How to Remove Search.gomaps.co Thoroughly? (Helpful Removal Guide)

Posted by Emily B.
6
Aug 10, 2016
106 Views

Search.gomaps.co is classified as a aggressive redirect virus, which can come into users' computers stealthily and replace the default homepage automatically by making some modifications on the original browser settings. Besides, this redirect virus will take over users' default search engine without any consent. The Search.gomaps.co redirect virus is in the disguise of Google Chrome so it tricks lots of users successfully, causing the users browse the web with it unobtrusively and redirect them to unknown search results.

Search.gomaps.co redirect virus is capable to interrupt the normal search results and navigate them to ad- supported web pages which contain contagious contents. Not only popping up advertisements on the web pages that users are browsing, this redirect virus will also display a number of advertisements on the computer screen as well as some third-party programs such as game software and media player, in order to attract users to click on them and visit the specified websites. Obviously, those ads are there to lure users' clicks and persuade them into buying certain products or services. Commodity sales promotion, activity coupons, discounts on goods and bargains are other sources that can be exploited to distribute Search.gomaps.co redirect virus. So most of the users click on the ads and access the advertising sites or receive the pop-up ads.

Although Search.gomaps.co is not as malicious as a Trojan horse, it does bring many problems to the infected computers. This redirect virus may download and install all kinds of unknown toolbars, which look legitimate but actually harmful, onto users' browsers without any consent. In this case, the computer performance may drastically decrease and the web browser freezes or even crashes occasionally. Moreover, this redirect virus will display all types of web links which might take users to some malicious websites. In addition, Search.gomaps.co redirect virus is able to offer links which contains commercial contents.

Guide to Manually Remove Search.gomaps.co Redirect Virus

Step 1 Uninstall Search.gomaps.co relevant programs from Control Panel
Windows 7/Vista

Open the Start Menu -> Control Panel-> Uninstall a Program-> Find dubious program -> click Uninstall.
Windows 8
Go to Start Menu-> Control Panel-> Enter programs and features in the search box-> tap Programs and Features-> Highlight target program- > Uninstall it.

Step 2 Remove malicious Extensions from Your IE/Chrome/Firefox
Google Chrome
Click Chrome Menu -> Tools -> Extensions ->Find related add-ons and delete them.
Internet Explorer

click the Tools -> click Manage add-ons->Toolbars and Extensions ->Select unwanted add-on and click Remove button.

Mozilla Firefox
Click on the menu button at the top right corner to open Menu > Add-ons > Choose related extensions ->click Disable or Remove button
 
Step 3 Repair the homepage and search engine.
Google Chrome
Go to 'Wrench or 3-Bars icon' > 'Settings' > 'Appearances'> 'Show Home button', click on the Change button to change your browser homepage.
Go to 'Wrench or 3-Bars icon' > 'settings' > 'Manage search engines.
Make google.com as your default search engine and click on the X to remove the unwanted URL.

Internet Explorer
Open IE and go to 'Tools' → 'Manage Add-ons'.
 Choose 'Search Providers' → choose the search engine you used before and make it your default search provider. Additionally, select 'Search.searchgrm.com', remove it.
Go 'Tools' → 'Internet Options' and select 'General' tab. Click 'Use default' or enter your own website name, google.com or other. Finally, click 'OK' to save the changes.

Mozilla Firefox
Go to Navigation Toolbar > click on the Manage search engines > find the unwanted search engine> Remove it then click on the OK button to save the changes.
4 Go 'Tools' → 'Options'→ 'General'. Finally, reset the startup homepage or change Search.gomaps.co to google.com.

Conclusion

Search.gomaps.co often enters the targeted computers by coming together with software update packages which are recommended in a pop-up website. Usually Search.gomaps.co redirect virus bundled with free applications from Internet, such as videos, security programs and system utilities, then directly starting installation without consent to do harm to user's computer. Most users do not realize the dangers of getting this redirect virus installed on their computers and just let it stay still, which bring a series of problems that should not happen.

Users should check whether their computers are infected by the redirect virus when noticing these symptoms on the computer: default homepage has been changed to another unknown one; lots of new add-ons have been added to the browsers unwittingly; numerous ads pop up on the browsers or computer screen. If it is the case, the best solution is to remove the redirect virus using a powerful removal tool. Afterwards, restore the browser settings and secure the computer to a high level. What's important, users need to enhance the awareness of security so as to prevent malware from infecting their computers.

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