Remove Play-bar.net Redirect Virus Thoroughly

Play-bar.net is an aggressive redirect virus which can control over the web browsers in the infected computers and modify the Internet settings, changing the original homepage and search engine to Play-bar.net without any permission. In this way, the redirect virus is able to hijack search service successfully. The Play-bar.net 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.

Play-bar.net redirect virus is capable to interrupt the normal search results and navigate them to ad- supported web pages which contain contagious contents. In that way, Play-bar.net redirect virus pop-up ads are aim at promoting some unknown programs, such as updated browsers, video players, media downloader or Java and many others, inducing computer users to click on them. Those ads are created to promote various goods and make profits from the internet. Often, users are easily attracted by pop-ups like discounts, coupons, or product promotion when shopping online. As a result, they click on the ads and go to visit the shopping sites or let the pop-up ads show on the web pages.

Since the redirect virus can modify the system security setting, which may lead to more hidden safety trouble. After the modifications are done, endless additional browser items will be installed in the name of regular browser items without consent, including unwanted addons, unsafe extension and unnecessary toolbar. Moreover, the Play-bar.net will provide random web links to ignorant users, which are likely to be corrupted by cyber criminals. Its main aim is to steal your sensitive information by using keyloggers to track your cookies and browser history and then send the collected information to the third-party for illegal benefits. On this occasion, once the victims click on those links, various infections like Trojans, spyware, and ransomeware can be downloaded and installed on the compromised without computer user’s consent.

How to Remove Play-bar.net Manually

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 clicking Play-bar.net 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
Step four: Remove Malicious Registry
a. Open Registry Editor on the start menu
b. Type in Regedit and click OK
c. Remove all the following registry entries
HKEY
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings “CertificateRevocation” = ‘1’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments “SaveZoneInformation” = ‘0’

Conclusion

In general, Play-bar.net virus sneaks into the target computer by coming bundled with some software update packages, pretending to be useful optional item and tricking users into downloading and installing it, pretending as a necessary optional item and cajole the innocent users to permitting its installation request. Sometimes, it is also bundled with free downloads such as music album files or movies, then automatically gets installed into user’s system and started its evil plan. Most users are not aware that being infected with redirect virus is very dangerous and they ignore it, missing the best chance to save the computer system in time.

To deal with thus pesky redirect virus, users should be more cautious when browsing the Web and take measures immediately once they find their homepages are changed suddenly or new unwanted add-ons are added to the browser without permission. In this case, antivirus program or security tool are the most trusted removal way to get rid of such annoying and stubborn browser redirect. Then repair the browser settings and safeguard their PCs against other cyber threats. Meanwhile, keep the antivirus programs running the background and scan every file that downloaded from the Internet before running it so as to prevent damaged caused by tricky and dangerous threats.