Mysearchprotect.com. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Mysearchprotect.com search may expose you to dangerous content
Mysearchprotect.com claims to be a legitimate search engine while it's not. Cybersecurity experts from NoVirus.uk[1] warn that it's a genuine browser hijacker and potentially unwanted program (PUP), which seeks to compromise people's web browser's settings and initiate doubtful marketing campaigns later on.
Its developers (not specified) promote Mysearchprotect.com virus via freeware bundles and trick people into installing it by falsely claiming that it's a useful tool that combines Google, Yahoo, and Bing search results to provide the most accurate search results. No matter if it is installed intentionally or accidentally, the outcome is the same – web browser's start page, search provider, new tab URL, and other settings are modified in a way to be related to Mysearchprotect.com virus.
As a result, the user of the hijacked web browser may be continuously redirected to http://www.mysearchprotect.com/ domain. Even though it might not seem suspicious at first, we must stress the fact that some of the links included in its search results may expose you to potentially dangerous websites.[2] The Mysearchprotect.com virus is infamous for close collaboration with untrustworthy third-parties, so be careful if your web browser gets redirected to unknown shopping websites, domains that promote Internet speed boosters or optimizers[3] or urge to update software (Java, Flash Player, etc.) as you might end up with malware on your PC.
Besides, the faster you remove Mysearchprotect.com, the lower is the risk of information leakage. Although the start page of this dubious search engine does not include Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, beware that browser hijackers are set to track people's web browsing activities. Although personally identifiable information can hardly be leaked via cookies and pixels, such software is sufficient for transferring Search Data, email address, IP address, and similar non-personally identifiable information to affiliated parties. The latter may further use the collected data for marketing purposes or may flood people's emails with spam.
If you noticed a significant increment of commercial and non-commercial advertisements withing Mysearchprotect.com virus search results, the only way to get rid of them is to eliminate PUPs from the system. Note that pop-ups, banners, hyperlinks, and similar ads can not only be irritating but can also pose a risk of redirects to unsafe websites.
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
The Mysearchprotect.com removal might not be an easy task. Many people reported that it keeps reappearing even if the user sets Google or another search as default and, therefore, consider it to be a severe computer virus. In fact, it's not malicious and cannot harm the system directly. The reason why it evades removal is related to the multiplicity of relevant files and other PUPs that may not allow people to remove Mysearchprotect.com successfully. In case of any difficulties regarding its elimination, you can always entrust this task to a professional security tool, such as Reimage.
“Bundling” remains the most popular PUP distribution technique
Although PUPs can be distributed via fake software updates, pop-up ads or suspicious websites, software bundling remains the most successful dissemination technique. Those who are not acquainted with this distribution technique should know that it relies on freeware.
PUP developers pay money to freeware developers for a possibility to disguise infamous add-ons, toolbars or extensions under Quick/Basic installation methods. This way, both freeware and PUP developers get the benefit. However, hundreds or even thousands of Internet users get tricked into installing unwanted programs.
The only reason why bundling is still considered legitimate is the fact that it spreads PUPs as optional components. People can always opt out of them by selecting Advanced or Custom installation technique. However, since they often rush the installation and relies on quick installation methods, they miss the chance to unmark them. If you want to keep your web browser protected from redirects, ads, cookies, and similar changes, install free apps with extreme carefulness.
Comprehensive Mysearchprotect.com removal guide
In comparison to Spyware, Trojan, Keylogger or Ransomware infections, browser hijackers like Mysearchprotect.com virus are not dangerous. Nevertheless, they can disrupt your web browsing activities and open the back door to other PUPs or severe computer infections.
Therefore, it's essential to remove Mysearchprotect.com from Chrome or another web browser. You can do that with the help of the guide submitted by the 2-spyware research team. However, manual removal does not guarantee a successful elimination as you can miss some related components. To avoid difficulties and save your time, we recommend you to get rid of Mysearchprotect.com search with the help of anti-malware.
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 Mysearchprotect.com, follow these steps:
Remove Mysearchprotect.com from Windows systems
In case of web browser's hijack, it's not sufficient to restore web browser's settings. Before that, you have to remove PUPs, which can be done by following these steps:
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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 Mysearchprotect.com and related programs
Here, look for Mysearchprotect.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Mysearchprotect.com 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 ChromeSafariGet rid of Mysearchprotect.com from Mac OS X system
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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 Mysearchprotect.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Mysearchprotect.com 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 Mysearchprotect.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 Mysearchprotect.com removal.
Uninstall Mysearchprotect.com 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, Mysearchprotect.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase Mysearchprotect.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Eliminate Mysearchprotect.com virus from Mozilla Firefox by resetting its settings:
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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 Mysearchprotect.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. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Mysearchprotect.com removal.
Eliminate Mysearchprotect.com from Google Chrome
After removal of PUPs, you should disable all suspicious Chrome's extensions. The fastest way to do that is to reset the browser.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Mysearchprotect.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 Mysearchprotect.com removal.
Remove Mysearchprotect.com 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 Mysearchprotect.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 Mysearchprotect.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.... -
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 Mysearchprotect.com removal process.
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References
- ^ NoVirus. NoVirus. Virus and Spyware news.
- ^ Google Safe Browsing. SafeBrowsing. Official website.
- ^ Lucia Danes. Corrupt PC optimizers. 2-Spyware. The largest sources of security and tech-related information .