Search.real-desktop.de virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Pros and cons of search.real-desktop.de
Search.real-desktop.de virus pretends to be an ordinary search engine. Nonetheless, more vigilant users notice that there is something wrong with this website. IT experts label it is a browser hijacker. In other words, it is able to change your home page. Netizens may think that it is an aggressive virus which has hacked their system. As a matter of fact, users often install it themselves unknowingly. Even if it does not look suspicious, let us present the key drawbacks and advantages of this web page. If you are interested in quick search.real-desktop.de removal, launch Reimage.
This web page is one of the numerous cases of web pages which try to win visitors‘ attention either by offering quick access to the links or with additional features. In this case, this domain mainly targets German users as the above links and search button indicate this language. It does not take long until you notice fishy aspects of this domain. When you click on either of these links, you are redirected to Real Desktop 2.0 web page. This domain provides ideas and tools for customizing your Windows desktop. Every time you open the homepage of search.real-desktop.de, you might notice different advertisements. It is not surprising since similar domains are supported by third-parties. Needless to say, that regularly popping ads become a bother over time.
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
Furthermore, search.real-desktop.de redirect might lead to more unpleasant outcomes. It is mutually beneficial for the developers of this domain and third parties to display advertising content. However, there is a risk that you may get redirected to an insecure or infected domain[1]. In addition, this website does not contain any privacy policy at all. Likewise, you might only speculate whether this hijacker collects information about your browsing habits and visited domains. It may as well gather your personal information and trade it with companies[2]. They are more likely to do so especially due to the new legislation benefitting companies[3]. Likewise, you might receive personalized offers. Keep in mind that spam messages might contain highly destructive malware within[4]. There are more than enough reasons to remove search.real-desktop.de.
I didn‘t install it. How did it appear in my browser?
The majority of users rush through the settings when installing new programs. This habit deprives them of spotting additional attachments pinned under “Recommended” settings. As a result, they install the wanted program along with the questionable ones. Likewise, you committed the same mistake and facilitated search.real-desktop.de hijack. Next time when you prepare to install a new app, choose “Custom” mode. Watch for irrelevant optional add-ons and deselect them. Pay attention to the type of publisher when downloading new apps as well.
How long does it take to delete search.real-desktop.de?
In order to save time, you can opt for automatic search.real-desktop.de removal. Install malware removal program to eliminate the hijacker. After the elimination process is done, you can check for manual guidelines. For more advanced users, they might serve as guidelines to remove search.real-desktop.de virus. They are also practical in eliminating adware and other similar types of PUPs. You might also want to reset our browser. In the future, when you install new programs, check users’ reviews and watch for optional add-ons while installing new programs[5].
You can remove Search.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de virus, follow these steps:
Erase Search.real-desktop.de from Windows systems
All types of browsers’ can be affected by this browser. If you use several of them, check whether search.real-desktop.de did not leave any unwanted elements and extensions installed. Delete all of them.
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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.real-desktop.de and related programs
Here, look for Search.real-desktop.de or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Search.real-desktop.de 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 ChromeSafariEliminate Search.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Uninstall Search.real-desktop.de 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 Search.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de removal.
Get rid of Search.real-desktop.de virus 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, Search.real-desktop.de should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Search.real-desktop.de 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 Search.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de removal.
Delete Search.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de removal.
Erase Search.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de 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.real-desktop.de, 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.real-desktop.de removal process.
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References
- ^ Liam Tung . Google: Hacked sites rose by a third in 2016. ZDnet. Technology News, Analsyis, Comments and Product Reviews for IT professionals.
- ^ Manish Bahl. Your personal data is a product. The New Paper. Breaking News, Sports, Entertainment.
- ^ Marguerite Reardon. Senate votes to kill broadband privacy rules. CNET. Product reviews, how-tos, deals, and the latest tech news .
- ^ Tom Spring. Blank Slate Spam Campaign Spreads Cerber Ransomware. Thread Post. The first stop for security news.
- ^ Doug Ross. Safe Sitter classes stress online safety. NWI. A Lee Enterprises Nęws.