Search.Hwatchtvnow.co Redirect Removal

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

Search.Hwatchtvnow.co is a misleading search engine. Instead of accurate results, it provides you sponsored and unreliable web links. Some of those might turn out to be perfectly safe. Without a doubt, though, others are corrupted. There is no telling which link generated by the virus is dangerous and which one isn’t. How do you prevent further damage then? You stay away from anything brought to your PC screen by this program. Classified as a browser hijacker, Search.Hwatchtvnow.co is malicious. It starts harassing you the minute you download the infection. In addition to that, you should know the installation happens behind your back. All shenanigans that you’re about to witness happen in silence too. No hijacker is even going to take your opinions into consideration. That is not why these programs get developed. Search.Hwatchtvnow.co is going after one much more aggravating goal. It injects your browsers with sponsored web links and presents them as search results. However, you should know better than to click open the links a hijacker displays. As mentioned, you might compromise your security by trusting these deceptive search results. The hijacker boosts web traffic to some specific websites. Hence, it generates some specific web links. You’ll notice that your default homepage and search engine are modified. Thanks to the virus, both get replaced with Search.Hwatchtvnow.co. There is no getting rid of this malicious domain anymore. Every single time you attempt to surf the Internet, you’re forced to deal with the parasite. Your browsers also receive an extension or a plugin to them. Yet once again, your consent is in no way involved. The parasite takes over all your favorite browsers. It causes them to redirect you and exposes you to more infections. You might also come across some product commercials and other pop-up ads. That is because hijackers often generate sponsored advertisements as well. Those are just as tricky and potentially harmful as the search results. As long as you have a hijacker on your machine, you can’t surf the Web at peace. Your PC speed also gets slowed down significantly. To top it all, your private life online is no longer private.

How did I get infected with?

The virus was most likely bundled. In fact, freeware and shareware bundles offer all types of infections an effective tactic. Hackers just can’t ignore the fact many PC users tend to skip the installation process. For instance, have you recently agreed to download some program bundle off of the Internet? And, did you read the Terms and Conditions or EULA (End User License Agreement)? Most people prefer to click the “I accept” button thus remaining oblivious to the programs they install. One single software bundle may turn out to be full of potential intruders. To prevent damage, always check out the programs beforehand. By doing so, you’ll be able to spot and deselect any bonus parasite. That is a lot less problematic than having to remove infections after they get installed. Put your safety first and don’t skip any important steps. Opt for the custom or advanced option in the Setup Wizard instead. You definitely won’t regret it because infections could be very sneaky. They use secretive methods to get spread online without your permission. Another popular technique involves spam messages and/or email-attachments. Last but not least, avoid suspicious torrents, unverified websites and questionable software updates.

Why is this dangerous?

This hijacker won’t enhance your online experience. To be fair, no hijacker will. The only reason Search.Hwatchtvnow.co has to be on your computer is to generate web traffic. Now that your favorite browsers get modified, they are untrustworthy. In other words, you’re left unable to use your very own browsers. Wave your everyday online activities goodbye too. Search.Hwatchtvnow.co constantly messes with your default settings and it might also install some additional toolbars. As if that wasn’t more than enough, this nuisance serves as a back door to malware. It causes your machine to underperform and even your Internet connection may become unstable. The parasite monitors your browsing-related data as well. That includes browsing history, usernames, passwords, email addresses. If you’re particularly unlucky, your personally identifiable details may get stolen too. Needless to say, the hijacker has to be immediately uninstalled. To delete it manually, please follow our detailed removal guide down below.

How to Remove Search.Hwatchtvnow.co virus

The Search.Hwatchtvnow.co 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.Hwatchtvnow.co 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.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Search.Hwatchtvnow.co infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Search.Hwatchtvnow.co related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.Hwatchtvnow.co startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.Hwatchtvnow.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.Hwatchtvnow.co 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.Hwatchtvnow.co 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.Hwatchtvnow.co 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.Hwatchtvnow.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

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

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.Hwatchtvnow.co, 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.Hwatchtvnow.co 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.Hwatchtvnow.co 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.