Search.protectedio.com virus - How to remove

Have you noticed Search.protectedio.com set as your homepage on your browser? Although at first glance it looks like a regular search engine, unfortunately it is not. In fact, it’s a sign that your browser was hijacked and your browsing experience will never be the same. The program seeks to advertise sponsored websites and it includes tons of sponsored links in your search results and also displays random ads that cause redirections. This makes it practically impossible to browse normally as Search.protectedio.com only seeks to bring traffic for specific pages. It can obviously redirect users to malicious websites too.

It is highly recommended to remove Search.protectedio.com virus from your system. Use a legitimate anti-malware program, such as Spyhunter or StopZilla and run a full system scan with it or use a removal guide provided at the end of this article and get rid of Search.protectedio.com virus manually.

About Search.protectedio.com virus

Search.protectedio.com virus targets Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Safari browsers. First of all, it changes original settings of your browser and replaces your homepage and default search provider to Search.protectedio.com. It can take over several browsers at the same time and when removing the hijacker, you have to remove it from every affected browser separately.

 

 

 

 

 

If you make a search by entering your search query into Search.protectedio.com search field, you will see numerous sponsored links listed instead of regular search results. Some users have also reported about an excessive amount of ads among their search results. It is pretty obvious that Search.protectedio.com virus only wants to advertise sponsored websites as it is paid for that. If you don’t want to be involved into any activities by advertisers, get rid of Search.protectedio.com virus as soon as you detect it.

When we tried to enter search queries and check the outcome, we noticed that the first places were occupied by some not very popular and first-choice domains. They were indicated as “ads” that are promoted by the Search.protectedio.com. We urge you to not voluntarily visit webpages that have gotten into association with this browser hijacker. Many Internet users cursed and called upon an issue that a manual removal is not effective in the long run. It might have been successful at first, but as soon as they rebooted their computer again, Search.protectedio.com virus returned, more than ever determined to promote third-party domains.

From the time of our publication of this article, which took place back in February of 2015, Search.protectedio.com virus changed its primary logo. The current state of this searching facility can be seen next to the older screenshot. If you notice that your browsers’ preferences open up a domain which has a building with roman-style columns and an umbrella, sticking out of its roof, then me sure that a full security scan is required. Do this with the anti-malware tool of your choosing.

Distribution Methods of Search.protectedio.com virus

The reason why your browser or browsers were affected by this hijacker is because you have downloaded some freeware that has changed your homepage to Search.protectedio.com. Most likely, you haven’t even noticed when exactly this change was made. However, you can avoid that. Whenever you download any freeware from the Internet, you should be very careful with its installation process. First of all, make sure you opt for a Custom or Advanced installation. Although it takes longer, you will be able to see whether the program is going to make any changes in your browsers or add additional programs. Never allow installing unknown applications or making other changes that could affect your further work.

If your browser was already affected, remove Search.protectedio.com virus as soon as possible. Simply scan your system with an anti-malware program and let it fix the issue automatically or follow the steps provided below and get rid of it manually.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manual removal of Search.protectedio.com virus

How to remove protectedio virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like Search.protectedio.com 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).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to protectedio virus . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make Search.protectedio.com virus easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, 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.

How to remove protectedio virus from macOS

Delete Search.protectedio.com virus from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the protectedio 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.

TopHow To remove Search.protectedio.com virus from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• 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.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Search.protectedio.com 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.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

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

How To remove Search.protectedio.com 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).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Search.protectedio.com 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.
  
• 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.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to protectedio 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.
  
• ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on theReset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.

How to remove Search.protectedio.com virus from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• 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.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Search.protectedio.com 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.

• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.

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

How to remove Search.protectedio.com virus from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall protectedio virus and other suspicious 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.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to Search.protectedio.com 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…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

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