How to Remove Search Protect? Removal Help

Recently, users complain that their computer is infected with Search Protect:

I downloaded a program from the Internet. So the problem is that i have an icon on my task bar.  When I hover my mouse over it, it says "Search Protect, click to configure". When i click it nothing at all happens. How can remove Search Protect from my task tar and computer?

If your computer is also infected with this Search Protect. You are now in the right place to get the useful tips on how to remove Search Protect from the computer.

Description of Search Protect

Search Protect belongs to the ClientConnect (Conduit/Perion) platform, a utility that bundles and monetizes search toolbars and browser add-ons. The file SearchProtect, “Search Protect Uninstaller” by ClientConnect has been detected as adware by 11 anti-malware scanners. The program is a setup application that uses the NSIS (Nullsoft Scriptable Install System) installer. This file is typically installed with the program Search Protect by Client Connect LTD which is a potentially unwanted software program. It is also typically executed from the user's temporary directory.

Search Protect claims itself as a free desktop application that saves your preferred browser's homepage and default search settings so that they can't be changed by software you download from the Internet.  If you set your browser's settings using Search Protect, they will be saved automatically on  your browsers like Google Chrome,  Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Located on your desktop's task bar for each access, Search Protect will change your browser's default homepage and search settings without any additional notification to you.

Search Protect will change the following browser and/or search settings:

Chrome: Home page, startup page, address bar (omnibox), error page, and new tab.
Firefox: Search box, home page, error page, address bar, and new tab.
Internet Explorer: Default search, home page, error page, address bar, and new tab.
Search Provider

You will always be redirected to other unwanted webpage through Search Protect. You will get many pop-up ads, coupons, banners and  sponsor links on all your browser. If you don't remove all the component of Search Protect, you cannot get back your default browser setting. You can follow the guide below to get rid of Search Protect.

Solutions to remove Search Protect 

In this post, there will be two solutions to remove Search Protect:

1. Remove Search Protect manually.

2. Remove Search Protect by using SpyHunter anti-malware.

Instructions to Get Rid of Search Protect

Method 1: Search Protect Manual Deletion

Step 1: Stop related running processes in Windows Task Manager first.
( Methods to open Task Manager: Press CTRL+ALT+DEL or CTRL+SHIFT+ESC or Press the Start button->click on the Run option->Type in taskmgr and press OK.)

Step 2: Remove Search Protect extension or add-ons from your browsers.

Internet Explorer

1) Start Internet Explorer and choose “Tools “>”Manage add-ons”.

2) Choose “Toolbars and Extensions”, then find and remove related programs.

3) Restart browser to complete the whole process.

Mozilla Firefox

1) Start Firefox and choose” Tools” > “Add-ons”> ‘Extensions’.

2) Search for related items and remove them.

3) Restart Firefox to complete the process.

Google Chrome

1) Open Google Chrome and click on “Wrench” or “bar” icon in top right corner.

2) Choose “Settings” > “Extensions”, then find and delete add-ons.

3) Restart the browser to complete the whole process.

Step 3: Open Control Panel in Start menu and search for Folder Options. When you’re in Folder Options window, please click on its View tab, tick Show hidden files and folders and non-tick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) and then press OK.

Step 4: Go to the Registry Editor and remove all the infection registry entries listed here:

(Steps: Hit Win+R keys and then type regedit in Run box to search)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Start Page" = "http://www.<random>.com/?type=hp&ts=<timestamp>&from=tugs&uid=<hard drive id>"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search "CustomizeSearch" = "http://www.<random>.com/web/?type=ds&ts=<timestamp>&from=tugs&uid=<hard drive id>&q={searchTerms}"
 

Step 5: All the infection associated files listed below need to be removed:

%CommonAppData%\<random>.exe
C:\Windows\Temp\<random>.exe
%temp%\<random>.exe
C:\Program Files\<random>

Method  2: Automatic Removal with SpyHunter

SpyHunter is a world-famous real-time malware protection and removal tool, which is designed to detect , remove and protect your PC from the latest malware attacks, such as Trojans, worms, rootkits, rogue viruses, browser hijacker, ransomware, adware, key-loggers, and so forth. To keep SpyHunter Anti-malware on your computer is an important way to protect your computer in a good condition. Please find the instruction as follow. 

Step 1: Press the following button to download SpyHunter.

Step 2: Save it into your computer and click on the Run choice to install it step by step.

Step 3: Click Finish then you can use it to scan your computer to find out potential threats by pressing Scan computer now!

Step 4: Tick Select all and then Remove to delete all threats.

Guide to download RegCure Pro to optimize PC 

If you are still worried about the left over of Java.freesoftstore.com and want to clean all the unwanted registry entries,  it is recommended to use RegCure Pro.

Step 1. Install and launch RegCure Pro on your PC.

Step 2.  Select "Yes" to download and install RegCure Pro.

 

Step 3. Click "Next" to continue.

Step 4. RegCure Pro will open automatically on your screen.

 Step 5. RegCure Pro is scanning your PC for error.

 

Step 6. After scanning, choose the issues you want to fix. 

 

Note: Manual removal Search Protect refers to key parts of computer system. Any error step may lead to system crash. If you don’t have sufficient expertise in dealing with the manual removal. Install Spyhunter can be your better choice, because it is capable of auto-detecting and removing viruses. You can also Download RegCure Pro to help you optimize the computer.

<<Scan your computer with SpyHunter anti-malware for free.