Storage.googleapis.com Redirects Removal

Can’t Remove Storage.googleapis.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Storage.googleapis.com Removal instructions!

“Connecting to Storage.googleapis.com,” “Transferring data from Storage.googleapis.com,” “Waiting for Storage.googleapis.com.” You get redirected to questionable websites every time these annoying messages pop up in your browser’s status bar, aren’t you? Sadly, the news is bad. This unusual browser behavior indicates that your computer is no longer free of infections. A browser hijacker lurks in the shadows of your OS and wreaks havoc. Brace yourself! The intruder is a complete and utter menace. It is an aggressive ad-generating parasite that knows no boundaries. The hijacker inserts ads on every website you visit. You will notice various banners even on web pages that used to be ad-free. No ad-blocking tool is powerful enough to help you. Pop-ups appear out of the blue. Notifications urge you to “Add” or “Allow” questionable applications. Random website text turns into hyperlinks. You can’t get a simple task done without an advertisement popping up. Dozens and dozens of ads “Powered by Storage.googleapis.com” flood your browser on a daily basis. Their great number, of course, makes your browser slow and unresponsive. You face an avalanche of errors and crashes. Do not put up with this situation. Don’t tolerate the countless pop-ups, banners, and commercials. Do what’s best for you and your computer. Find where the hijacker lurks and delete it upon detection. Remove this menace for good!

Remove Storage.googleapis.com

How did I get infected with?

A browser hijacker causes the Storage.googleapis.com redirects. This parasite slithers into your PC and makes a mess out of your browsing experience. Don’t, however, overestimate the parasite. It didn’t “hack” your computer. This intruder is not an ingenious virus, but a simple application. It needs you, the user, to approve its installation. No permission, no admission! The hijacker is bound to seek your consent. And it does. It always asks! But it does so in the sneakiest way possible. The hijacker is a trickster. It hides in the fine print and preys on your naivety! Do not make its job easier. Choose caution over carelessness. Only your vigilance is powerful enough to prevent infections. Even a little extra attention can spare you myriads of problems. So, don’t be lazy. Always take the time to do your due diligence. Don’t visit dodgy websites. Download software and updates from reliable sources only. And don’t skip installation steps. Forget about the “Next-Next-Finish” installation strategy. If available, use the advanced/custom setup option. Deselect all unwanted bonus apps that are about to get installed, and go through the terms and conditions. If you can’t read the whole document, scan it with an online EULA analyzer. Don’t hesitate to opt out of the installation if you notice anything suspicious!

Why is this dangerous?

Storage.googleapis.com is a harbinger of bad news. Ads flood your browser as soon as this website pops up. The annoying ads cause issues such as errors and crashes. They are annoying, meddling and very intrusive. They, however, are also your clue. The ads warn that you are in serious trouble. If you take a closer look at these “Ads by Storage.googleapis.com” you’ll realize that you are under surveillance! The hijacker doesn’t just flood your browser with random ads. This parasite studies your browsing habits and bases its ad selection on the collected data. Do you think that ends well? The hijacker spies on you from day one. It knows which websites you visit, which links you follow, which videos you watch. The Incognito mode can’t hide you. The parasite knows everything! And when it deems it has enough data, it sells everything to unknown third parties. The bad news is that some pieces of data, your search queries, for example, may leak confidential details. Do not take unnecessary risks! Your best course of action is the immediate removal of the hijacker. Don’t waste time in debates. Take action! Remove the intruder before it gets a chance to cause you harm!

How to Remove Storage.googleapis.com virus

The Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Storage.googleapis.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Storage.googleapis.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

  • Open Google Chrome

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

disable Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.com from ie

  • Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.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 Storage.googleapis.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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