Remove www-search.net, Guide to Uninstall Browser Hijack Virus

Common Attributes of Hijack virus

1. Homepage is modified and search result is redirected to random weird malicious websites.
2. Firewall or anti-virus programs get disabled.
3. Downloading programs or visiting specific website is unavailable
4. Computer becomes extremely slow, the CPU was highly occupied.
5. Programs or system may crash unexpectedly.

What is www-search.net?

www-search.net is not a reputable domain that has been recognized as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) or a malware that is related to browser hijack virus. It can often trigger apparent symptoms on a definite web browser installed on a user’s computer. This may be involved with popular-used browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. In reality, www-search.net is considered as a malicious advertising platform that is associated with Tuvaro Program. Upon its installation, it will regularly make modification in web browser configuration including DNS and web search provider for the sake of making chaos on your computer. Most commonly, the default homepage, start-up page or error page may be changed to its appointed domain based on www-search.net.

At the same time, www-search.net browser hijack virus may also analyze Internet user’s browsing environment to distribute annoying pop-up advertisements on assaulted browsers to generate ads revenue for its author. What’s more, www-search.net may redirect your search queries when you are using search engines, regardless of Yahoo, Google or Bing. Some security experts also classify www-search.net as a dangerous threat due to it may steal user’s confidential data to remote hackers by technically inserting its malicious codes and extensions. It should be mentioned that www-search.net infection is often bundled with numerous additional malware that may carry out other damaging activities on the affected computer. So it is necessary to get rid of www-search.net virus as long as its abnormal symptoms are being found.

How does www-search.net Spread

1.    www-search.net may be diffused by malicious websites or other legitimate websites that have been compromised.
2.    www-search.net may be propagated by a spam email carrying malicious links or attachments such as ZIP files.
3.    www-search.net may be delivered by some “free” applications that can be downloaded manually from distrusted Internet resources.

How to Remove www-search.net Virus Manually

1. Disable any suspicious startup items that are made by infections from www-search.net.

For Windows XP: Click Start menu -> click Run -> type: msconfig in the Run box -> click Ok to open the System Configuration Utility -> Disable all possible startup items generated from www-search.net.

For Windows Vista or Windows7: Click start menu->type msconfig in the search bar -> open System Configuration Utility -> Disable all possible startup items generated from www-search.net.

For Windows 8: Click start menu->type msconfig in the search box -> open System Configuration Utility -> Disable all possible startup items generated from www-search.net.

2. Open Task Manager and end all the malicious processes created by www-search.net.

3. The registry entries that need to be removed are as follows:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\random
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID\ Search.net.DLL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AppID\ Search.net.EXE
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\”Shell” = “[random].exe”

4. The associated files to be removed in folders on Local Disk (note: new files are still created each month so far):

%AllUsersProfile%\{random}\
%AllUsersProfile%\{random}\*.lnk

Tips for Repairing Search Engine

* Google Chrome

Open your Google Chrome->Wrench Icon > Settings > Manage Search Engines->Remove any unnecessary Search Engines from the list and make a certain search engine you prefer as your default search engine.

* Mozilla Firefox

Open your Mozilla Firefox->Tools > Search Icon (Magnify Glass, Arrow) > Manage Search Engines->Remove any unnecessary Search Engines from the list and make a certain search engine you prefer as your default search engine.

* Internet Explorer

Open your Internet Explorer->Tools > Manage Add-ons > Search Providers->Remove any unnecessary Search Engines from the list and make a certain search engine you prefer as your default search engine.

Manual removal of www-search.net virus is a process of high complexity and should be performed with extreme caution, or mal-operation often results in loss of precious data even system crash. If you are not familiar with the operation, please be free to contact VilmaTech 24/7 online experts to get real-time support.