What is Search.protectedio.com?
Search.protectedio.com is a recognized as a browser hijacker that will change your default browser home page and search engine. It has ability to compromise all brands of internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, etc. It is disturbing to have this browser hijacker in your computer. Once infected, you should find out all the associated programs and remove them to make your computer back to normal.
Commonly, search.protectedio.com is often promoted via free downloads. If you download software that might have bundled with this browser hijacker and install it without reading End Users License Agreements and selecting additional bundles, you will install additional troubles to your computer. Here are the troubles possibly brought by search.protectedio.com.
It may mess up your internet browsing by hijacking your home page and search engine;
It may install startup items to your system to enable its running on Windows start up;
It may add unwanted extensions and toolbars to your internet browsers;
It may generate random popups to your browsers and alter your search results;
It may keep track of your browsing activity and collect your browsing data...
How to Remove Search.protectedio.com?
The following page may offer a comprehensive guide to remove search.protectedio.com browser hijacker and other associated unwanted programs from your computer. If you want to have them removed automatically and safely, you are recommended to download the recommended removal tool below.
Method 1: Watch Relevant Removal Video for Help
(If you cannot get rid of Search.protectedio.com by the removal video, you can download useful anti-malware software to remove it.)
Step
1: End suspicious process in Windows Task Manager.
Right click the blank Windows Taskbar and
select Start Task Manager to open. If your IE is infected and stuck in Search.protectedio.com,
you should end the main iexplorer.exe. FF and Chrome are respectively
corresponding to firefox.exe and chrome.exe.
Step
2: Remove Search.protectedio.com from control panel.
Step 3: Remove browser hijacker from your browser and restore changes.
Internet Explorer
1. Open Internet Explorer, then click on the gear icon (Tools for Windows XP users) at the top (far right), then select Manage add-ons.
2. From the Toolbars and Extensions tab, select suspicious toolbar and right click on the item and the click Disable.
3. On Search Providers, remove unwanted search provider from the list and enable the one you want.
4. Click the General tab and move to the Home Page. Overwrite/remove the Home Page URL and click OK.
5. Open Internet Explorer, then click on the gear icon (Tools for Windows XP users) at the top (far right), then select Internet Option > advanced > reset
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click on the button at the top right corner to open Menu > Add-ons > Extensions
2. Find suspicious related add-ons and delete them.
3. Simultaneously tap Alt+T keys and select Options. Click the General tab and move to the Home Page. Overwrite/remove the Home Page URL and click OK.
4. Open Firefox, press Alt + H, and select Troubleshooting Information > reset
Google Chrome.
1. Click on the Customize icon(wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.
2. Find suspicious related add-ons and delete them
3. Move to Search and click Manage search engines…Click X on the URL of the search tool you want to remove. Click Done.
4. Select settings > advanced settings > reset
Step 4: Erase Search.protectedio.com from local disk.
Show hidden folder: start menu >> type 'folder options' and hit enter >> 'View' >> show hidden folder
Delete suspicious files from the folders below.
%AppData%\<random>.exe
%CommonAppData%\<random>.exe
C:\Windows\Temp\<random>.exe
%temp%\<random>.exe
C:\Program Files\<random>
Windows 8 & Windows 8.1
- Slide the mouse cursor to the bottom right corner
of your screen.
- Click Settings on the Charm bar and go
to Control Panel.
- Select Uninstall a program and remove unwanted program.
Windows Vista & Windows 7
- Open the Start menu and click Control Panel.
- Go to Uninstall a program and remove wanted program.
Windows XP
- Open the Start menu and navigate to Control Panel.
- Select Add or remove programs and uninstall unwanted program.
Step 3: Remove browser hijacker from your browser and restore changes.
Internet Explorer
1. Open Internet Explorer, then click on the gear icon (Tools for Windows XP users) at the top (far right), then select Manage add-ons.
2. From the Toolbars and Extensions tab, select suspicious toolbar and right click on the item and the click Disable.
3. On Search Providers, remove unwanted search provider from the list and enable the one you want.
4. Click the General tab and move to the Home Page. Overwrite/remove the Home Page URL and click OK.
5. Open Internet Explorer, then click on the gear icon (Tools for Windows XP users) at the top (far right), then select Internet Option > advanced > reset
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click on the button at the top right corner to open Menu > Add-ons > Extensions
2. Find suspicious related add-ons and delete them.
3. Simultaneously tap Alt+T keys and select Options. Click the General tab and move to the Home Page. Overwrite/remove the Home Page URL and click OK.
4. Open Firefox, press Alt + H, and select Troubleshooting Information > reset
Google Chrome.
1. Click on the Customize icon(wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.
2. Find suspicious related add-ons and delete them
3. Move to Search and click Manage search engines…Click X on the URL of the search tool you want to remove. Click Done.
4. Select settings > advanced settings > reset
Step 4: Erase Search.protectedio.com from local disk.
Show hidden folder: start menu >> type 'folder options' and hit enter >> 'View' >> show hidden folder
Delete suspicious files from the folders below.
%AppData%\<random>.exe
%CommonAppData%\<random>.exe
C:\Windows\Temp\<random>.exe
%temp%\<random>.exe
C:\Program Files\<random>
Step 5: Delete corrupted registry entries.
Press Win & R on your keyboard. Type 'regedit' and hit enter.
Click Edit > Find...
.
If you want to quickly and easily get rid of this adware and restore all your changes, you can click the icon below to get SpyHunter – An adaptive spyware detection and removal tool that delivers ongoing protection against the latest malware, trojans, rootkits and malicious software.
Click the icon to get SpyHunter
(SpyHunter offers free scanner for malware detection and there will be no other bundles or conflicts with your software. Please feel relieved about usage.)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc\Parameters\Internet\EnableActiveProbing: 1 to 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Start Page" = "
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Default_Page_URL" = "http://www..com/?type=hp&ts=&from=tugs&uid="
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Start Page" = "http://www..com/?type=hp&ts=&from=tugs&uid="
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "DefaultScope" = "{33BB0A4E-99AF-4226-BDF6-49120163DE86}"
Step 6: Delete startup items from your system.
Press Win & R on your Keyboard to open Run. And input "msconfig" and click OK.
Navigate to Startup and delete suspicious items.
.Method 3: Automatically Get Rid of Search.protectedio.com with SpyHunter
If you want to quickly and easily get rid of this adware and restore all your changes, you can click the icon below to get SpyHunter – An adaptive spyware detection and removal tool that delivers ongoing protection against the latest malware, trojans, rootkits and malicious software.
(SpyHunter offers free scanner for malware detection and there will be no other bundles or conflicts with your software. Please feel relieved about usage.)
After finishing all these steps, you may have already get rid of this nasty adware/PUP. Good luck to you.
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