Search.aguea.com. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Search.aguea.com – a browser hijacker which claims to be simple, fast and private
Search.aguea.com virus is a browser hijacker[1] that claims to be a great alternative for traditional search engines. In reality, it is just another search engine that should be avoided due to several unpleasant features added to it.
You can be convinced that Aguea is a great search engine as it offers using several modes while searching the web:
- Safe Search feature;
- Highlighted keywords;
- Results in a new tab.
However, after reading “Terms and Conditions” or “Privacy Policy”, you can find that Search.aguea.com can easily track your searches on the Internet by recording information that you add while visiting your favorite websites.
Besides, there is no guarantee that each of its search results is harmless. Redirects to malicious websites are quite common while dealing with browser hijackers. Finally, we should warn you about commercial pop-up ads and in-text links that you can start seeing on your favorite websites. To prevent these problems, you need to take care of Search.aguea.com removal right after finding this hijacker on your computer.
Keep in mind that Internet is full of alternative search engines that are used for the only aim – earning the money. Therefore, even if you restrain from visiting fraudulent and suspicious domains, you might find yourself on gambling websites or other domains with a disturbing content. If you are not careful enough, you can install end up with more malware,[2] not only search.aguea.com virus, on your computer.
Due to Search.aguea.com redirect ability and similar issues, we highly recommend you to remove it from the system. As long as this search engine is considered a “potentially unwanted program”, you can use manual removal guide given in the end of this post. Of course, to make this process easier, you can remove Aguea using Reimage.
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 distribution methods of hijacker
Usually, such search engines like this browser hijacker tend to attach themselves to free applications, for example, PDF creators, video streaming software, etc. Since users pay a little attention while installing any tool, the additional tools remain unnoticed. As a result, they reboot their computer and discover that each of their browsers is hijacked.
To prevent such problem, make sure you opt for “Custom” or “Advanced” installation settings when you are about to install a new application. These settings will help you to see all additional applications which are trying to infiltrate your computer.
Researchers from udenvirus.dk[3] warn that not all of such “optional components” is malicious. However, the most of them are useless and even questionable. Besides these steps, there are other crucial precautions, for example, updating your applications regularly, using reliable anti-spyware and avoiding questionable plug-ins.
Remove Aguea virus from the browser entirely
The fastest way to end up with Aguea removal is to install a trustworthy anti-spyware application, update it and run a full system scan. All tools that you can use for eliminating it are given below. They will not only help you with fixing your computer after Aguea infiltration, but will also fix your computer in the future.
In addition, you can also remove Search.Aguea.com virus manually by using guidelines created by our experts. They can be applied to adware removal as well. On the final note, you should also keep away from the domains which are overloaded with ads which suggest scanning your system or containing links to supposedly amusing domains. Abandoned and outdated software should be also taken with care.
You can remove Search.aguea.com automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus, Malwarebytes Anti Malware. We recommend these applications because they can easily delete potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Search.aguea.com, follow these steps:
Erase Search.aguea.com from Windows systems
Follow the guide to remove browser hijacker from Windows computer. Look up for programs like DNS Unlocker, MediaVideosPlayers, Desktop Temperature Monitor, Network System Driver and similar. Uninstall them without any hesitation.
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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 Search.aguea.com and related programs
Here, look for Search.aguea.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Uninstall Search.aguea.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
If you foundSearch.Aguea.com on the Explorer's homepage, follow the guide to terminate it correctly:
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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 Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.com removal.
Delete Search.aguea.com from Microsoft Edge
After the hijack, you should reset Microsoft Explorer to get back to normal browsing.
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, Search.aguea.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Search.aguea.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Uninstall suspicious Firefox extensions and reset the browser to get rid of the PUP.
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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 Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.com removal.
Eliminate Search.aguea.com from Google Chrome
Follow this guide to eliminate all hijacker-related components from Google Chrome:
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.com removal.
Erase Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.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 Search.aguea.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Vangie Beal. Browser hijacker. Webopedia. Online tech dictionary.
- ^ Fileless malware: Invisible threat or scaremongering hype?. Emsisoft Blog. Latest malware analysis.
- ^ Udenvirus. Udenvirus. Cyber security news.