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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jul 2017

How to remove Search.htrackyourpackages.co virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Alice Woods · Likes to teach users about virus prevention

Search.htrackyourpackages.co is a questionable search engine that triggers redirects to vague websites

Screenshot of Search.htrackyourpackages.co virus

According to Polarity Technologies, Ltd., Search.htrackyourpackages.co is a search engine that allows tracking your packages quickly. Unfortunately, the description provided by the developer of it might not be that accurate. In reality, it is a vague search site associated with browser-hijacking programs.

Computer users hardly ever search for new search engines to use – they settle with the most popular ones[1]. For this reason, Search.htrackyourpackages is promoted using browser hijackers[2]. These potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) add Track Your Packages extension to Chrome and other web browsers. The extension then sets hxxp://Search.htrackyourpackages.co/ as the new start and search page in the compromised web browser.

Sadly, victims often complain that they cannot remove Search.htrackyourpackages.co that easily. It is so because the hijacker doesn’t simply alter browser settings – it installs a component that needs to be removed. Besides, it can jump into your computer system alongside other potentially unwanted programs that display ads, cause URL redirections and initiate other unpleasant activities.

Search.htrackyourpackages.co redirect virus was created for only one and very particular purpose. It collects user’s browsing and search history, tracks IP address and spies on ads that the victim has viewed/clicked. Collected data is then analyzed and used for selection of interest-based ads. The hijacker is interested in various countries, including USA, Germany and Poland[3].

These ads appear in between regular search results whenever the user searches the web via Search.htrackyourpackages, although they can pop on the screen in individual browser windows.

Search.htrackyourpackages.co removal is essential because it unleashes the browser from hijacker’s restraints. It allows the user to modify browser’s settings again. Therefore, if you’ve been thinking about an opportunity to change homepage and default search provider, you need to uninstall the hijacker first.

Search.htrackyourpackages.co virus

FortectIntego or SpyHunterCombo Cleaner software can help you to complete this task sooner, although you can use instructions provided below the article, too. If you are a tech-savvy person, you shouldn’t encounter any problems removing this program.

If you are not, it’s better to rely on an automatic spyware removal tool. Of course, you can always try your skills and if something goes wrong, complete the removal with anti-spyware software afterward.

Tricks that Polarity Technologies use to distribute its shady search tools

The aforementioned company tends to promote its products in tandem with popular free applications such as games, software updates, download managers, media players and the like. If you decided to install a particular program, choose its download source wisely. Bypass all websites that look at least a bit suspicious to you.

Once you have downloaded the program, launch its installer and act very carefully! Do not rush – it is the worst mistake you can make. Read every statement attentively and do not miss the step where you need to select preferred installation settings.

Configure the installation settings by choosing Custom or Advanced option. All that you need to do is to uncheck boxes saying that you agree with the installation of unknown programs.

Quick way to remove Search.htrackyourpackages.co from Chrome and other web browsers

To completely remove Search.htrackyourpackages.co virus, you need to delete associated browser extension from all affected browsers. However, that is not enough – you will also need to uninstall all questionable software that it came along with the extension.

Although this step is not necessary, we recommend removing all programs included in the bundle that contained the Track Your Packages extension. For a quick and secure Search.htrackyourpackages.co removal, employ FortectIntego or a similar anti-spyware software which will also uninstall all potentially unwanted programs from the computer.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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