Remove Astralsearch.com virus (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge) - Virus Removal Instructions
Astralsearch.com – a search engine that might redirect to potentially dangerous websites
Astralsearch.com is a suspicious search engine that might appear on Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or another browser’s homepage after the installation of Famous Search is On browser extension or another freeware.[1]
On the affected device, the browser hijacker initiates various changes on the system. It might alter browser’s settings, Windows Registry, and shortcuts. These modifications prevent users from quick and simple Astralsearch.com removal. Thus, opening browser’s settings and setting another URL as your homepage or search engine won’t work.
Once Astralsearch.com virus strengthens its presence, it might also:
- set its domain with default search engine/homepage,
- alter search results,
- deliver misleading advertisements,
- collect information about user’s browsing habits.
The first sign of the Astralsearch.com hijack is changed browser’s startup page. It includes a suspicious search engine that might alter search results. It means that instead of organic links, the results page might be flooded with sponsored search results.
Ads and organic links might barely differ from each other. This tricky feature makes people click on sponsored links and generates pay-per-click revenue. Developers of the Astralsearch.com make incomes from online advertising by driving traffic to websites that want to boost the amount of visitors or sales.
However, the research revealed negative side of the Astralsearch.com redirects. The virus might also redirect users to potentially dangerous or even infected websites. It might happen because developers of this shady tool do not pay attention with whom they have business. Thus, their partners might be evil-minded people, scammers or cyber criminals.
Therefore, we highly recommend getting rid of this cyber infection as soon as it steps in your browser. The best way to remove Astralsearch.com is to use a professional anti-malware, for instance, Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. Once you scan the system with an updated tool, the hijacker will be gone for good. Then you will be able to reset the browser and access your preferred search engine directly from the homepage.
Astralsearch.com is a questionable search engine that might hijack your browser after incorrect installation of freeware.
Freeware and shareware might be spreading browser hijacker
Browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)[2] travel in software packages. It might be attached as an optional component in various freeware or shareware. Thus, when you need to install some program, you should be aware of these tips:
- Always choose reliable download sources and avoid torrents, P2P networks, and suspicious file-sharing sites.
- Read EULA and Privacy Policy before installing software.
- Use Advanced/Custom settings instead of Quick/Recommended options.
- Monitor installation and unmark third-party programs offered to install as well.
Do not agree to make Astralsearch.com or another unknown search engine as your default one. No matter how great it is described, most likely it will cause you problems.
The research revealed that this search engine might be set as your default one after the installation of the Famous Search is On browser extension which is also known as a browser hijacker. Thus, you should be aware of questionable tools and avoid installing them.
Deletion of the Astralsearch.com virus
If you are interested in manual Astralsearch.com removal options, you can find illustrated instructions at the end of the article. The first step requires checking the system and eliminating suspicious programs. The second step includes uninstallation of unknown browser extensions. The last step asks to reset each of the web browsers.
Researchers from the FaraVirus[3] note that browser hijackers might install helper objects and other components that are nearly impossible to get rid of manually. Thus, if you still suffer from unwanted activities on the browser, you should opt for the automatic elimination option.
In order to remove Astralsearch.com automatically, you need to obtain reputable anti-malware or anti-spyware program. Once you install it, you need to update it and then run a full system scan. Within several minutes the security tool will do the job for you.
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Astralsearch.com virus, follow these steps:
Erase Astralsearch.com from Windows systems
You can find manual Astralsearch.com removal instructions below.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall Astralsearch.com and related programs
Here, look for Astralsearch.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Astralsearch.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties.
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Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
Delete Astralsearch.com from Mac OS X system
Follow the steps below to remove the hijacker manually.
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Astralsearch.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove Astralsearch.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
Check Internet Explorer by following these steps:
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons.
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You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Astralsearch.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Astralsearch.com removal.
Eliminate Astralsearch.com virus from Microsoft Edge
Recover Microsoft Edge after the hijack by following these instructions:
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Astralsearch.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Get rid of Astralsearch.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Look up for Famous Search is On and other suspicious browser extensions installed to Firefox. Remove them and reset the browser.
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions.
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Here, select Astralsearch.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information.
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Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Astralsearch.com removal.
Uninstall Astralsearch.com from Google Chrome
Uninstall Famous Search is On browser extension, as well as other unknown entries. Then reset Google Chrome.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions.
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Here, select Astralsearch.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Astralsearch.com removal.
Erase Astralsearch.com from Safari
These instructions will show you how to get rid of the virus entirely.
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences.
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Here, select Extensions and look for Astralsearch.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Astralsearch.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari....
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Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Astralsearch.com removal process.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. It is a hassle when your website is protected from suspicious connections and unauthorized IP addresses.
The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address. If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for server or network manager that need to monitor connections and activities. This is how you bypass some of the authentications factors and can remotely use your banking accounts without triggering suspicious with each login.
VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world. It is better to clock the access to your website from different IP addresses. So you can keep the project safe and secure when you have the dedicated IP address VPN and protected access to the content management system.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer various losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Software issues created by malware or direct data loss due to encryption can lead to problems with your device or permanent damage. When you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work.
It is crucial to create updates to your backups after any changes on the device, so you can get back to the point you were working on when malware changes anything or issues with the device causes data or performance corruption. Rely on such behavior and make file backup your daily or weekly habit.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware occurs out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the system restoring purpose.
About the author
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References
- ^ Julian Prokaza. Everything you need to know about free software downloads. BT. The official website of the communication company.
- ^ Sabrina Berkenkopf. "Potentially Unwanted Programs": much more than just annoying. G DAT. Developer of the security software.
- ^ FaraVirus. FaraVirus. Romanian site about malware, spyware and other cyber threats.
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