Working Guide to Remove Search.protectedio.com Virus

Helpful way to remove SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM Redirect

“Is my computer infected by SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM ? I noticed that my default browser homepage had been changed by it when I ran the Google Chrome this afternoon. When I wanted to visit some websites in my favorites, I was redirected to other unwanted websites. I wondered how this hateful stuff got into my machine since I have an antivirus program installed to protect it. How can I remove this virus from my PC absolutely? If you have no ideas how to remove the threat, please follow the removal guide in this post to deal with it.

What is SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM Redirect Virus:

SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM is a dangerous browser hijacker which is used by cyber criminals to affect the web browsers and steal the important information of those whose browsers are hijacked. The browser hijacker contains an interface which seems to be user- friendly but acutually is used to help it masquerade as a reliable tool. It also pretends to offer some frequently-used functions like other licensed search providers do. However, after using this fake search engine, you will find it hard to visit the websites you want; instead, you are frequently redirected to the site: http://SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM or some other unknown websites. Besides, you will be showed a lot of pop-up ads on the web pages you are viewing, and you are always prompted to download some useless products. Furthermore, the malware will make undesirable modification on your search engine and browser settings to take over the browser with the purpose of putting your private information into risk. In this situation, removing this browser hijacker completely from your computer will help fix the problems on your computer.

Malicious as the browser hijacker is, it won’t not only mess up your browsers, but also affect your system performance. The hijacker infection even degrades your system speed and modifies system files and registry entries to make system vulnerable to other additional computer threats. Actually, this browser hijacker infection may lead to other infections like adware infection, spyware infection, and Trojan infection, etc. Once the redirect infection invades your computer deeply, it is capable to trigger freezes, system crash and corrupted files errors. For instance, any unexpected freezes or corrupted .dll file error may result in system startup failure. In addition, the redirect disables security application and makes it impossible to make it unable to protect your computer. Hence, sometimes users have to rely on the manual removal way.

This tricky SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM redirect helps cyber hackers to access the infected system remotely to collect your financial information, privacy and other sensitive information for illegal activities. Once your system has been infested by the malware, you may cannot ogin your Yahoo mail, Facebook, and online bank account, for the hijacker has disrupted the system completely. Don’t ever trust the homepage and search engine provided by this browser hijacker, for they only offer you misleading information and content. An instant removal is needed for the computer in order to prevent further system corruption.

To protect your computer and your privacy, remove SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM redirect promptly. Use automatic removal tool if you are not familiar with computer and not sure about the manual removal.

Effects of the Browser Hijacker Infection

1. SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM redirect gets on browsers without permissions and reset default structures of affected browsers, making you unable to change them back; 2. Online sessions will be greatly interrupted by constant displaying ads or pop-up links; 3. Malware or spyware can be prompted by these unwanted popups and suspicious links; 4. It writes useless registry entries and keys into Windows registry. 5. It modifies site scripting and disables browser’s Content Security Policy.

Follow the Instruction below to remove infection:

Since the advanced anti-virus software can’t do a complete removal of the browser hijacker, the manual removal can be one way worth trying. Note that manual removal is recommended for advanced users only because it is a complicated and difficult process requires enough computer skills. To simlify the process, the basic removal steps are listed below:( Be beware when you are handling the system files and registry entries).

1. Stop the running unwanted processes via Windows Task Manager

1) Press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys at the same time to open the Task Manager.
2) In the default Processes tab, search for the related processes of SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM then select them, click on the End Process button to disable them all.

2. Remove the related programs of SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM from the computer

1) Click on the Start icon to open the menu then click on Control Panel.
2) Find out the Programs headline in the pop-up window, then click on the Uninstall a Program link under it.
3) In the Programs and Features, search for the related programs of SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM from the list, select them then click on the Uninstall on the top column to remove them one by one.
4) Confirm the uninstall request then follow the wizard to complete the removal.

3. Reset the browser and restore the browser

1) Start the browser.
2) Reset the browser settings to clean the traces left by SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM.

Internet Explorer
Click on Tools-> click on Internet Options-> click on Advanced tab-> click on Reset button.

Mozilla Firefox
Click on Firefox button-> locate Help-> click on Troubleshooting Information-> click on the Reset Firefox button.

Google Chrome
Click on wrench icon-> click on Settings-> click on Show Advanced Settings link-> click on Reset Browser Settings button.

3) Reset the browser homepage manually.

Internet Explorer
Click on General tab in the Internet Options dialog-> type a new address in the homepage box-> save the changes.

Mozilla Firefox
Click on Options from the Firefox menu-> click on General tab-> input a correct URL in the homepage section-> save the modification.

Google Chrome
Find out the Advance section in the Settings-> select the Show Home Button-> click on the displayed Change link-> set a new address as the homepage then save the reset.

4) Reboot the browser once finished.

Conclusion

SEARCH.PROTECTEDIO.COM hijacker is so destructive for it has the power to severely corrupt the system and lead to a complete system re-install. This browser hijacker will greatly degrade your system performance, since it can download many ads and useless plug-ins, toolbars and some other harmful programs. When you click on any web link, you will be typically redirected to other malicious web pages. There are also many ads popping up on your browsers, attempting to lure you into buy some useless and even malicious products. Anyway, though the browser hijacker appears like other legitimate websites, you should not keep it as your homepage for it won’t provide you with helpful information. You ought to pay close attention to online activities, and you need to get rid of the harmful hijacker infection immediately once your computer is targeted. The manual removal instruction for the malware is needed if you have to keep the system running stably.