How To Remove Search.hmywatchlist.org From Infected Browser

Proper Guide To Delete Search.hmywatchlist.org From Computer

Search.hmywatchlist.org is a notorious malware infection that falls under browser hijacker category. This potentially unwanted program usually gets silent intrusion into the targeted computers without being noticed by the users and starts executing evil activities in the background. It begins the execution of unethical practices with first of all making unwanted changes in default browser’s settings and assigning itself as the new home page, search engine and new tab URL replacing the previous one. This notorious PUP floods your system screen with thousands of intrusive ads and pop-ups all over the day and turns your Online browsing into nightmare.

Does Search.hmywatchlist.org Provide Organic Search Results?

Search.hmywatchlist.org pretends to be a real search engine and claims to enhance users’ web browsing experience by providing most relevant, fast and authentic search results. It even looks like a genuine search tool similar to Google, Yahoo and Bing. However, despite of all the claims and appearance, it only delivers inorganic search outcomes that include sponsored links and redirect you to affiliated websites. With each redirection, owners of the sites pay commission to its authors for the promotion. Ads delivered by this PUP look very attractive but still, you should avoid getting in touch with them as they might lead you to potentially dangerous websites that are filled with malicious contents. And hence, it is important to get rid of Search.hmywatchlist.org as early as possible.

Software Bundles Often Hide Malicious Content Inside Them:

There are several deceptive tactics through which such types of PUPs infiltrate the targeted systems. But, the most common way is through freeware and shareware. When third-party authors share software and multiple additional products for free, Cyber criminals can misuse them and insert their infectious content right inside these software packages. The way to prevent the installation of unwanted additional component is bu making sure the right configuration mode has been selected. Keep in mind that you should avoid all downloading/installing modes that say “Quick” or “Recommended”. For safe and efficient downloading, you should always choose “Advanced” or “Custom” settings.

Quick Glance

Name- Search.hmywatchlist.org

Category- Browser hijacker, PUP

Description- Aims to promote third-party products, services and websites and make quick revenues for the developers.

Symptoms- Modifications in default browser and system’s settings, appearance of intrusive ads and pop-ups, redirects to unknown web pages and so on.

Distribution- Malicious File Downloads, Freeware or shareware installers, P2P file sharing, and many more.

Removal- Manual and automatic guidelines as provided under this article

Other Harmful Features of Search.hmywatchlist.org:

Search.hmywatchlist.org has ability to deactivate all the running security services and Windows Firewalls and open backdoors for more nasty parasites. It allows other Online infections such as Trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware and even deadly ransomware to get into your system as well and cause more damages inside. It eats up huge amount of memory resources and drags down the overall computer performance severely. Due to this, machine begins responding slower than ever before and takes more than usual time to complete any task. Search.hmywatchlist.org displays fake security warnings, error messages, update notifications etc. and tries to scam you into installing rogue software.

This hazardous PUP enables remote criminals to get access to your computer and execute malicious acts for their delicate welfare. Crooks can steal your personal and confidential data such as user IDs, passwords, credit card, bank account and other financial details and misuse those stuffs for generating illicit revenues. This nasty hijacker changes the default boot settings by making spiteful entries in it which allows the threat to get automatically activated with each Window reboot. It ruins vital system files that are essential for smooth PC functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working in an appropriate manner. So, don’t waste any time. Just take an instant action and remove Search.hmywatchlist.org from the device 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.hmywatchlist.org:

Remove the related items of Search.hmywatchlist.org 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.hmywatchlist.org 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.hmywatchlist.org) 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.hmywatchlist.org 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.hmywatchlist.org 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.hmywatchlist.org 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.hmywatchlist.org 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.hmywatchlist.org (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.