How to Completely Remove MaskSearch.com Browser Hijacker?

by Emily B. Editor

MaskSearch.com is a redirect virus designed to infect users' browsers and controls their browsing direction. Once it enters the PC and infects the target browsers, the browser settings will be changed without authorization and many problems may occur. It is able to sneak into the affected computer via exploiting system security holes, p2p, spam emails, attachments,online chats and other unprotected networks. Once infected, it drops additional parasites and potential threats on your compromised computer. If so, computer users won't have the ability to load the web pages for the accurate search results have been extended from the result list by MaskSearch.com.

MaskSearch.com usually boosts commercial gains through rerouting users' browser searches and tabs to its affiliated commercial websites which are typically used to trick innocent computer users into purchasing its affiliated applications. Since many computer users might pay no attention to this website, some cyber criminals make use of this website to make profits. If computer users click on those banners, headline, or links provided by the redirect virus,they are likely to fall into the trap set up by hackers. Please note that the coupons or other preferential information provided by the browser hijacker are not reliable, on the contrary, they may redirect you to other unexpected computer or invite other malware like ransomware to rip off innocent users' money.

MaskSearch.com should be deleted from the computer immediately once found. But most PC users think that it is ok to leave the threat on their PCs if they never click the pop-up ads or links provided by the browser hijacker. But that is not true. Since the redirect virus can cause some modifications in the computer system, things may be out of control. This virus blocks the system security tools and makes the whole infected system fragile, other harmful malwares and viruses would seize the opportunities to intrude into the affected computer effortlessly. As thus, the infected computer performances would be decelerated due to those malwares and viruses take up a large amount of system resources. Once users leave the malware stay on the result of antimalware scanner, disastrous problems will flood the system. Consequently, the best choice to save the infected computer is to eliminate MaskSearch.com virus and reset the default settings.

How to Remove MaskSearch.com Redirect Virus from Your PC?

Step one: set the default homepage back
For Internet Explorer:
1. Click on Browser Tools
2. Select Manage Add-Ons on the tools window
3. Click Search Provider
4. Here you can see many kinds of search engine option as Bing and Google, select your favorite one to be a default homepage.
5. Choose Search Results and click on Remove icon to eliminate it
6. Click Tools, select Internet Options and then the General tab. Here you can option a website you like and save it.
c. Select the unwanted address and click ‘Remove’ to remove it;
For Google Chrome:
1. Open Customize and control
2. Click on Settings
3. Select on Basic Options icon
4. Here you can reset your homepage (e.g.Google.com)
5. Once you choose a default homepage, click on Manage Search Engines and then click Google to be your default search engine.
6. Remove it from the browser by clickingMaskSearch.comX and then the X’ mark
For Mozilla Firefox:
1. Click Manage Search Engine
2. Select Search Results and then click Remove option, click OK
3. Open Tools, under the General tab, set Google.com as default homepage
Step two: locate related files of the redirect virus and remove them from the computer
%AllUsersProfile%
%AllUsersProfile%\Programs\{random letters}\
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~r
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~dll
Step three: Remove Cookies on all Browsers
Internet Explorer:
a. Click options on the browser and then choose Internet Options
b. Open General tab, click Delete Browsing History to remove all related cookies
c. Select cookies and click Delete
Firefox:
a. Click option
b. Select Privacy and then click on Remove Individual Cookies icon
c. Delete relevant cookies list on the box
Google Chrome:
a. Click option
b. Open Under the Bonnet tab
c. Select Privacy and then click Clear browsing data
d. Delete all cookies

Conclusion

It is not easy for users to find out wheMaskSearch.comXX redirect virus came into their machines. Inexperienced computer users are usually tricked by this malware for they seldom pay attention to malware prevention problems. The weakness of computer users can be easily utilized by cyber hackers to make benefits. With the purpose of safeguarding the system functioning from the destructive activities triggered by MaskSearch.com, it is suggested to try hard to remove this malware once it gets installed on the targeted system. As the redirect virus often comes bundled with free third-party applications on the Internet, users should be more cautious when they download and install free programs because some freeware may be malware or embedded in suspicious applications and harm the computer systems once installed. Our suggestion is that, users should take some measure to prevent infection by all types of malware, and regularly run the antivirus program to scan for malware so as to make sure that their computers are safe to use. Get it and run it to protect your computer right now!