Remove Search.hplayfreemusic.co virus (Simple Removal Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Search.hplayfreemusic.co might redirect to questionable sites from the search results page
Search.hplayfreemusic.co is a suspicious search engine created by Polarity Technologies. This Yahoo-based search tool spreads in software bundles as Play Free Music extension and might hijack web browsers after careless installation of freeware. Due to its operation peculiarities, this application is known as a browser hijacker.[1]
The purpose of Search.hplayfreemusic.co virus is to take control over the targeted web browser and control user’s browsing habits by changing startup page and default search engine. The main page of the website includes quick access to social media websites and music-themed sites, such as Spotify. Thus, it might seem like a legit search tool.
Another feature that might let people believe that they can trust Search.hplayfreemusic.co is that it redirects search queries to Yahoo. However, the hijacker is capable of redirecting users to the third-party websites that might promote questionable software, services or involve in cyber crime.[2]
Security experts warn about potentially dangerous Search.hplayfreemusic.co redirect tendencies. Cybercriminals and scammers might exploit the hijacker for their shady purposes. Thus, using this search tool and keeping the extension installed might increase your chances to suffer from malware attack or encounter privacy-related problems.
Talking about privacy, it’s important to mention that some worrying details are provided in Search.hplayfreemusic.co Privacy Policy as well. The program might collect both – personal and non-personally identifiable information. What is worse, it might share aggregated data with third-parties, including advertising networks.
No one can guarantee that some of the personal information won’t be shared or sold to criminals. Therefore, you should protect your privacy by uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) from the computer. You can remove Search.hplayfreemusic.co either manually or automatically.
Manual elimination guide is given at the end of the article. However, automatic Search.hplayfreemusic.co removal is quicker and simpler. All you need to do is to scan the system with Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego or another anti-malware. It will do all the job for you.
Search.hplayfreemusic.co virus is a browser hijacker that changes browser's homepage and default search engine to a suspicious domain.
Careful freeware installation can prevent accidental installation of the hijacker
The Search.hplayfreemusic.co hijack is most likely to occur when users download Play Free Music extension. However, you won’t be able to download it simply. This browser add-on is promoted in software packages. Thus, when you install freeware or shareware using Advanced/Custom setup, you might find it offered to download as well.
Unfortunately, the majority of users rely on Quick/Recommended settings that do not include this feature. If you use this installation wizard, you always risk installing a bunch of unwanted applications that cause numerous problems. Thus, you should get rid of this bad habit.
Security experts from No Virus[3] remind these simple security tips that you should follow when installing new programs:
- Opt for Advanced/Custom installation.
- Read EULA, Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
- Unmark pre-selected programs.
- Remove ticks from agreements to change your default search engine.
Elimination guidelines of the Search.hplayfreemusic.co
If you want to remove Search.hplayfreemusic.co manually, you should carefully follow the instructions below. You will have to uninstall suspicious programs, add-ons, and files that might be related to the browser hijacker.
However, if instructions seem complicated or time-consuming, you should opt for the automatic Search.hplayfreemusic.co removal. This method requires scanning the system with a reputable anti-malware and letting it deleting suspicious components. After the scan, reset each of your browsers and continue browsing the web safer.
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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co virus, follow these steps:
Eliminate Search.hplayfreemusic.co from Windows systems
In order to remove Search.hplayfreemusic.co browser hijacker entirely, you have to investigate the system and make sure that all suspicious programs or files were not installed on your PC.
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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.hplayfreemusic.co and related programs
Here, look for Search.hplayfreemusic.co or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Search.hplayfreemusic.co 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.
Erase Search.hplayfreemusic.co from Mac OS X system
Terminate the virus from Mac OS X by following 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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Get rid of Search.hplayfreemusic.co from Internet Explorer (IE)
The instructions below will help you to fix Internet Explorer after the hijack:
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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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co 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.hplayfreemusic.co removal.
Remove Search.hplayfreemusic.co virus from Microsoft Edge
Take these steps after Microsoft Edge hijack:
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.hplayfreemusic.co should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Delete Search.hplayfreemusic.co from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Uninstall Play Free Music or other suspicious add-ons by Polarity Technologies. Then reset Mozilla Firefox.
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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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co 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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co removal.
Uninstall Search.hplayfreemusic.co from Google Chrome
Remove suspicious Chrome extensions. We recommend eliminating add-ons created by Polarity technologies, including Play Free Music which is responsible for setting Search.hplayfreemusic.co default search tool.
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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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co 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.hplayfreemusic.co removal.
Eliminate Search.hplayfreemusic.co 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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co 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.hplayfreemusic.co, 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 Search.hplayfreemusic.co removal process.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
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
- ^ Margaret Rouse. Browser hijacker (browser hijacking). TechTarget. The global network of technology-related websites.
- ^ Lily Hay Newman. The Biggest Cybersecurity Disasters of 2017 so far. Wired. The website about technology, science, design, business and more.
- ^ No Virus. No Virus. British security news.
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