How To Remove Default Search virus

Assistance To Detect & Delete Default Search virus

Default Search virus basically stands for a site url default-search.net which is developed by Linkey INC. This website is promoted through browser hijackers which usually assails on computer through freeware installations. Following successful installation on computer, this program manage to alter browser settings and assign new values for critical settings. Users can notice such modified values in form of default search engine, new tab, and homepage. Even Proxy and other settings will also be modified without any prior notice. While being inspected, the Default Search virus is found redirecting to yahoo.com and causing no security related problems at all. But, the authors of this site might have control over these redirects and may able to change the redirects to malicious websites as well.

Therefore, if you have started to see Default Search virus configured as default browser settings, then you must try treating your machine. The long term presence of such infectious object may lead to many software download websites that may install vicious malware kinds. Usually, download clients are installed on remote basis, which allow criminals to manage process of freeware downlaods, and they can monetize those actions for their own benefits. The users are tricked to interact with many helpful appearing options, which if done, the system will start to show just issues. And this is the reason why Default Search virus is considered as unsafe trait for a computer and should be removed soon.

Threat Specifications

Name: Default Search virus, Default-search.net
Type: Browser hijacker, redirect virus, PUP
Problems: Modified browser settings, various random websites are promoted and users are enforced to interact with those.
Distribution: Deceptive links or advetisements, freeware or shareware installer packages, fake software copies
Removal: To delete Default Search virus from an infected browser or system permanently, it’s necessary to learn some technical guidelines as discussed under this article.

Default Search virus is a mischievous object that risks overall PC usage

Browser hijackers are technically not referred as typical infections like trojans or ransomware do. But, it should even not be ignored as it has many capabilities to bring chaos. The users are prevented to access web sessions according to their personal needs, obviously modified browsers are the reasons. Means, the victims can expect their online sessions to be terrible and annoying all the time. However, this is not just the consequence, but the hijacker may cause even more drastic issues as well. It comes mostly with data tracking abilities, and may track any of your confidential details if entered while connected to web. In other cases, geolocations, IP addresses, banking credentials, social credentials, etc can also be tracked. Hackers later on manage to access these details and miuse them for their own sake. Even an internally created backdoor or loophole may allow hackers to manipulate the system remotely.

Deceptive marketing tricks to proliferate Default Search virus

It’s quite common for a user that they will never intend to visit pages like Default Search virus intentionally. And if a system gets infected, then obviously the users are somehow tricked to do something mischievous. Software bundling is a commonly used process to distribute malicious codes in disguised form. Since such objects are presented to users in form of browser extensions, addons, toolbars, etc, they might end up taking them in easy. Clicking some intrusive links, ads, visiting malicious websites, downloading freeware or shareware applications, etc, are mostly responsible for malware intrusions. To avoid such things, it’s better to be cautious and secure the system against threats using powerful security applications.

In case if you are having hard time with Default Search virus, then you must identify all associated files and processes on your machine. All such related elements should be discovered and cleaned from machine to prevent vicious consequences later on. Well, in case if you are looking for such helpful traits, we suggest you to check and follow the guidelines discussed ahead.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Default Search virus:

Remove the related items of Default Search virus using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Default Search virus issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Default Search virus) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Default Search virus removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Default Search virus still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Default Search virus plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Default Search virus removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Default Search virus (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.