Guide to Remove Searches.qone8.com Redirect Virus

Description of Searches.qone8.com Redirect Virus

Searches.qone8.com redirect virus, also deemed as a browser hijacker, is used by hackers to boost website traffic and it can badly interfere with users’ online activities. Innocent users may think it is a useful search engine like other famous search providers, such as Yahoo, Bing or Google, because of its pure interface. However, Searches.qone8.com is not a site that should be trusted and it often brings much trouble to users if not removed timely. Under normal circumstance, the redirect process can be spread out via infected programs, spam E-mail attachment and unsafe links. It also stealthily gets into the targeted computers via spam emails which have been a common tool to spread malware. Once the browser has been infected by this redirect infection, PC users need to remove it immediately and completely without any hesitation.

When the redirect virus finally finishes the installation on PC, it makes modifications on the default system settings and browser settings. When you unconsciously click on the unsafe pop-ups or links displayed by the browser hijacker, you may be redirected to phishing websites or other online shopping websites. It often changes the default homepage or startup page to its own site by altering the DNS configuration and other settings without permission. As a result, this unwanted website can open automatically whenever users start the browsers or open a new tab. As the result, net users will repeatedly see this redirect page instead of their former ones whenever they open a new tab or new window with the browsers.

The Searches.qone8.com needs be removed terminates since it can cause so many problems on the infected browsers and even the whole the computer. If not removed in time, the virus will download and install its add-ons, toolbars or extensions on browsers to record user's online search history and cookies. By passing the catch of antivirus software, the Searches.qone8.com redirect virus forcefully directs the users to its domain sites by blocking their regular visits to some legal webpage. Those people whose computers gets infected by this browser hijacker may find that they can’t find much helpful information when they do a search and their CPU usages are often consumed very high, sometimes even 100%.What’s worse, the redirect virus would bring other types of malware which are able to open a backdoor secretly. Then, cyber hackers would be able to utilize system vulnerabilities to remotely control compromised machine and carry out their illegal activities.

What Should be Done If We Want to Get Rid of Searches.qone8.com Virus?

First of all, we should be clear about how we get this redirect so that we can get some hints on removing it completely. Most people will run their antivirus programs to scan the entire system in order to find and remove the culprit. It usually comes bundled with Spyware, Adware and Malware which may corrupt your system severely by all means. Most security tools are designed for daily care of the computers and seldom of them are created specifically for virus removal. The changeable files name of this virus make it hard to be found, that is why most antivirus programs are not able to find it out. In this case, users can try removing Searches.qone8.com redirect virus using the manual removal method.

Note that the manual removal may be a daunting task for novice users, for removal of the redirect virus needs users to accomplish several complicated steps. Victims are required to have certain computer knowledge and skills to deal with registry editor, program files, dll. files, processes. It will be dangerous if PC users mistaken remove crucial system files and registry during the process.

How to Manually Remove Searches.qone8.com

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 ‘Search Results’ 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 Search Result 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 xxx 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 Entries.

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’

How to Remove Cookies for Good

Conclusion

Searches.qone8.com, as a browser hijacker, should be removed from the system in time. If not, it will put the infected computer in risk. If not removed in time, the redirect virus will generate lots of problems, such as endless pop-up ads on the browser, browser constantly being redirected to unwanted websites and personal information being collected and sent to the third parties. Many users tend to rely on antivirus programs while encountering this redirect virus; however, they would only to find that their antivirus programs do not help remove such threat. The stubborn redirect virus can surviving from the security removal tools benefit by its changeable features. Therefore, you need to use a powerful anti-malware removal tool to detect all the components of the browser hijacker and remove it fully.

Do not try to fix the problem manually if you are not familiar enough with computer system files indeed, because any mistakes you make during the removal process can lead to either system errors or complete death. If you are not experienced in computer, it is sincerely suggested that you ask help from a computer expert or just download a powerful malware removal tool to remove the redirect virus from your infected PC.