Solo-Bar.net virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
What is known about Solo-Bar.net browser hijacker?
When Solo-Bar.net virus steps into the computer system, bad things start to happen. It is a typical “new tab and homepage for [browser name]” type of infection, which changes these browser settings with or without user’s knowledge. You can add it to your browsers by your wish or install it unwillingly, but you will definitely understand how annoying it is and how hard can it be to remove Solo-Bar. As soon as it gets access to victim’s computer system, it finds Chrome and adds a particular extension to it. Solo Bar makes sure that your browser won’t open any other page on a startup but a suspicious no-name search engine, which delivers altered Google Search results. However, beware that these are not the real Google search results, and clicking on them can take you to Solo-Bar’s affiliate websites. Besides, sooner or later this potentially unwanted program (PUP) [1] can start bothering you by sending pesky pop-up or banner ads, and such activities should not be tolerated. No one wants to use a sluggish and lagging browser that opens new tabs or windows at random tabs and loads questionable third-party ads in them. On top of that, these ads and redirects can accidentally reroute you to suspicious and uncertain Internet pages that you have never stepped in before. Do not believe in information such sites present, and be very careful with them if they start showing you ads urging you to install new apps or updates. Unknown sites should not be trusted!
The aim of programs that change browser settings[2] and serve third-party ads is to generate revenue using pay-per-click advertising model[3]. Therefore, they research user’s interests and behavior online with a help of tracking cookies that gather information such as user’s search and browsing history, clicks, IP addresses, date/time stamp[4], and so on. Then they use collected data to find out what country the user lives in, what search terms does he/she enter in search engines, and then they select particular third-party ads to display. Bear in mind that some of these ads can be deceptive and cause redirects to sites that are not associated with offers they present. To block these ads, you need to carry out Solo-Bar.net removal, which can be completed either with anti-spyware software like Reimage or our help. We have prepared a detailed removal tutorial that explains how to uninstall this questionable program without anti-spyware program.
Stay clear of “recommended downloads” if you do not want to infect your PC!
If you have never heard how potentially unwanted programs spread, you should know that they proliferate via software bundles. Have you ever noticed how many free programs available on the Internet suggest installing additional software alongside them? If not, you should know that almost every free program offers installing toolbars, plug-ins, search tools, and other questionable applications alongside it. It is not that hard to get rid of them, but many people still do not know how to do it. It only takes a couple of minutes to adjust the installation settings and get rid of optional programs added to your download. Simply select Custom/Advanced settings instead of overrated Default/Standard ones and remove ticks next to statements saying that you agree to install optional programs[5].
Uninstalling Solo-Bar.net
Questions about Solo-Bar.net virus
If you know how to uninstall simple computer programs, you might still not be experienced enough to remove Solo-Bar.net virus from the system. However, we believe that instructions we present will make this task easy for you. We definitely recommend you to check them out. You can always choose automatic removal option in case you cannot delete spyware manually. In case you do not have an anti-spyware program, we highly recommend using Reimage for Solo-Bar.net removal and also for your computer’s maintenance.
You can remove Solo-Bar.net 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.
Manual Solo-Bar.net virus Removal Guide:
Uninstall Solo-Bar.net from Windows systems
Carefully look through recently installed programs and delete the ones that seem suspicious to you.
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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 Solo-Bar.net and related programs
Here, look for Solo-Bar.net or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Solo-Bar.net 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 XMicrosoft EdgeGoogle ChromeDelete Solo-Bar.net 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 Solo-Bar.net or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove Solo-Bar.net 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.
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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, Solo-Bar.net should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XMicrosoft EdgeGoogle ChromeGet rid of Solo-Bar.net from Google Chrome
Open Chrome, go to Settings panel and remove this extension from it:
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Solo-Bar.net 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 Solo-Bar.net removal.
About the author
References
- ^ Lincoln Spector. How to spot and avoid installing potentially unwanted programs. PCWorld - News, tips and reviews from the experts on PCs, Windows, and more.
- ^ What are browser hijackers and how to remove them. 2-Spyware. Fighting against spyware.
- ^ Pay-per-click. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- ^ Timestamp. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- ^ How to Avoid Installing Junk Programs When Downloading Free Software. How-To Geek. For Geeks, By Geeks.