrypt.com is there. Search the web? Search-encrypt.com shows up among the suggested results. Do anything at all, and you’ll see ‘Waiting for Search-encrypt.com,’ on your screen. Not to mention, all the ads you get flooded with. The hijacker doesn’t only redirect you, it also showers your screen with ads. Banner, pop-up, and in-text ones. And, each advertisement, ‘Brought to you by Search-encrypt.com.‘ All these intrusions don’t go unnoticed. They take their toll on your system. It starts to suffer frequent crashes. Your computer also slows down, and lagging becomes a daily nuisance. And, these inconveniences pale in comparison to the security hazard. Don’t extend the tool’s stay beyond the point of detection. The more you allow it to stay, the worse your predicament gets. Don’t give it the time it needs to mess up your system. Ensure your privacy remains private. Acknowledge the warning that is the display of the page. Heed it, and act. Locate the exact hiding place of the hijacker. Then, delete it. Your future self will thank you for it.

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.

• 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.

• 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-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

• 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-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.

• 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.