Remove SpecialReply.com virus (Improved Guide) - Free Guide
SpecialReply.com hijacks your default browser and modifies its 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 by assigning to hxxps://SpecialReply.com.
Technicians do not call the hijacker a virus, but you might run into a never-ending circle when trying to remove SpecialReply.com. Specific potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) and plug-ins that come along with the hijacker are designed to reassign settings mentioned above to the link of a fake search engine. Thus, making it almost impossible to get rid of the vague website.
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 you will 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 Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego or any other reliable security software. It will quickly detect the executable files and start a SpecialReply.com removal process.
SpecialReply.com is a suspicious search site that often bothers computer users who install freeware inattentively. It is believed that Special Reply search engine provides untrustworthy results that may redirect users to questionable Internet sites.
The potentially unwanted program spreads offered as a “handy” tool
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 browser hijacker along with 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.
SpecialReply.com can be automatically eliminated from your computer system
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 it only from official websites.Once installed, run a full system scan and get rid of the hijacker.
However, you have another choice — manual SpecialReply.com 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 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 SpecialReply.com virus, follow these steps:
Eliminate SpecialReply.com from Windows systems
To remove SpecialReply Desktop, you need to find where the program hides. Using the instructions provided by our team eases the process as it explains where to look for the potentially unwanted program.
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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 SpecialReply.com and related programs
Here, look for SpecialReply.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove SpecialReply.com 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.
Get rid of SpecialReply.com 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 SpecialReply.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove SpecialReply.com 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.
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You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for SpecialReply.com 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 SpecialReply.com removal.
Uninstall SpecialReply.com 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, SpecialReply.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Delete SpecialReply.com 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.
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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 SpecialReply.com 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 SpecialReply.com removal.
Erase SpecialReply.com from Google Chrome
Use the provided guide to uninstall SpecialReply extension from Chrome. You can use a simple trick to access Chrome extensions faster: simply type chrome://extensions in the URL bar.
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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 SpecialReply.com 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 SpecialReply.com removal.
Eliminate SpecialReply.com 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 SpecialReply.com 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 SpecialReply.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.
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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 SpecialReply.com removal process.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. It is a hassle when your website is protected from suspicious connections and unauthorized IP addresses.
The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address. If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for server or network manager that need to monitor connections and activities. This is how you bypass some of the authentications factors and can remotely use your banking accounts without triggering suspicious with each login.
VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world. It is better to clock the access to your website from different IP addresses. So you can keep the project safe and secure when you have the dedicated IP address VPN and protected access to the content management system.
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
- ^ 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.
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