Str-search.com Pop-up Ads Removal

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

The Str-search.com site is a bad sign. It signals that a browser hijacker has infiltrated your system. In case, you’re unfamiliar, these tools are hazardous and harmful. They make for horrendous companions. And, for as long as they remain, they wreak havoc and make a mess. And, not only does the tool mess with your system’s well-being. But it aims at your privacy, as well. That’s right. The hijacker attempts to steal information from you. And, then, proceed to expose it to the cyber criminals behind it. Make no mistake! Given enough time on your PC, the infection will fulfill its thieving agenda. So, don’t grant it the time it needs. Act against it as soon as you get the chance. Otherwise, you risk your private data getting stolen. And, exposed to strangers with malicious agendas. Don’t allow that. Protect yourself, and your PC. Once you spot Str-search.com, take the hint. It announces the presence of the nasty hijacker. Acknowledge the website as the warning it is. Find its exact hiding place, and delete it. ASAP.

How did I get infected with?

Hijackers use the old but gold methods to invade. And, so does the Str-search.com one. It turns to the usual antics. Like, posing as a bogus update. Or, hiding behind spam emails, corrupted torrents or sites. And, the most common way, it invades, is via freeware. The tool uses it as a shield to conceal its presence. And, unless you’re careful enough to notice it, it slips by you undetected. The infection counts on your carelessness. It preys on it. It needs you to rush, and not bother doing due diligence. Why would you oblige? Every time, you allow anything off the web, into your PC, be cautious. Take the time to be thorough. Read terms and conditions. Don’t rely on luck, and don’t give into gullibility. Even a little extra attention goes a long way, and you’d do best to remember that. Always choose caution over carelessness. One ensures your system stays free of threats. And, the other does the exact opposite. It invites them in. Vigilance is crucial, if you wish to have an infection-free PC.

Why is this dangerous?

After the hijacker settles, prepare for a plethora of problems. These types of threats are immensely intrusive. They meddle from the moment, they invade. At first, you notice their interference, when you browse. If you so much as touch your browser, you face an avalanche of intrusions. The infection floods your screen with in-text, banner, and pop-up ads. And, each advertisement reads ‘Powered by Str-search.com.’ That page makes an appearance all the time. The hijacker makes sure to force it on you. It’s there when you open a new tab. It’s among the results, after you search the web. Str-search.com seems to be everywhere. And, that’s the hijacker’s fault. It forces it on you, at every turn. You even find it, in place of your default homepage and search engine. Did you approve the switch? No. Did you have a semblance of a clue about its implementation? No. Yet, it’s fact. That’s what you can expect from a hijacker. It’s free to force changes on you. At the very least, you discover your homepage switched. And, at the other end of the spectrum, you can find malware in your PC. Yes, the program is free to allow more programs into your PC. It can fill it to the brim with malware. What then? How long until the tool can’t take it anymore, and chooses to give up? Yes, The Blue Screen of Death is a valid possibility. Granted, it’s a pretty minute one. But ‘minute’ is not the same as ‘non-existent.’ So, ask yourself. As slim as the odds may be, are you willing to risk it? To gamble with your system’s well-being? As well as, with your personal and financial details? Here’s some advice. Don’t! Protect yourself and your PC. Ensure your system’s well-being, and keep your privacy private. Get rid of the atrocious cyber threat at once.

How to Remove Str-search.com virus

The Str-search.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 Str-search.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 Str-search.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Str-search.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Str-search.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Str-search.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 Str-search.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 Str-search.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 Str-search.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Str-search.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 Str-search.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 Str-search.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 Str-search.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 Str-search.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.