Eliaho. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Eliaho is a dubious application designed to distribute additional PUPs
Eliaho is presented as a legitimate application that is used to optimize the download and installation of third-party software. As soon as this dubious app infiltrates users’ machines (it typically happens via software bundling), the homepage, new tab URL and a search engine is altered to hxxp://search.eliaho.com. From that point of time, Eliaho acts as a browser hijacker.[1]
| SUMMARY | |
| Name | Eliaho |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker/adware |
| Advertised as | Delivery and installation platform |
| Main dangers | Malware installation, personal data leakage, etc. |
| Symptoms | Altered browser settings, intrusive ads and redirects, etc. |
| Distribution | Software bundling |
| Elimination | Download and install Reimage. Otherwise you can check our manual removal guide below |
The altered startup page looks very simple, resembling a typical search engine, such as google.com or bing.com. It is not a coincidence as developers of Eliaho make users believe that their application is just as useful or even better than legitimate search engines. However, users frequently get nothing but frustration from unending advertisements, redirects, the slowdown of the browser, etc.
Search.eliaho.com developers have one goal – to monetize on the hijacker by exposing users to various affiliated content. This way, pay-per-click revenue is generated. The advertisement content is displayed intrusively so that the websites of low popularity gain traffic and boost their sales. To stop this activity, you have to remove Eliaho entirely.
Search.eliaho.com hijack can affect your machine if many different ways:
- Altered browser settings are impossible to revert unless the hijacker is uninstalled. Some websites are also unattainable, such as preferred homepage or security websites;
- Intrusive adverts can pop up at any time, even if the browser is closed. Some of these ads can lead to legitimate sites, while others might link users with scam or phishing domains;
- Redirects often occur while browsing the internet. These rerouting tendencies are probably the most dangerous aspect of the hijacker, as it can bring victims to hacked[2] or malware-infested websites;
- Additional components, such as toolbars, browser extensions, optimization tools might be inserted directly into Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari or another browser;
- Background processes (such as PUP communication with an external server to display ads) can significantly slow down the PC and/or browser;
- Non-personally identifiable information may be collected and shared with third parties for marketing purposes.
Eliaho virus can also offer additional third-party apps while managing your downloads. Typically, these programs are useless (such as adware which would insert even more advertisements into your browser) and bring no benefit to a regular user.
Security experts[3] concluded that there is no need to have third-party apps installed for software installation. It can be done manually – which is always a good idea because this allows users to opt out of third-party apps, while Eliaho does the opposite.
To conclude, you should not delay Eliaho removal from your machine. You can use reputable security software for a quick elimination, or check our guide below this article.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
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'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Software bundling allows freeware authors to spread PUPs
Regular computer users are typically not careful when it comes to their virtual and computer safety. PUPs, while not dangerous, can still bring other infections quite easily and also annoy the user on a daily basis. Therefore, it is essential to know how to avoid unwanted applications on your machine.
Follow these simple tips, and you will bypass unwanted programs:
- Download apps from legitimate sources and avoid third-party websites;
- Do not click on pop-ups that come out of nowhere (fake updates, bogus software installation);
- When installing free software from the internet, make sure you pick Advanced or Custom installation mode instead of
- Recommended or Quick one, despite the developer recommendations;
- When prompted whether you want to install additional components, such as add-ons, toolbars, media players, PDF creators or similar, decline by removing all the check marks;
Eliaho removal steps
Even though Eliaho is not a dangerous infection, it can compromise your computer safety it not taken care of fast. Therefore, you should remove Search.eliaho.com either manually or automatically as soon as possible.
Eliaho removal can be performed using our illustrated guide below this article. However, we advise staying away from this method if you are not that computer-savvy individual. Besides, completing all steps might take a lot of time, since all the components of the hijacker need to be removed manually.
We recommend removing Eliaho virus using powerful security software. This process only takes a few minutes and can protect you from infections in the future.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Eliaho, follow these steps:
Get rid of Eliaho from Windows systems
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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 Eliaho and related programs
Here, look for Eliaho or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Eliaho from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
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.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariDelete Eliaho from Mac OS X system
To uninstall Eliaho from Mac OS, follow these steps:
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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 Eliaho or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove Eliaho from Internet Explorer (IE)
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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. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Eliaho 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.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Eliaho removal.
Erase Eliaho from Microsoft Edge
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, Eliaho should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariUninstall Eliaho from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Eliaho and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
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. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Eliaho removal.
Eliminate Eliaho from Google Chrome
Reset Google Chrome settings right after all the PUPs are eliminated:
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Eliaho 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 Eliaho removal.
Get rid of Eliaho from Safari
- 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. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Eliaho 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 Eliaho, 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.... -
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 Eliaho removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Browser hijacking. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ What does it mean to get hacked?. GoDaddy. A cloud platform.
- ^ Ioys. Ioys. Greek security experts.