Search.searchytdvta.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Search.searchytdvta.com hijack might cause browsing-related problems
Search.searchytdvta.com is a suspicious search engine created by Polarity Technologies Ltd. It is known as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker. After the hijack, it might cause numerous undesired changes and activities, such as:
- default homepage, search engine, and new tab URL changed to another domain;
- redirects to suspicious websites;
- delivery of excessive ads;
- data tracking.
Search.searchytdvta.com virus usually spreads with TubeTab extension. It might hijack all popular web browsers installed on Windows and Mac OS X systems. First of all, it might strengthen its presence by making some system modifications and altering targeted browser’s settings. Then, the hijacker sets its domain as default homepage or/and search engine.
Search.searchytdvta.com might look like as an ordinary search engine that redirects queries to Yahoo results page. However, you should not be tricked by a legitimate look. This PUP might redirect to high-risk websites and display misleading ads.
The appearance of the browser hijacker diminishes browsing experience significantly. Due to the advertised content, your browser might freeze or crash. Thus, you can forget about normal and safe browsing until you remove Search.searchytdvta.com from the PC.
While it resides on the system, it might also track various information about you, including your:
- IP address;
- location;
- full name;
- browsing history;
- time spent online;
- opened pages;
- search queries;
- clicked ads;
- etc.
All these details allow building user’s profile that is necessary for online advertising. Developers of the hijacker profit from pay-per-click advertising. Therefore, in order to get your clicks, the hijacker tries to display encouraging and interesting ads [1] for the users. However, you should never click them because most of the time they are fake and misleading.
To avoid risky redirect tendencies or to appear on a scam or infected website, you should perform Search.searchytdvta.com removal. We recommend using Reimage that helps to speed up the procedure. Once this PUP is wiped out, you will be able to set your preferred search engine and homepage address.
However, if you do not want to use additional tools, you can try automatic elimination option. Detailed instructions how to complete this task are presented at the end of the article.
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
Freeware and shareware help to spread the PUP
Freeware and shareware often include additional components. Thus, they are software bundles. Most of them these extra programs are adware, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs. Therefore, you should stop their entrance to the PC.
The majority computer users in the United States, United Kingdom[2], China and other countries opt for the Quick/Recommended installation settings that usually do not openly disclose about the installation of the additional programs. Most of the time, they let their installation without notifying the user.
However, Advanced/Custom allows stopping PUPs from entering the system. One of the installation steps might include the list of third-party applications. Deselect them all and in this way prevent their installation.
Wipe out Search.searchytdvta.com virus from each of your web browsers
Search.searchytdvta.com removal requires scanning the system with an updated security software or locating hijacker-related components manually. If you do not have high computer skills or want to get rid of this cyber infection quickly, you should opt for the automatic elimination option with anti-malware.
At the end of the article, you will find instructions that will help you to remove Search.searchytdvta.com manually. Follow them carefully and do not leave virus-related components on the system. If you leave some browser helper objects[3] or other elements, your browser might be re-hijacked. If it happens, we highly recommend taking advantage of security software.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes. 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.searchytdvta.com virus, follow these steps:
Remove Search.searchytdvta.com from Windows systems
Below you can find manual removal instructions of the Search.searchytdvta.com.
-
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.
- Uninstall Search.searchytdvta.com and related programs
Here, look for Search.searchytdvta.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Search.searchytdvta.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 ChromeSafariDelete Search.searchytdvta.com from Mac OS X system
If the hijacker sneaked to your Mac OS X, these are the instructions necessary for its removal.
-
If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Search.searchytdvta.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Uninstall Search.searchytdvta.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
Follow the instructions to get rid of the hijacker-related entries from Internet Explorer.
-
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.searchytdvta.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
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.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Search.searchytdvta.com removal.
Eliminate Search.searchytdvta.com virus from Microsoft Edge
The virus may have affected Microsoft Edge, so you should fix it by following these steps:
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.
-
Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
-
Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
-
Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.searchytdvta.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase Search.searchytdvta.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
The hijacker might have installed additional components to the browser, so you have to remove them all in order to to get rid of Search.searchytdvta.com.
-
Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.searchytdvta.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
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.
-
Click OK to save these changes.
-
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.searchytdvta.com removal.
Get rid of Search.searchytdvta.com from Google Chrome
Chrome reset will help to delete components that are related to Search.searchytdvta.com.
-
Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.searchytdvta.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
-
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.
-
Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
-
When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
-
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.
-
Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Search.searchytdvta.com removal.
Remove Search.searchytdvta.com from Safari
Follow these guidelines to clean Safari from the suspicious components:
- 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.searchytdvta.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
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.searchytdvta.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.
-
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.searchytdvta.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Targeted advertising. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ NoVirus. NoVirus. British site about computer viruses.
- ^ BHO: A spy in your browser. Adlice Software. Official website.