Universalsearch.co Removal – Effective Ways to Remove Universalsearch.co Thoroughly

Universalsearch.co , a nasty browser redirect virus, always gets into the target computer secretly and then takes advantage of malicious plug-ins to modify browser settings of the infected computer. It can also mess up browser performance and take browser searches to ad-supported websites run by cyber violators. It is designed to generate advertisement revenue by hijacking innocent computer users to certain websites and tricking them into clicking on commercial ads and sponsored links.

Most computer users don’t know where the redirect virus came from, for the threat is able to spread via various ways. It is not uncommon to get system prompt while downloading or installing a newly software. It is common cases that a redirect virus attatches to some general installers of software to gets installed onto random computers because most innocent net users won't notice the install or download option of the redirect during the boring installation of a program. Most of time, such kind of situation may appear at the installation of freeware and shareware without legal credits which are possible to have already been infected by computer threats. This potentially unwanted program tends to destroy the system severely once they are allowed to get into the system as a legal component.

Universalsearch.co redirect virus will install various unwanted toolbars in the browser which pretend to be helpful extensions offering convenient services. Those browser add-ons may not be as useful as they look; they may record users’ search terms and trace users’ browsing history, which allows the advertisers to deliver more ads based on users’ interests or habits. Some unknown sites may occur in users’ favorites or bookmarks or the desktop, aiming to redirect users to specific advertising websites. Then, users may be shown some misleading information and bamboozled into buying some fake products or non-existent services.

Once the computer is infected by the redirect virus, it’s easier for other cyber threats to take the opportunity to arrive on the compromised PC and further damage the system. Remote hackers may be able to gain unauthorized access to the vulnerable PC and steal the victim’s confidential information, such as credit card details, passwords saved in browsers and identity data, violating user’s personal privacy. If the confidential data and information are exposed to the hackers, users may face unwanted trouble and great losses. Considering that this redirect virus can bring much trouble both to the computers and users, immediately removing this threat seems very important. The following guide will show you how to remove this threat step by step.

How to Remove Universalsearch.co Completely

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 Universalsearch.co 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

If computers are infected by Universalsearch.co redirect virus, users will encounter various problems. It is hard to completely avoid the trap triggered by cyber hackers. Thus, users need to learn how to protect their PCs and keep away from cyber infections. Keep away from websites with no or low reputation, since those websites might contain malicious codes of deferent malware like redirect virus, Trojan horse, worm and adware. Types of computer infection will penetrate into the system if users won't beware of this issue. Meanwhile, it is necessary to keep all security tools installed on the computers up-to-date to protect PCs from various newly cyber attacks.