SpecialReply.com virus (Improved Guide) - Free Guide
SpecialReply.com virus Removal Guide
What is SpecialReply.com virus?
SpecialReply.com – a PUP that modifies browser settings without your permission
SpecialReply.com falls into a category of a browser hijacker that is usually displayed as a search engine. The developers claim that it, together with SpecialReply Desktop application, should deliver quick search results and this way increase your browsing experience. In reality, it secretly alters your homepage, new tab URL, and default search engine.
Technicians do not call the hijacker a virus, but you might run into a never-ending circle when trying to remove it. Specific potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and plug-ins that come along with the hijacker are designed to reassign the settings mentioned above to the link of a fake search engine. Thus, making it almost impossible to get rid of the vague website.
| name | SpecialReply.com |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker, redirect virus, PUP |
| Symptoms of infection | Altered browser settings (new tab, default search engine, homepage); search results are presented from a different source and contain deceptive ads |
| Risks | Privacy leaks, monetary losses, malware infections |
| Distribution | Software bundles, official browser web stores |
| Elimination | Use reliable anti-malware software to remove this intruder |
| System healt | Check for any system irregularities and automatically fix them by using the ReimageIntego system diagnostics tool |
The website looks similar to other reputable search engines such as Google, Bing or Yahoo. It is because the developers try their best to attract users into believing that the potentially unwanted program (PUP) is legitimate. It earns click-generated revenue and aims to lure naive computer users into clicking on sponsored ads.
If you think that there is nothing wrong with generating revenue by “clicks,” we want to warn you that the developers of the hijacker are not responsible for the content of the sites you might get redirected to.
In other terms, intrusive ads may redirect you to suspicious websites and increase the risk of getting infected with other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). If that is not enough, various reports[1] state that browser hijackers tend to collect browsing-related data. This information might expose your identity and lead to serious privacy issues.
You should never submit personal details in the search bar or unconsciously provide valuable information to the developers of the fake search engine. While there are only several cases, the company might sell your details to third-party firms.
If you have noticed your computer behaving unusually, such as continuously redirecting you to suspicious websites, generating annoying ads and pop-ups — it is a warning that the system is infected. Our IT professionals recommend scanning your files with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or any other reliable security software.
It will quickly detect the executable files and start a SpecialReply.com removal process. Afterward, you should take care of the overall health of your device. The best way to do that is to perform system diagnostics with the ReimageIntego software which will ensure that all system irregularities are taken care of.
Browser hijackers are often advertised as useful tools
You might get redirected by deceiving ads to suspicious websites where developers of the hijacker usually promote it as a “useful” tool[2]. False claims about the functionality of the app lure people into unconsciously downloading a potentially unwanted program (PUP). Dieviren.de[3] IT professionals suggest bypassing intrusive ads and installing software from unofficial developers.
Also, the so-called virus is often bundled together with free software distributed online. The pre-selected box asking to install the browser hijacker along with the regular app is hidden during the download/installation process.
Thus, users who rush and choose Quick or Recommended settings end up getting infected. We strongly recommend opting for Custom or Advanced options when installing software since then you will be able to untick that box. Besides, carefully follow the steps and use a reliable security system.
Remove SpecialReply.com browser hijacker from your device automatically
You can remove SpecialReply.com virus using a reputable security application. Choose it carefully since scammers promote useless and extremely expensive ones. Check reviews online and download them only from official websites. Once installed, run a full system scan and get rid of the hijacker.
However, you have another choice — manual removal. Before trying to eliminate it by yourself, remember that potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) generate never-ending ads. If you have clicked on them, it might automatically trigger an installation of other high-risk computer infections you are not aware of. This may end up doing more harm than good to your system. To avoid that, follow the detailed guide provided below and safely uninstall this browser hijacker.
You may remove virus damage with a help of ReimageIntego. 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.
Getting rid of SpecialReply.com virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
To prevent Firefox from causing unwanted redirections, check out the guide provided below. It will help you to find suspicious browser add-ons or plug-ins and eliminate them safely.
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data…
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of SpecialReply.com registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: ReimageIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting browser hijacker
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
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- ^ Eric Chien. Techniques of Adware and Spyware. Symantec Security Response. Publications, White Papers.
- ^ Browser Hijack Objects (BHOs). MalwareBytes Blog. Security News, Threat Research.
- ^ DieViren. DieViren. Malware Removal Tutorials.