Remove Query.searchetan.com virus (Removal Guide) - Tutorial
Query.searchetan.com promotes video streaming services to earn money
Questions about Query.searchetan.com virus
Query.searchetan.com virus refers to a malicious website which occupies browsers and promotes various video streaming services. This browser hijacker [1] belongs to the branch of viruses that promote a browser extension called Easy Television Access Now. On 2-spyware, we have already reviewed search.easytelevisionaccess.com and search.searchetan.com websites which also promote Easy Television Access Now. All of these sites feature identical design and links to the same well-known video streaming sites as Netflix and Hulu. While these sites are legitimate and reliable, other links that Searchetan promotes are not so trustworthy. Take for instance the SaferBrowser-owned http://news.mynewswire.co. If you don’t already know, Safer Browser stands behind numerous browser hijackers and suspicious extensions [2], therefore visiting a news site managed by this developer may get one of these potentially unwanted programs on your computer as well. Does a service that promotes such content deserves your trust? We do not think so. We highly suggest that you carefully read this article through and complete Query.searchetan.com removal steps presented below. Also, you can speed up the procedure and clean up your PC with the help of automatic software such as Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego or Malwarebytes.
We should point out once again that you should be careful not to be deceived by Query.searchetan.com hijacker. This is not a regular extension that you typically download from Google Chrome Store or other reliable software distributors. It is a search engine imitating program which is designed for one purpose — advertising and all that the software creators aim for is generating as much ad revenue [3] as possible. So, you should not even be surprised if the virus suddenly decides to redirect [4] you to some unfamiliar domain or help other questionable software hijack your computer. Luckily, the quicker you remove Query.searchetan.com, the fewer inconveniences you are going to experience. To prevent similar malware from entering your computer, we recommend continuing reading the paragraph about virus prevention below.
The image you see above illustrates Query.searchetan.com virus and how it acts on the infected PC.
Principles of hijacker prevention
To prevent Query.searchetan.com hijacker from showing up on your computer, you will have to seriously re-evaluate your own browsing habits and your computer’s level of protection [5]. First, think of whether you are always browsing on secure websites or you tend to sidetrack to some more questionable domains. If you do, you should remember that visiting random, unverified domains is the quickest road to an undesirable cyber infection. You are lucky if you get away safe. Most of the time, though, users either get infected by malware through drive-by downloads or they unknowingly install some questionable software on their computers themselves. Even if the program looks legitimate, it can be secretly bundled with shady applications, thus you cannot evaluate the program’s legitimacy just by looking at it. You should scan the downloaded software package with some professional antivirus suite and take time to go through the advanced installation process. Taking these precautions should prevent you from finding Query.searchetan.com or similar malware on your PC.
There are two ways to remove Query.searchetan.com
Essentially, you can remove Query.searchetan.com virus either manually or automatically. These two elimination strategies are equally popular among the users, though the security experts recommend sticking to the latter. The reason for this is simple. Automatic tools, i.e. anti-malware, anti-spyware and antivirus software is specifically designed to fight this kind of malware, and they are more precise in finding malicious components on the infected computers. Nevertheless, if you trust your skills, you can try out the manual Query.searchetan.com removal, too. Just scroll down for a step-by-step tutorial.
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 Query.searchetan.com virus, follow these steps:
Eliminate Query.searchetan.com from Windows systems
The instructions indicated below will help to complete Query.searchetan.com removal.
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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 Query.searchetan.com and related programs
Here, look for Query.searchetan.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Query.searchetan.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.
Uninstall Query.searchetan.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 Query.searchetan.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Get rid of Query.searchetan.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.
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You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Query.searchetan.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 Query.searchetan.com removal.
Remove Query.searchetan.com virus from Microsoft Edge
Do not let the PUP control your browser. Remove the malware following guidelines below
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, Query.searchetan.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Erase Query.searchetan.com 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.
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Here, select Query.searchetan.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 Query.searchetan.com removal.
Delete Query.searchetan.com from Google Chrome
Google Chrome is one of the most susceptible browsers to browser hijacker infections. Stop malware from taking over the control by removing it from your computer.
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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 Query.searchetan.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 Query.searchetan.com removal.
Eliminate Query.searchetan.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.
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Here, select Extensions and look for Query.searchetan.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 Query.searchetan.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 Query.searchetan.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Fix your hijacked web browser. Microsoft. Microsoft Internet Safety and Security Center.
- ^ Jérôme Segura. Rogue Chrome extension pushes tech support scam. Malwarebytes. The Security Blog From Malwarebytes.
- ^ Jonathan Lister. How does the online advertising industry work?. Chron. Houston news, sports, entertainment, search and shopping from the online home of the Houston Chronicle.
- ^ URL redirection. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ 5 Simple Steps to Protect Your PC from Hackers. Comodo. Comodo Antivirus Blog.
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