How To Remove stormsearch.net From PC

Complete Guideline To Delete stormsearch.net

stormsearch.net is a kind of notorious application categorized as a browser hijacker. It’s a part of spiteful browser extension pretending as useful tool, which enhances users’ online search experience. Like most threats of same category, it also makes use of software bundling technique to reach and penetrate random PC devices. Once installed, this potentially unwanted program makes various unsolicited modifications immediately. As very obvious on this attack, homepage and new tab window will exhibit this domain as default search engine. This will remain the value of browser’s start-up as long as the browser is compromised with the undesired program.

Know More About stormsearch.net:

Other than altering browser’s default value, stormsearch.net was designed to earn online revenues and this can be materialized by the exhibition of several advertisements especially aggressive ones like pop-ups, push notifications etc. Search results generated by this bogus search engine likewise contain profit generating banners and paid links. Even though it is promoted as a reliable search tool that is committed in offering users with fast and most accurate outcomes, its actions are completely bothersome. Be mindful that ads delivered by this PUP often contain insidious links which upon being clicked, will open a new browser window that is adept at self-installation of adware, spyware or other malware.

Similar to other browser hijackers, stormsearch.net can record data about computer and even web users. It can monitor browsing activities such as entered search queries, viewed web pages, visited links and other related details. Moreover, it can also gather users’ personal information such as user IDs, passwords, geographical location, IP address, bank account and other financial details. This sensitive data can reach to third-parties which might be employed for illicit generating of online profit. Specifically, it can be misused for cyber-crime or online fraud purposes. Having this PUP in your browser may cause annoying advertisements to arrive persistently. It can produce endless intrusive ads and pop-ups that may annoy the users while web surfing. Such ads might be containing a vicious link which when clicked, may lead you to phishing, scamming or even malware-laden sites that are filled with malevolent objects. And therefore, it is highly required to perform a quick removal of stormsearch.net from the infected device.

Threat Details

Name: stormsearch.net

Type: Browser hijacker, Potentially unwanted program, Redirect virus

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: Altered default browser’s settings, default Internet search engine, Tons of intrusive ads, Fake pop-up messages, 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.

How Does This Threat Enter Your Computer?

In general, all installation of this hijacker on targeted systems is accidental. Developers of this PUP are using some online deployment methods to get into the Windows devices. The most popular among them is via software bundling fraud where this malware is a content of a freeware package but deceits users by not confirming its installation during the setup process. And hence, after loading the main program, it gets instant appearance on Internet browser that shocks the affected users. Furthermore, malicious ad campaign is another channel that hackers are employing to spread stormsearch.net over to targeted people. They generally set funds for online advertising campaign and promote the software as essential browser add-on. In this similar scenario, this PUA is also disguised as important software update that users require to install in order to prevent any additional issues. Most often, it is masked as Adobe Flash update urging users for quick download.

Tips To Avoid PUP Intrusion:

To prevent the installation of such hazardous infections, you should always choose Custom or Advanced installation options while installing software instead of Quick or Recommended one. Here you can take complete control over the incoming downloads. You just have to deselect the content that look suspicious and pick only the main program. Moreover, update any application using official links only. Aside from this, avoid visiting infectious sites, using infected removal drives, clicking on suspicious ads or links etc. as they may also cause PUP infiltration. But at the moment, just take a quick action and remove stormsearch.net from the computer by following the simple 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 stormsearch.net:

Remove the related items of stormsearch.net 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 stormsearch.net 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 (stormsearch.net) 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 stormsearch.net 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 stormsearch.net 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 stormsearch.net 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 stormsearch.net 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 stormsearch.net (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.