How To Remove Search.hmylearningbuddy.co

Tips To Delete Search.hmylearningbuddy.co

Search.hmylearningbuddy.co is a bogus search engine that is applied as soon as a browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, Explorer or MS Edge is installed. These types of potentially undesired applications can be downloaded from legitimate sources like Chrome Web store, but most often users install them unintentionally in various ways. Once gets successfully installed, this nasty PUP modifies the profile of Internet browser in several ways. It assigns itself as the new homepage and new tab URL and also appends a customized search engine that directs all results to Yahoo. It also controls the browser by inserting multiple browser helper objects (BHOs) into it. The BHOs prevent victims from the removal of this infection and the retrieval of default browser’s settings.

More About Search.hmylearningbuddy.co:

Search.hmylearningbuddy.co is not amongst the most dangerous computer threats as they do not engage in intensive system file alterations. However, the owners of this browser hijacker are continuously developing new tactics to ensure that the program remains on users’ PCs for longer duration. Once this hazardous malware gets into your device, it alters the web browser settings automatically and provides an alternative search tool that people use for their web browsing activities. Also the search results delivered by this fake search domain are directed to a legitimate provider Yahoo. PUPs usually don’t have their own engines, so they utilize ones provided by industry giants like Yahoo or Google. Although, these search outcomes are not genuine, they are generally filled with sponsored ads and various links.

When you surf the net using Search.hmylearningbuddy.co, the top results are ads which can not be distinguished by novice users. As a result, people access web pages they generally would not want to. Though, owners of this hijacker earn pay-per-click profits for such practice. In other words, it presents bogus search results at the top to gain revenues from users’ clicks. This also artificially enhances the visibility of particular services or apps and also improves site rankings. Besides, this notorious threat uses several tracking methods to collect information about users. To provide search outcomes that are more appropriate to end-users, it spies on users’ Online actions with the help of cookies and other technologies.

The following data might be collected by Search.hmylearningbuddy.co automatically:

• Browser-related information (language, browser type, time stamps, etc.)
• Visited websites
• Links/ads clicked
• Search queries
• Personal data provided willingly (email, phone number, name, username/password)
• IP address
• Installed applications, etc.

As evident, data tracking is highly significant for browser hijackers as this information is normally used to generate revenues. However, the creators are also sharing this information with business partners, cyber criminals, affiliates and other third-party sources.

Quick Glance

Name: Search.hmylearningbuddy.co

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect virus, Potentially unwanted program

Functionality: Aims to redirect users to affiliated websites, promote sponsored products, services and programs and make Online revenues for the developers, Also steal users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Modified Internet browsers settings like homepage, default Internet search engine, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your computer with a powerful anti-malware tool.

Practice Safety While Installing Freeware or Shareware:

These browser hijacking programs often enter the targeted PCs due to carelessness of the user. Attractive contents and other illusive materials quickly lure the person into skipping through steps or installing hazardous applications from the net directly. Hijackers don’t require any permissions, and therefore, when users agree to get everything pre-packed in the bundle, they end up installing such infections considering that the software they intended to get was the only download at the time. Moreover, it also hides behind pernicious sites or torrent services, corrupted links. Spam emails and fake updates can also deliver malevolent programs.

Tips To Prevent Malware Intrusion:

In order to keep your device away from such pernicious infections, you need to be very careful while surfing the web. You should opt for trustworthy sources to download any program and always pick Advanced or Custom mode set during installation processes. Here, you can deselect the contents that are suspicious and pick only the main software. Moreover, ignore suspicious emails coming from unknown source as they might include malicious attachments and lead to PUP intrusion upon being clicked. Don’t forget to use a powerful anti-malware tool and keep updating it from time to time. But at the moment, just take a quick action and remove Search.hmylearningbuddy.co from the machine by following the effective removal steps given below.

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 Search.hmylearningbuddy.co:

Remove the related items of Search.hmylearningbuddy.co 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 Search.hmylearningbuddy.co 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 (Search.hmylearningbuddy.co) 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 Search.hmylearningbuddy.co 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 Search.hmylearningbuddy.co 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 Search.hmylearningbuddy.co 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 Search.hmylearningbuddy.co 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 Search.hmylearningbuddy.co (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.