websearch.fixsearch.info Hijacks! It Causes Information Theft? How to Remove

remove websearch.fixsearch.info
with manual steps offereD
By Global PC Support Center

OUTLINE

• About websearch.fixsearch.info
• Dangers from websearch.fixsearch.info hijacker
• Stick to steps and remove websearch.fixsearch.info
• Final
• Other related posts
• About websearch.fixsearch.info

The question “is websearch.fixsearch.info a virus” has been asked by many more victims as damages are detected without warning alert given away by build-in antivirus programs. websearch.fixsearch.info has long been categorized as browser hijacker that mainly hijacks homepage. Of course, there are other evil deeds from websearch.fixsearch.info:

1. Hijacks search results to display its search engine.
2. Becomes the default search engine to give away search results.
3. Installs toolbar or other web applications without permission.

websearch.fixsearch.info is no more than a PUP that aims at gaining easy money. To achieve that goal, websearch.fixsearch.info hijacker intrudes into the kernel part of a target machine with BHO computing technique that could access legally cookies containing:

• log-in credentials/password
• browsing history.
• activities on the targeted machine.

Coming in as add-on, websearch.fixsearch.info will not be either detected or delete regardless of the fact that some annoying and unpleasant scenarios have been triggered.

Dangers from websearch.fixsearch.info Hijacker

The below listed problems may very well emerge while having websearch.fixsearch.info hijacked:

• Additional web applications that need cumbersome procedures to remove may be installed subsequently.
• Warning alert about something else may be given away before long.
• Browser as well as computer becomes tardy in response.
• CPU usage is highly consumed to post adverse impact on PC performance.

The poor performance indicates that the system will not able to deal with sudden and aggressive attack as it is busy coordinating the “inner conflict”. Once virus attack happens, the information that BHO access will be snatched away, leading to information theft.

So how to remove websearch.fixsearch.info hijacker when most anti-virus programs are not even able to pick it up? Try manual method that always works in any situation. Be noted that a certain level of computer knowledge as well as skills is needed to implement manual method; otherwise, the steps could backfire.

Remove websearch.fixsearch.info with Manual Steps

A. Reset browsers.


Internet Explorer: Tools menu > Internet Options > Advanced tab > Restore Defaults button > OK.



Mozilla Firefox:  Firefox button > Help > Troubleshooting information > ‘Reset Firefox’ button.


Google Chrome:‘Customize and Control Google Chrome’ menu > ‘Options’ > ‘Under the Hood’ > ‘Reset to Defaults’ button.

 
Opera: Show hidden files and folders > navigate to "C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Roaming\Opera\Opera\" > remove Operapref.ini.


Safari: Safari menu > ‘Reset Safari’ > tick all given options > ‘Reset’ button.




B. Access Task Manager to remove the items with the path directing to websearch.fixsearch.info.

Windows
Ctrl+Alt+Del/Ctrl+Shift+Esc > access Task Manager > View >　select columns > tick "PID" and "Path name" > go to open up System Information > end the process with path name directing to websearch.fixsearch.info's path or the path that doesn't belong to system.



select Colunms to tick PID and Path Name to find out the services and processes related to
websearch.fixsearch.info

Mac OS X
Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor > click open the suspected processes > "Open ports and files" > end the process with path name directing to websearch.fixsearch.info's path.


search for and open up Activity Monitor on Mac to stop the ads by websearch.fixsearch.info from popping up

C. Show hidden files and folders to remove Temp file and the ones related to websearch.fixsearch.info.





Windows 7/XP/Vista
‘Control Panel’ > 'user accounts and family safety' > 'Folder Options’ > View tab > tick ‘Show hidden files and folders' and non-tick 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)’ > ‘OK’.

Windows 8
Start screen > Windows Explorer > View tab > tick ‘File name extensions’ and ‘Hidden items’ options > OK button.

a.when done, remove the given items:

C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local\Temp\
C:\WINDOWS\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Temporary Internet File

b. navigate to the following directories and remove the items generated on and after the date when websearch.fixsearch.info was firstly detected:

C:\Windows
%SystemDriver%\
C:\Program Files\
C:\windows\system32\
C:\users\user\appdata\local\
C:\Users\[your username]\Documents\
c:\users\[username]\appdata\locallow\

Mac OS X
Finder > Utilities folder > Terminal > copy and paste "defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES" > return key > copy and paste the "killall Finder" > return key.

a. remove temp files and folders:

Finder > Utilities folder > terminal:

1. type

   cd ~/Library/Logs
   sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Logs/*

   and press Return button.


2. type

   rm -rf ~/Library/Safari/Downloads.plist
   cd ~/Library/Caches
   sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Caches/*

   and press Return button.

b. access the following locations to remove the items generated on and after the date when websearch.fixsearch.info was firstly detected:

Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ 
Home folder/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ 
Applications
Dock
Display

D. Modify Hosts file.


Windows
Win+R key combination > type CMD > hit Enter key > type "ping websearch.fixsearch.info" > Enter key > note down the IP address > navigate to C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc > click open Hosts file > paste the IP address to the last line > save file.

ping websearch.fixsearch.info to help modify Hosts file

Mac OS X
Finder launchpad icon > Utilities > Terminal > type "ping websearch.fixsearch.info" > Enter/Return key > note down the IP address > shift+command+g key combination > type “etc” (/private/etc/hosts) > Enter/Return key > click open Hosts file > paste the IP address to the last line > save it to modify host file.

It is always necessary to remove websearch.fixsearch.info hijacker upon its emergence. However, some victims do not think so as no obvious problems happen after websearch.fixsearch.info becoming default homepage without permission. It should be widely informed that sticky programs, especially vicious ones, are able to bring about easy attack by virus. It is always safe to remove items like websearch.fixsearch.info. Should there be failure after the above offered instruction, you may want to get professional help since other hidden or unknown vicious items might be the reason for the failure.

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