Delta Search Virus - How to remove

Delta-search.com virus is a product by Visual Software Systems Ltd. and its aggravating features have been indicated as bothersome for more than 7 years. This browser hijacker has been one of the supreme samples of malware and thanks to its drastically intrusive nature, it has obtained remarkable success in the United States of America, India, Mexico, Argentina, and Vietnam. Similarly to Default-search.net infection, these persistent parasites continue to threaten surfers.

Learn more about Delta-search.com redirect virus

Since Spanish speaking countries have been labeled as potential victims of this disease, we offer removal instructions and analysis of this parasite in the Spanish language (1). Also, due to reports from Germany, we include investigation in this language as well (2). In 2013, Surgeon Simulator had been noticed to contain propositions to install an additional piece of software: Delta Toolbar (3).

This browser virus might not seem like a lot. After all, it only changes your search provider to Delta-search.com and ads some ads in the results. But this can be dangerous when the ads are of low quality and when the infection makes itself very tricky to remove. We should have full control over our browsers and Delta tries to take it away.

At the end of the day, the Delta-search.com virus is a browser hijacker that exploits people to make money by injecting ads into their search results. It doesn’t provide a useful service and is actually a privacy concern. It’s no better than Geofoxip.com, Searchpowerapp.com, or any other fake search engine.

Delta-search.com should be removed as soon as it’s discovered:

Type of threat
  • Adware – exposing the user to ads is the main function
  • Browser hijacker – takes over browser functions
How Delta-search.com spreads
  • Downloaded and installed with another program in the background
  • Installs applications that prevent Delta from being uninstalled
Consequences of using a browser hijacker
  • No way to choose the search provider
  • Ads in search results make searching for information take more time
  • Poor-quality ads risk exposing you to objectionable content and infecting your computer with malware
  • Private information can be exposed to third parties
Uninstall Delta-search.com
  • Uninstall the persistence applications using the Control Panel
  • Remove malicious programs using anti-malware tools (SpyHunter)

Delta-search.com virus

According to reviews and ratings of the Delta-search.com virus (4), it has received significantly low evaluations when it comes to child safety and trustworthiness. The fact that this virus contains/transmits/promotes malicious content, provided poor customer experience, engaged in unethical activities, and even played a part in phishing fraud. Take a look at several testimonials that reveal the true nature of this vicious parasite:

  • This website is a copycat of Google. When Delta Search is included on some installer (even if you uncheck it) it installs a toolbar and sets Delta Search as the search engine and homepage of the browser. It’s also infected with malware, so stay away from this website.
  • Be careful when installing programs with installers since they may contain Delta Search. If you see an installer with Delta Search as an optional choice, exit the installer. Even if you uncheck that thing it’s still gonna hijack your browser.
  • I installed a photo editing program and this stupid hijacking site was attached. I CAN NOT find a way to get it off my computer short of taking it in to shop. DELTA you should be arrested and closed down for the aggravation you have caused me and countless others! You are completely criminal in your actions!!!
  • If delta-search has been set as your default browser, your browser has been hijacked. Stay away from this site.
  • Installs a toolbar that changes the homepage and default search engine. How all these toolbars, keeps track of the visits made by the user and sends it to their servers to send targeted advertising.

Delta Search virus is a malicious program that causes redirects to a sub-domain on the Delta-search.com website. The program is categorized as a browser hijacker as it seeks to boost traffic to a specific website by force (without full consent) and make a profit this way. It’s similar to delta-homes.com, another fake search engine that’s made to show ads.

Makers of this browser virus get money for clicks on advertisements in their search results. This malware gets into computer systems after installing some free programs that are bundled with adware and hijackers. After being installed, Delta takes control over your browser – this allows it to force you to visit the websites partnered with Delta-search.com.

Browser hijackers typically partner with advertisers who are not acceptable for the mainstream ad-networks. They might be too aggressive, spread misinformation, promote restricted content (like adult stuff), or even spread adware viruses. But hijackers like Delta-search.com can be seen working with these advertisers and exposing their users to content that could sometimes be harmful.

Delta-search.com is a browser add-on

Typically, Delta malware or a related toolbar is used for IE, but it’s a plugin or an extension for other browsers. There is no visual toolbar on Firefox and Chrome except the search engine change, thus it is harder to track down. The fact that there is no useful function but searches are still hijacked is one more proof that Delta search is very malicious software. It is even possible that it is distributed with trojans or adware viruses – a lot of browser hijackers are.

Delta-search.com hijacker

This particular virus changes the settings of your browser, which include the default search page, homepage, some Internet settings alterations, and so on. As such, all search traffic is re-routed through their homepage, which collects information about what you look for. As you are not given the choice to use a different search engine, so this is not a thing that you can avoid easily. The nature of browser extensions allows them to exert a lot of control over the browser, and since the browser is the program that manages how you interact with the internet, Delta-search.com becomes an immensely powerful piece of malware.

To stop itself from being removed, Delta Search virus will install programs that freeze browser settings and revert them back after each restart. This is done to prevent the “uninstall” instructions they provide on their website from being useful.

Delta Search is supported by ads. Thus you can be rerouted to some other websites that contain malware infections. Quite easily they can also be installed on your computer. Typically, search hijacks are accompanied by rogue registry cleaners and common browser adware that display even more advertisements. Too many ads can make browsing really frustrating and even stressful.

Our research shows that the Delta infection was using the name Claro Search previously. This is a well-known hijacker on its own, though replaced with Delta for now. Additionally, there are a couple of well-known versions (hosted on separate subdomains): Mixi DJ and VisualBee. These toolbar versions are promoted using their own names, but use the same engine, same dirty tricks and are basically the same.

You are highly advised to remove this malware from your computer immediately after noticing it on your computer. Do not hesitate and run a full system scan using a reputable antispyware tool, for example, Spyhunter. Don’t forget to change your search provider settings manually to the one you prefer. If you want to remove the hijacker yourself, here are manual instructions :

Special Delta Search removal instructions

First, you will have to remove Delta Search and related programs from the control panel and your browser plugins. In the control panel, I recommend uninstalling ALL programs installed on the same date as problems have appeared. Some versions of this virus install software that blocks browser settings from changing. Such programs are called Browser Protect, Sprotect, or similar. To identify these, a scan with Spyhunter might be useful.  You can use other anti-adware programs as well.

After the browser settings freezer is uninstalled, you can uninstall the extensions and revert the Delta search virus-infected settings in your browsers.

Note, that you might have to scan with anti-malware programs if the Delta Search problem continues – we can not rule out that the toolbar is installed with the help of malware. For such cases, repeat the scan with Spyhunter, or use Adwcleaner.

Here is the video version of the removal guide:


Automatic Malware removal tools

Download Spyhunter for Malware detection
(Win)

Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,

Download Combo Cleaner for Malware detection
(Mac)

Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,

Manual removal of Delta-search.com

How to remove Delta Search Virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like Delta Search Virus install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.
  • Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10). Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
  • Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category). In Control Panel, select Uninstall a program.
  • Go through the list of programs and select entries related to Delta Search Virus . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make Delta Search Virus easier to find. Find the program that you need to uninstall.
  • Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes. Click the Uninstall button after selecting the program to uninstall. Then click Yes.
  • In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection. Spyhunter marking a program and its components as low-threat malware.

How to remove Delta Search Virus from macOS

Delete Delta Search Virus from your applications.
  1. Open Finder.
  2. In the menu bar, click Go.
  3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
  4. Find the Delta Search Virus app.
  5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
  6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.
Open Applications and delete unwanted apps.

TopHow To remove Delta Search Virus from Google Chrome:

  • Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
    Extensions
  • Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
    Remove extensions
  • Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
    Open settings
  • Select Manage Search engines
    Manage search engines
  • Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
    Delete search engines
  • Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
  • If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
    Set pages
  • Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
    Delete start pages

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Delta Search Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

  • Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  • Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
    Resset settings
  • Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
    Reset approve

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How To remove Delta Search Virus from Firefox:Top

  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
    Select add-on
  • Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Delta Search Virus related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
    Remove add-on
  • If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
    Restore default
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Delta Search Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
    Help button
  • ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
    Troubleshooting
  • Click on theReset Firefox button.
    Refresh firefox
  • Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
    Refresh firefox approve
If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.

How to remove Delta Search Virus from Microsoft Edge:Top

  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.
Open the menu and choose Extensions.
  • Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
Press Remove for the extensions you want to remove
  • Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings
Edge new open the three-dot menu and choose settings.
  • Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.
Edge new Open Address bar settings.
  • Choose Manage search engines.
Edge new choose manage search engines.
  • Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.
Edge new choose remove for unwanted search engines.
  • Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
  • Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.
Edge new remove startup pages. (Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Delta Search Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings
  • Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
  • Press the Restore settings to their default values option.
Edge new restore settings.
  • Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
Edge new restore settings comfirmation. If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Delta Search Virus from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions
  • Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
    Open preferences
  • Select Extensions and uninstall Delta Search Virus and other suspicious extensions.
    Extensions
  • If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
    Reset homepage
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to Delta Search Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
  • Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
    Choose reset
  • Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
    Reset
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

References:

  1. Delta Search Hijacker – ¿Como eliminarlo? Malwarerid.com.
  2. Delta Search Hijacker Entfernen. Sicherpc.net.
  3. Scammers Bundle Old “Surgeon Simulator 2013” Demo with Shady Software. News.softpedia.com. 
  4. Is Delta-search.com safe? Mywot.com.

Manual removal

Removal guides in other languages

70 responses to “Delta Search Virus

  1. Thank you so very much. I’ve gone to several other sites and tried the options they suggested (short of buying any product), but nothing helped. What you suggested worked like a charm. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  2. I try to run Spyhunter but it comes up witha message say that the destination is not a valid Win32 application. Help anyone? I’ve followed all the manual steps and uninstall/ deleted.

    *Delta infected my computor after I downloaded VLC media played

  3. Delta Search is getting worse. I was infected with Delta Search, apparently when I downloaded Shockwave Flash. I ran Spyhunter, MalWareBytes, and Microsoft’s spyware programs (and all my virus scanners) and none were able to detect it. It’s now somehow developed the ability to make it impossible to remove it from the “Manage Search Engines” list in Google Chrome (there’s no “x” to click on. It prevents any search using the term “Delta Search”. If you change the default engine, it changes it back.

    I have a question. I went to “uninstall programs” and was able to uninstall Delta Search, but in order to remove Delta Chrome Toolbar, I get a message that says I have to use Delta’s uninstaller, and do I know and trust it? Of course I don’t trust it. What should I do?

    BTW I’m running Windows Vista. I did a system restore and uninstalled and reinstalled Chrome, and so far I’m able to use the web again…

  4. You can try using Delta Search uninstaller, but in my opinion all these are form of scam : if you uninstall DS from control panel, they should remove their search settings automatically too. And Delta search fails to do so. So, how one can trust that it will remove everything?
    I would run Spyhunter or Adwcleaner. Mbam does not specializes in such threats.

  5. Thanks, Giedrius. I made a mistake in what I wrote to you. I should have written “Delta installer”. I’ll try to explain more clearly what I mean.

    I’m running Windows 7. When I go to my computer’s control panel and click on “Uninstall or change a program”, one of the programs listed is “Delta Chrome Toolbar” and the publisher is “Delta Installer”.

    I clicked on the program “Delta Chrome Toolbar” and “Uninstall” and got this message from my computer:

    “An unidentified program wants access to your computer. Don’t run the program unless you know where it’s from or you’ve used it before.”

    When I click on “Details”, I see the following:

    “Unidentified Publisher Update 1.0.0. Deltainstaller”

    Then I have two choices:

    -Cancel. I don’t know where this program is from or what it’s for.

    -Allow. I trust this program. I know where it’s from or I’ve used it before.

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Since I don’t trust the program, I can’t click on “Allow”. But if I click “Cancel”, the program doesn’t get removed.

  6. That’s my question…how do I know if it’s safe to click “Allow”? Can you explain? I’m afraid that clicking “allow” might unleash even more bad stuff into my computer.

  7. Evelyn : The installer and delta search is on your PC already. So, theoretically, very malicious programs would be able to download other software anyway. You can use anti-malware programs, but as you see, there are multiple versions of delta search, some of which are not detected. The problem is the settings, as many of program uninstallers leave search settings behind, which is not what one wants.

  8. Thank you so much, this has been driving me mad for a week. Went into the config and reset what you siad, but on looking through the config setting for browser and various other things saw that it was there too and ended up resetting about 10 items in the config. Now I am back to the Firefox defaults and I can set up my home page properly and search so much better. I think it came in with the Firefox 19 update which I ran last week- other than that I have not been updating anything lately and that’s when it started, so a warning to users of Firefox!

  9. Personally I think my entire computer is a big virus. All websites and electronic transaction methods are designed to track and log what internet sites, products or services the user sees, uses or buys.

  10. my pc hs been affected by delta search.. i used spyware and it got detected but then it tells to register and pay in order to remove delta search and all threats.. i dont want to pay.. when i try to uninstall delta search toolbar and dealplay from control panel-programs and features it gives a message as..” you are unable to access contact your system administrator”.. please help me to set my firefox and IE back..

  11. thank you very much i tried deleting all the crap that had delta in it but couldnt get rid of it this did the trick tyvm

  12. @Evelyn
    Evelyn, I hear what you are saying. I use three browsers chrome,firefox and IE I took care of IE and firefox but I had to delete chrome. This was my solution after doing any and everything I could think of. With IE I only had to go into the settings it worked immediately and with firefox I had to manually reset everything to defaults. I hope this helps you.

  13. I use firefox and can’t install Spyhunter, ADWcleaner or Roguekiller. My AVG scanner stops them, yet lets delta search go through. I did get the browserprotect.dll in the allusers files with hitmanpro, but it still hijacks my firefox browser.

    So how do I manually reset it?

  14. Hi,

    Okay, after a few scan runs, I finally got Spyhunter to send its bots through my entire system and it uncovered a host of nasty components to DeltaSearch. Some of them were in my Documents and Settings file in various places including under Firefox, some were in my program files, and quite a few were in my registry. So I took an afternoon to write them down manually, and comb through each directory and remove them one by one.

    The only one I couldn’t delete was under the IE: start page data in my registries. Whenever I would try to delete it, it would just replicate itself and pop up again. I don’t use Internet Explorer, so this doesn’t bother me, except that it’s still around, which means somewhere in my computer, some of its tentacles are still lurking — but I did as you suggested and changed the browser settings. So now I have no home page at all, either in IE or Firefox. But at least DeltaSearch isn’t hijacking it. So, thank you for all the advice. It’s been very helpful.

    (I also managed to get rid of Conduit and Conduit Engine and the Data Manager Trojan through this process, so I owe you a quadruple thank you.)

  15. Stella : during install of Spyhunter, you are asked if you want to protect or reset your home page settings. Double check under spyhunter settings which page you have set up there and if you use that option.
    Under some cases it is impossible to tell if the user picked the start page himself or if it was hijacker, maybe it is just a simple issue.

  16. Thank you so much, the resetting the new tab is sooooooooooooo helpful, you are wonderful for putting this out there, it was easy peasy. Good karma!!!

  17. Thank you for the help listed above. It helped after trying so many troubleshooters available all over the web. this finally proved successful. 🙂

  18. Actually delta search is disturbing me it automatically add in my firefox bullshit

  19. I just realized that I have been invaded by delta search; the first thing I noticed was that some of my links in one of my favorite toolbar folders are missing, then I noticed the delta search icon. I am going to try the manual removal first. I was very put off by the video; it seemed to encourage me to accept IE as my browser and said I had chosen things that I had not; I find the video confusing; also how can one know if the anti malware companies do not conspire in the malware to begin with?

  20. I have tried installing Spyhunter, but a Windows Installer error says “the system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation.” How do I change the settings to allow Spyhunter installation?

  21. Hi there,

    I’m using IE10 and I follow via your Special Delta Search removal instructions
    and nothing is helped so far. Delta Holmes still live in my computer.
    it seems he takes control.

    Yolly

  22. I have the delta search virus and would like to remove it. It does not show up on my list of programs and I cannot remove it directly from the uninstall list.

  23. THANK YOU, this at long last was the key to removing it for good from Firefox 22.0: finding and resetting, as you suggested, the following aspect of “about:config”:

    “browser.newtab.url”

  24. please help me, when i use spyware the delta search virus got detected but then it tells to register and pay in order to remove it and all other threats, but i dont want to pay.. when i try to uninstall delta search toolbar from control panel-programs and features it gives a message as..” you are unable to access contact your system administrator”.. i am using chrome. can you please help me? im so desperate and it would be a great relief to me if i can remove them on my pc. thank you..

  25. Thanks! this was driving me crazy, couldn’t get it completely removed from FF until I found this. the about:config resets finally got it off.

    Makes me wonder why i should keep buying expensive anti-virus programs that can’t even pick this up :-/

  26. I ran the scan it said I have 256 threats! when I clicked ‘fix’ it says that I have to buy the full version for it to remove the threats. Please help, I start university this month :O

  27. Thanks so very Much I was getting insane of this delta search, so aggressive as they are. But now due to these steps described here i am free from it AFTER 4 MONTHS

  28. OMG IGNORE THE COMMENTS FROM POSSIBLE ENIGMA EMPLOYEES ABOVE … SPYHUNTER IS EVEN MORE MALICOUS THEN DELTA SEARCH.

  29. Ding dong the witch is dead, the wicked witch is dead!…. finally. After scans and manual removals everywhere else the New Tab was still being hijacked. Back to normal now. Thank you!

    Jeremy
    Perth

  30. This wasn’t very helpful. I am currently using chrome, and the delta search never shows on manage search engines. Also, it is set to open on the new tab page, and it does and simply changes to the Delta search engine. Is there any other way to get rid of it as it slows my laptop down significantly and is extremely irritating.

  31. There are specific versions of delta search that use hidden new tab setting. If this is on new tab (on startup settings are easily editable) you got 2 options.
    1. Scan with Adwcleaner, Spyhunter, Malwarebytes, etc – they might find and reset this setting
    2. Install new tab redirect Chrome extension (search the chrome extension store) and change it google or smth.

  32. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I REALLY HATE THAT DELTA-SEARCH and HOME. I dont even know, it automatically installed on my PC.

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