How to remove Speedial.com virus

Speedial – an infamous browser-hijacker which still relies on “bundling” to reach victims' computers

Speedial is a browser hijacker which infiltrates the computer system unnoticed and affects it in a negative way. Typically, the PUP takes over the work of the victim's web browsers and changes the default search engine, the new tab URL, homepage, and even the bookmarks to the preferred ones. As a result, each time users try to browse the web, they are forced to search via this new search engine called Speedial.com or other virus versions, e.g.Lightning SpeedDial. Such activity can become annoying because the PUP^[1] initiates its redirects each time you begin your search session. You can reverse these changes only if you get rid of Speed Dial from your computer system and eliminate all PUP-added components from your web browsers.

You can detect the browser hijacker by such symptoms:

• The default search engine is set to Speedial.com;
• You are facing dubious redirects to various pages;
• Your browser homepage and new tab URL are modified.

Beware that Speedial virus might provide fake search query results when performing a search via the new default engine. This PUP has been working really hard to trick its victims into falling for its “useful features,” such as fast access to commonly known websites and other content. However, its main aim is to drive visitors' traffic to sponsored sites and generate pay-per-click revenue.

There is yet another negative feature related to this unwanted application – it infiltrates the system unnoticed thru software bundles. According to experts, you can get infected with Speed Dial after downloading Omnibox, YeaDesktop, DNS Unlocker, and similar apps that have been known as highly suspicious.

Once inside the system, the PUP modifies search results to reroute its victims to sites that they don't know. Note that, because of such activities, you can be redirected to potentially dangerous web pages which might include dubious and even harmful content. Besides, Speedial Search can present you questionable links unknowingly that can additionally start the infiltration of a serious malware-type^[2] infection. 

Additionally, browser-hijacking applications have the feature to collect personal and non-personal information which is related to your browsing habits. Be careful with programs having such ability as there is no guarantee that they will take all the measures needed to protect this data from attacks. Here is an extraction from app's Privacy Policy:

Speedial does not store any Identifiable Personal Information unless it was voluntarily provided to Speedial by you. Such information might be: name, email address, phone number, if provided by you voluntarily as mentioned a above. If any personally identifiable information happens to be collected, we follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personally identifiable information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. Please take under consideration that no method of transmitting or storing electronic data is ever completely secure, and therefore we cannot warrant or guarantee that such information will never be accessed, used, or released in a manner that is inconsistent with this policy.

If you want to go back to normal searches, you need to remove Speedial Search virus from your computer and browsers. Fortunately, it isn't known as an aggressive PUP that relies on numerous techniques to stay on the system for as long as possible, so you can uninstall it via Task Manager and then reset your web browsers affected by the hijacker.

If you are looking for a quick solution, take care of the Speedial removal by running the updated anti-spyware. Additionally, eliminate the outcomes of this virus with the help of an anti-malware tool. Use FortectIntego or any other similar computer security program to complete this task without wasting your time examining this program and looking for each of its components. 

Take precautionary measures against PUPs to prevent them on your computer

Malware researchers from LesVirus.fr^[3] claim that potentially unwanted programs, including browser-hijacking applications, can infiltrate the system in many ways. The most popular ones are:

• Bundled software. A PUP can be downloaded together with regular shareware of freeware. This is a result of using third-party installers. What you need to do to stop such activity is visit the Custom or Advanced section and deselect the Quick/Recommended option. After you perform this type of action, look through the list of incoming downloads and opt-out ones that you did not request for;
• Rogue websites. Various pages are promoted by secondary sources. Such sites come improperly disclosed and might provide damaging content. Be careful when visiting certain pages, make sure that they are highly-secured. Better visit only original ones. If you open a dubious-looking one – close it immediately.

In addition, some piece of advice would be to take care of your computer system by installing an antivirus program. Choose a trustworthy one and make sure that you always keep it up-to-date. If taken care of properly, such security tool will protect your computer and its components from various threats.

Use professional help to remove Speedial.com virus from the system

To remove Speedial virus, you need to uninstall it from the system and also reset each of your browsers. Besides, you should also find every component of this hijacker to prevent its reappearance after rebooting the computer system. If you are not feeling prepared enough to do that manually, scan the system with reliable anti-spyware. For that, we recommend the tools listed below this article.

However, we are willing to help you take care of the Speedial removal by offering the manual removal guide designed by our experts. For that, check the instructions below and complete each step cautiously. You need to eliminate all unwanted browser extensions and plug-ins you cannot remember downloading and then reset each of your web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, Edge, and Safari.

Recently, this browser hijacker has started affecting Opera web browser. If you are looking for a guide to remove Speed Dial from Opera, just follow these steps:

1. Close Opera browser and go to the following address: C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Roaming\Opera\Opera\
2. Here, locate and delete the file named as: Operapref.ini file;
3. Launch Opera once again.