Month: November 2016

Welcome to our Pwwysydh removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.

A browser hijacker infection can be very annoying to say the least. An infection with Pwwysydh is no different: it will in the same way take over your Chrome, Firefox or other browser and will change its homepage and set a new default search engine to redirect you to sponsored pages. This is typical of any browser hijackers and is what sets them apart from other types of software. In this article we aim to explain everything there is to know about this type of programs and why it’s best that you remove them from your computer. In addition to this, we have also attached a removal guide to this page, which will assist you in removing Pwwysydh.com from your system.

What Pwwysydh.com is and what to expect from it

We’ve already concluded that this particular program can be annoying. That is mainly because of the changes it enforces on your browser, as well as the numerous popup, banner, box message, hyperlink and other ads that it starts displaying after it gets installed. But what is it really doing? What purpose dose it serve? All browser hijackers are advertising tools, servants of the online marketing industry. If you’re seeing tons of ads on your screen, that means someone paid for you to be seeing them. And in most cases it’s the providers and/or producers of the respective services/goods you’re seeing. They pay the browser hijacker developers to include their ads in their ad-distributing software, only this payment is made per view or click on the particular ads. This is the so-called Pay Per Click scheme at work, where your separate clicks generate income for the hijacker developers.

Thus, programs like Pwwysydh usually strive to display as many adverts as they possibly can. Furthermore, they aim to place them as inconveniently for the user as they can, too. Obviously this is done so that you don’t miss the chance of clicking on the ads, because that it how the developers earn revenue. However, there’s also another tactic that they rely on to gain more clicks. Hijackers like Pwwysydh.com are most times programmed to look through your browsing history and monitor your behavior online. They’re particularly interested in what you search for, what websites you visit, what content you like and share on social media, etc. All of this helps them build a sort of interest profile on you, which in turn tells them what kind of ads you are more likely to click on. Thus, after researching your preferences, the hijacker starts filtering what ads it displays on your screen, modifying the ad flow to suit your interests. For example, if you were to search for hunting gear online today, tomorrow your screen will most likely be plastered in ads promoting various hunting themed products and services.

With all that being said, it’s easy to see how programs like these can easily become unwanted. So much so that experts often classify them as potentially unwanted programs or PUP’s. But that’s not the only reason for this either. Have you ever wondered where Pwwysydh actually came from? Well, a lot of people do when they get infected by a browser hijacker or similar program. And that is because of the stealth installation methods they employ. Don’t get us wrong, they cannot literally infect your PC the way viruses do. Meaning they cannot self-install. Instead, they hide in the installers of other programs that you may willingly download. Usually these desired programs are offered for free and are available on various open source download platforms, file sharing sites, torrent sites and similar. Once you download the program, you will need to install it and that process will determine whether or not you will end up invaded by ads or not. Always customize the installation settings by opting for the custom/advanced setup. This will inform you of any added content in the bundle and you will be able to deselect any unwanted programs or programs you don’t recognize.

In the meantime, we would also like to advise you against interacting with any of the ads. It’s fairly unlikely, but with the rise of threats like ransomware and Trojan horse viruses, it is possible that those ads could potentially expose your machine to malware. Therefore, simply avoid clicking on any of the numerous banners and popups and head to the removal guide below.

Pwwysydh Removal

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot Pwwysydh, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name Pwwysydh on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name Pwwysydh might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by Pwwysydh, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.

Welcome to our Pwwysydh removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.

A browser hijacker infection can be very annoying to say the least. An infection with Pwwysydh is no different: it will in the same way take over your Chrome, Firefox or other browser and will change its homepage and set a new default search engine to redirect you to sponsored pages. This is typical of any browser hijackers and is what sets them apart from other types of software. In this article we aim to explain everything there is to know about this type of programs and why it’s best that you remove them from your computer. In addition to this, we have also attached a removal guide to this page, which will assist you in removing Pwwysydh.com from your system.

What Pwwysydh.com is and what to expect from it

We’ve already concluded that this particular program can be annoying. That is mainly because of the changes it enforces on your browser, as well as the numerous popup, banner, box message, hyperlink and other ads that it starts displaying after it gets installed. But what is it really doing? What purpose dose it serve? All browser hijackers are advertising tools, servants of the online marketing industry. If you’re seeing tons of ads on your screen, that means someone paid for you to be seeing them. And in most cases it’s the providers and/or producers of the respective services/goods you’re seeing. They pay the browser hijacker developers to include their ads in their ad-distributing software, only this payment is made per view or click on the particular ads. This is the so-called Pay Per Click scheme at work, where your separate clicks generate income for the hijacker developers.

Thus, programs like Pwwysydh usually strive to display as many adverts as they possibly can. Furthermore, they aim to place them as inconveniently for the user as they can, too. Obviously this is done so that you don’t miss the chance of clicking on the ads, because that it how the developers earn revenue. However, there’s also another tactic that they rely on to gain more clicks. Hijackers like Pwwysydh.com are most times programmed to look through your browsing history and monitor your behavior online. They’re particularly interested in what you search for, what websites you visit, what content you like and share on social media, etc. All of this helps them build a sort of interest profile on you, which in turn tells them what kind of ads you are more likely to click on. Thus, after researching your preferences, the hijacker starts filtering what ads it displays on your screen, modifying the ad flow to suit your interests. For example, if you were to search for hunting gear online today, tomorrow your screen will most likely be plastered in ads promoting various hunting themed products and services.

With all that being said, it’s easy to see how programs like these can easily become unwanted. So much so that experts often classify them as potentially unwanted programs or PUP’s. But that’s not the only reason for this either. Have you ever wondered where Pwwysydh actually came from? Well, a lot of people do when they get infected by a browser hijacker or similar program. And that is because of the stealth installation methods they employ. Don’t get us wrong, they cannot literally infect your PC the way viruses do. Meaning they cannot self-install. Instead, they hide in the installers of other programs that you may willingly download. Usually these desired programs are offered for free and are available on various open source download platforms, file sharing sites, torrent sites and similar. Once you download the program, you will need to install it and that process will determine whether or not you will end up invaded by ads or not. Always customize the installation settings by opting for the custom/advanced setup. This will inform you of any added content in the bundle and you will be able to deselect any unwanted programs or programs you don’t recognize.

In the meantime, we would also like to advise you against interacting with any of the ads. It’s fairly unlikely, but with the rise of threats like ransomware and Trojan horse viruses, it is possible that those ads could potentially expose your machine to malware. Therefore, simply avoid clicking on any of the numerous banners and popups and head to the removal guide below.

Pwwysydh Removal

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot Pwwysydh, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name Pwwysydh on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name Pwwysydh might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by Pwwysydh, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.

Welcome, to our Your computer has been locked “Virus” removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.

The strange changes that have taken place on your Chrome, Firefox, IE or another default browser you are using may be the probable reason that you landed on this page. Homepage replacements, search engine changes, page redirects and tons of ads – the source of all these may be a browser hijacker called “Your computer has been locked” “Virus” and in this guide, we are going to talk about how to remove it. This program is a common reason for a browsing-related disturbance and many users, who feel heavily irritated by its intrusive activity, may be looking for ways to uninstall it from their PC and bring their browser back to normal. Fortunately, this is possible without the help of computer experts and expensive fees, and the removal guide that we have prepared below will help you in dealing with that task effectively. For best results, we suggest you read the information that follows and then proceed to the detailed steps.

Is “Your computer has been locked” a dangerous virus?

Now, to dispel the possible doubts that you may have about this strange program, we will say that, fortunately, you are not dealing with a virus or some kind of nasty malware.  “Your computer has been locked” is a browser hijacker – a program developed to hijack your browser by imposing some changes on your search engine and homepage with the sole idea to redirect you to different ads, pop-ups, sponsored web pages and links. This activity, at first sight, may seem quite alarming to some users, who may wrongly refer to the browser hijacker as a virus infection, but in fact, such ad-generating programs have nothing in common with malicious programs from the rank of Ransomware, viruses, Trojans, and other harmful online threats. The great difference between them is the way they operate and the purposes they have when they invade your PC.  Everyone knows that malware is created to perform some criminal deeds or destructive actions. A browser hijacker, on the other hand, is developed to bring profits for its developers through the clicks on sponsored advertisements, or the so-called Pay-Per-Click method. This is a common remuneration model for some online businesses, which use tools like “Your computer has been locked” to gain some profits from ads. However, some users may find the constant flow of ads and page redirects as annoying, thus, they may wish to uninstall the program that is causing them.

How may “Your computer has been locked” affect the performance of your PC?

Generally, browser hijackers are not considered as a serious threat, since they do not initiate any harmful actions nor they attempt to corrupt your system, delete your files or encrypt them like a Ransomware infection would do, for example. But, still, they may cause some unpleasant disturbance to your normal browsing, mess up with your browser settings, redirect your searches, monitor your browsing history and manipulate the pages you visit in order to expose you to more ads. As a result of that, the affected browser may become sluggish and load the pages you want slower than usual, or flood your screen with intrusive pop-ups that don’t want to go away. And if this is not enough to make you consider removing “Your computer has been locked”, we need to warn you that bumping into some nasty virus or malware is a rare, but possible scenario if you keep such ad-generating software on your machine. Sometimes, misleading ads or threats that spread through malvertisements may sneak among the real ads that the browser hijacker generates and this way infect you without you realizing it. That’s why it is best to avoid clicking on the redirects and randomly generated pop-ups, or to totally get rid of them by uninstalling the hijacker.

How “Your computer has been locked” usually gets on the people’s computer

To keep such annoying software away, you should know how it spreads. Usually, “Your computer has been locked” could be found in software bundles distributed through free program installers, spam emails, torrents, file sharing sites, freeware platforms, or direct downloads from the web. To avoid installing it on your PC, you should always check the setup of any program you intend to install on your system. When you run the installer, there are usually two major options you can choose from – “Standard/Quick” or “Advanced/Custom”. The first will install the whole setup as it is, without giving you much control over the programs that may be bundled with it. That’s why, we advise you to opt for the second one, because this is where you can manually select whether to disable or enable the browser hijacker, in case that there is one, packed inside the installer. 

Your computer has been locked “Virus” Removal

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot “Your computer has been locked”, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name “Your computer has been locked” on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name “Your computer has been locked” might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by “Your computer has been locked”, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.

Welcome, to our Your computer has been locked “Virus” removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.

The strange changes that have taken place on your Chrome, Firefox, IE or another default browser you are using may be the probable reason that you landed on this page. Homepage replacements, search engine changes, page redirects and tons of ads – the source of all these may be a browser hijacker called “Your computer has been locked” “Virus” and in this guide, we are going to talk about how to remove it. This program is a common reason for a browsing-related disturbance and many users, who feel heavily irritated by its intrusive activity, may be looking for ways to uninstall it from their PC and bring their browser back to normal. Fortunately, this is possible without the help of computer experts and expensive fees, and the removal guide that we have prepared below will help you in dealing with that task effectively. For best results, we suggest you read the information that follows and then proceed to the detailed steps.

Is “Your computer has been locked” a dangerous virus?

Now, to dispel the possible doubts that you may have about this strange program, we will say that, fortunately, you are not dealing with a virus or some kind of nasty malware.  “Your computer has been locked” is a browser hijacker – a program developed to hijack your browser by imposing some changes on your search engine and homepage with the sole idea to redirect you to different ads, pop-ups, sponsored web pages and links. This activity, at first sight, may seem quite alarming to some users, who may wrongly refer to the browser hijacker as a virus infection, but in fact, such ad-generating programs have nothing in common with malicious programs from the rank of Ransomware, viruses, Trojans, and other harmful online threats. The great difference between them is the way they operate and the purposes they have when they invade your PC.  Everyone knows that malware is created to perform some criminal deeds or destructive actions. A browser hijacker, on the other hand, is developed to bring profits for its developers through the clicks on sponsored advertisements, or the so-called Pay-Per-Click method. This is a common remuneration model for some online businesses, which use tools like “Your computer has been locked” to gain some profits from ads. However, some users may find the constant flow of ads and page redirects as annoying, thus, they may wish to uninstall the program that is causing them.

How may “Your computer has been locked” affect the performance of your PC?

Generally, browser hijackers are not considered as a serious threat, since they do not initiate any harmful actions nor they attempt to corrupt your system, delete your files or encrypt them like a Ransomware infection would do, for example. But, still, they may cause some unpleasant disturbance to your normal browsing, mess up with your browser settings, redirect your searches, monitor your browsing history and manipulate the pages you visit in order to expose you to more ads. As a result of that, the affected browser may become sluggish and load the pages you want slower than usual, or flood your screen with intrusive pop-ups that don’t want to go away. And if this is not enough to make you consider removing “Your computer has been locked”, we need to warn you that bumping into some nasty virus or malware is a rare, but possible scenario if you keep such ad-generating software on your machine. Sometimes, misleading ads or threats that spread through malvertisements may sneak among the real ads that the browser hijacker generates and this way infect you without you realizing it. That’s why it is best to avoid clicking on the redirects and randomly generated pop-ups, or to totally get rid of them by uninstalling the hijacker.

How “Your computer has been locked” usually gets on the people’s computer

To keep such annoying software away, you should know how it spreads. Usually, “Your computer has been locked” could be found in software bundles distributed through free program installers, spam emails, torrents, file sharing sites, freeware platforms, or direct downloads from the web. To avoid installing it on your PC, you should always check the setup of any program you intend to install on your system. When you run the installer, there are usually two major options you can choose from – “Standard/Quick” or “Advanced/Custom”. The first will install the whole setup as it is, without giving you much control over the programs that may be bundled with it. That’s why, we advise you to opt for the second one, because this is where you can manually select whether to disable or enable the browser hijacker, in case that there is one, packed inside the installer. 

Your computer has been locked “Virus” Removal

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot “Your computer has been locked”, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name “Your computer has been locked” on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name “Your computer has been locked” might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by “Your computer has been locked”, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.

Welcome, to our Securesurf.biz Toolbar removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software and the toolbar it creates from your PC.

We have created the article below with the idea to help you understand the characteristics and effects of Securesurf.biz. This program is classified as a typical browser hijacker. In fact, this means that it can be able to really change the way your browsers (Firefox, Explorer, and Chrome, for example) behave and look. This software might alter their default search engine and usual homepage; sudden redirections to various web addresses might begin and Securesurf.biz could launch the production of a great number of online ads – pop-ups, boxes, banners and so on. All the information you need to know has been shared with in the article and the guide you will find below.

Browser hijackers as a whole

In the previous paragraph we described what a typical infection with a hijacker leads to. Note that only your browsers are the ones that are affected, everything else will be safe in case of such contamination, so you have no real reasons to be worried. Nevertheless, such programs might extremely annoy you with the constant stream of pop-ups and the constant circle of redirections. Another possible feature programs like Securesurf.biz may show is their ability to predict what kind of ads you might want to see based on your surfing history, and will then broadcast only them or mainly them. Such activities are often perceived as intrusive by many of the affected users. As a result, this software has been regarded as potentially unwanted and may have a mostly negative reputation. In spite of this browser history-reviewing tendency, Securesurf.biz and its siblings normally do not have any malicious or disturbing features. For instance, in case of a Ransomware-provoked infection, your files could be in serious danger, facing the possibility of being locked up and you – possibly having to deal with ransom demands. In case of an infection with a hijacker, nothing like encryption, harassment or actions typical for viruses could occur.

Is Securesurf.biz legal if it is mostly harmless?

Indeed, this program is legitimate because it is a part of marketing strategies. This is just a way of advertising services, websites and products. It is based on legal agreements between web developers and service providers/ product producers. The way this scheme works is the following: the more ads you see, the more efficient the promoting process is expected to be and the programmers of hijackers could get paid more.

If this is not a virus, could this program sneak into your system unnoticed?

Actually, browser hijackers NEVER get incorporated into any system without at least indirect approval from the user. This could mostly happen in case the hijackers are included in program bundles. A bundle is any free mixture of apps, games and programs that you can download directly from the Internet. In this case the potential victim user is particularly interested in some of the components of the bundle – either an interesting program, or a new game, and wants to try them as soon as possible. This makes most users quite impatient and they can make the mistake of installing any program bundle in the quickest or the easiest, but totally improper way. The only safe method of installing whatever software you download for free or buy is to go with the Advanced installation feature instead of the Default one. Only having the chance to manually choose the to-be-installed components of a bundle or features of a program could save you from possible annoying or even dangerous infections. That is why you are supposed to avoid all shortcut sorts of installation and all of the wizard options that provide them – the Automatic, Easy, Quick or Default ones.

Some more valuable advice

For your own safety, please, try to develop healthy cyber habits as soon as possible. They include purchasing and installing, as well as regularly updating the best possible anti-virus program you can find. Such a great-quality product will include Internet security features that will probably block Adware and hijacker sources. Also, another quite simple but really useful tip is to just avoid all suspicious web pages, torrents and shareware as often as possible as they could also contain ad-producing software. Maybe you will consider turning on your firewall and your pop-up blocker to at least limit the webpage-hosted advertisements. For the safe and successful removal of Securesurf.biz please check the Removal Guide below and implement all the instructions there.

Securesurf.biz Toolbar Removal

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot Securesurf.biz, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name Securesurf.biz on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name Securesurf.biz might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by Securesurf.biz, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.

Welcome, to our Securesurf.biz Toolbar removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software and the toolbar it creates from your PC.

We have created the article below with the idea to help you understand the characteristics and effects of Securesurf.biz. This program is classified as a typical browser hijacker. In fact, this means that it can be able to really change the way your browsers (Firefox, Explorer, and Chrome, for example) behave and look. This software might alter their default search engine and usual homepage; sudden redirections to various web addresses might begin and Securesurf.biz could launch the production of a great number of online ads – pop-ups, boxes, banners and so on. All the information you need to know has been shared with in the article and the guide you will find below.

Browser hijackers as a whole

In the previous paragraph we described what a typical infection with a hijacker leads to. Note that only your browsers are the ones that are affected, everything else will be safe in case of such contamination, so you have no real reasons to be worried. Nevertheless, such programs might extremely annoy you with the constant stream of pop-ups and the constant circle of redirections. Another possible feature programs like Securesurf.biz may show is their ability to predict what kind of ads you might want to see based on your surfing history, and will then broadcast only them or mainly them. Such activities are often perceived as intrusive by many of the affected users. As a result, this software has been regarded as potentially unwanted and may have a mostly negative reputation. In spite of this browser history-reviewing tendency, Securesurf.biz and its siblings normally do not have any malicious or disturbing features. For instance, in case of a Ransomware-provoked infection, your files could be in serious danger, facing the possibility of being locked up and you – possibly having to deal with ransom demands. In case of an infection with a hijacker, nothing like encryption, harassment or actions typical for viruses could occur.

Is Securesurf.biz legal if it is mostly harmless?

Indeed, this program is legitimate because it is a part of marketing strategies. This is just a way of advertising services, websites and products. It is based on legal agreements between web developers and service providers/ product producers. The way this scheme works is the following: the more ads you see, the more efficient the promoting process is expected to be and the programmers of hijackers could get paid more.

If this is not a virus, could this program sneak into your system unnoticed?

Actually, browser hijackers NEVER get incorporated into any system without at least indirect approval from the user. This could mostly happen in case the hijackers are included in program bundles. A bundle is any free mixture of apps, games and programs that you can download directly from the Internet. In this case the potential victim user is particularly interested in some of the components of the bundle – either an interesting program, or a new game, and wants to try them as soon as possible. This makes most users quite impatient and they can make the mistake of installing any program bundle in the quickest or the easiest, but totally improper way. The only safe method of installing whatever software you download for free or buy is to go with the Advanced installation feature instead of the Default one. Only having the chance to manually choose the to-be-installed components of a bundle or features of a program could save you from possible annoying or even dangerous infections. That is why you are supposed to avoid all shortcut sorts of installation and all of the wizard options that provide them – the Automatic, Easy, Quick or Default ones.

Some more valuable advice

For your own safety, please, try to develop healthy cyber habits as soon as possible. They include purchasing and installing, as well as regularly updating the best possible anti-virus program you can find. Such a great-quality product will include Internet security features that will probably block Adware and hijacker sources. Also, another quite simple but really useful tip is to just avoid all suspicious web pages, torrents and shareware as often as possible as they could also contain ad-producing software. Maybe you will consider turning on your firewall and your pop-up blocker to at least limit the webpage-hosted advertisements. For the safe and successful removal of Securesurf.biz please check the Removal Guide below and implement all the instructions there.

Securesurf.biz Toolbar Removal

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot Securesurf.biz, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name Securesurf.biz on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name Securesurf.biz might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by Securesurf.biz, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.

This page aims to help you remove .Zzzz File Virus Ransomware for free. Our instructions also cover how any .Zzzz Ransomware files can be recovered.

.Zzzz is a computer virus that belongs to the Ransomware family. This classification means that all the malicious programs from this group are perfectly capable of sneaking into your system without your knowledge and/or approval and encrypting some of the files you consider most important. Why and how Ransomware can do that as well as where you may find this malware will be discussed below in this article.

Is .Zzzz among the most harmful viruses?

Definitely, we can state that this program shows all the characteristics of a really dangerous virus. All Ransomware versions, including .Zzzz, are able to enter your PC and scan all its memory for the data that is used or accessed on a regular basis. The ransomware’s next typical activity is the creation of a list that consists of all such files and folders, after which the process of encryption usually begins. It is gradual and constant until it is done. After its completion, .Zzzz projects a notification on your screen with all the information about the infection. Also, a payment plan is included as all Ransomware programs require money or Bit coins in exchange for your encoded data.

What is even more harmful about the nature of .Zzzz is that very often it travels with a buddy. This means that such a virus gets distributed along with another type of malware, typically a Trojan Horse Virus. The reason why these two malicious programs come barging in together is the fact that the Ransomware usually just uses the Trojans it comes with for infiltrating your PC, as any Trojan is perfectly capable of getting to your system by using any weak spot there and then making way for the other virus.

Where did this malware originate? Where and how are you most likely to catch it?

The place where Ransomware was first present is Russia (at that time – the Soviet Union) and it first emerged during the late eighties – early nineties of the 20th century. Originally, there were two types of Ransomware. One of the types just used to lock up your monitor with a window that prevented all other windows from opening. In fact such Ransomware never encrypted any files. The second and the most dangerous type that was created at that time is the version of Ransomware we are aware of today. Such programs DO encode data for real and then demand a ransom in return for the affected data. .Zzzz is exactly such a Ransomware program.

When discussing the possible ways of coming into contact with such malware, the most usual sources for spreading .Zzzz (and the Trojan that usually comes together with it) are all shady-looking spam emails inside either the Inbox or Spam folder of your email. The Trojan is typically included in an attachment of such a suspicious letter – no matter whether it is an .exe file, an audio/text, document or image file. However, Ransomware may also infect your machine through your visiting an infected web page or through downloading any piece of contaminated software.

What kind of actions we recommend in case of an infection with .Zzzz

First and the foremost, never pay the requested ransom before exploring your chances of success using other methods. It is very likely that even if you do pay the hackers the money they want from you, they will never return the access to your files to you. Sometimes they have no such intentions, they just want your money and they may never give you the credentials needed for decrypting your data. Still, even if you find a way to delete the virus using a removal guide or a special piece of software, you may still never be able to use/access your blocked files again. For this reason we have included some steps that may help you restore your files, however, we cannot promise that this method will work 100%.

Both decisions are really risky in terms of the future of the encrypted data. You may use our Removal Guide below to try to defeat the infection and we recommend this, as it won’t cost you anything and will not compromise the safety of your data in any way. Though as there may be no real solution to this problem now, we would like to share some prevention tips that you should follow in the future, because prevention remains the only completely safe method for dealing with this kind of malware. When it comes to Ransomware-based infections, prevention mainly consists of backing up all your essential files, avoiding any spam messages in your email that you receive from a suspicious sender or those that have a strange attachment, and of course regularly scanning your device for viruses.

.Zzzz File Virus Ransomware Removal

 Here is what you need to do in order to remove a Ransomware virus from you computer.

I – Reveal Hidden files and folders and utilize the task manager

1. Use the Folder Options in order to reveal the hidden files and folders on your PC. If you do not know how to do that, follow this link.
2. Open the Start Menu and in the search field type Task Manager.
   
3. Open the first result and in the Processes tab, carefully look through the list of Processes.
4. If you notice with the virus name or any other suspicious-looking or that seems to consume large amounts of memory, right-click on it and open its file location. Delete everything in there.
   

• Make sure that the hidden files and folders on your PC are visible, else you might not be able to see everything.

5. Go back to the Task Manager and end the shady process.

II – Boot to Safe Mode

• Boot your PC into Safe Mode. If you do not know how to do it, use this guide/linked/.

III – Identify the threat

1. Go to the ID Ransomware website. Here is a direct link.
2. Follow there in order to identify the specific virus you are dealing with.

IV – Decrypt your files

1. Once you have identified the virus that has encrypted your files, you must acquire the respective tool to unlock your data.
2. Open your browser and search for how to decrypt ransomware, look for the name of the one that has infected your system.
3. With any luck, you’d be able to find a decryptor tool for your ransomware. If that doesn’t happen try Step V as a last ditch effort to save your files.

V – Use Recuva to restore files deleted by the virus

1. Download the Recuva tool. This will help you restore your original files so that you won’t need to actually decrypt the locked ones.
2. Once you’ve downloaded the program, open it and select Next.
   
3. Now choose the type of files you are seeking to restore and continue to the next page.
4. When asked where your files were, before they got deleted, either use the option In a specific location and provide that location or choose the opt for the I am not sure alternative – this will make the program look everywhere on your PC.
   
5. Click on Next and for best results, enable the Deep Scan option (note that this might take some time).
   
6. Wait for the search to finish and then select which of the listed files you want to restore.

• Keep in mind it is possible that not all files might be fully recovered. You can check in what condition the files are from the State column in the list of deleted files.
  

Welcome, reader, to our “Microsoft Critical Alert” Pop-up Scam removal guide. The following instructions will aid you in removing the unwanted software from your PC.

You have come to the right page if you would like to learn how to effectively remove the annoyance that “Microsoft Critical Alert” is probably causing you. This program is a browser hijacker and what it typically does is, it replaces the homepage and the default search engine of your browser (be it Chrome, Firefox, IE, etc.) and redirects you to various sponsored advertisement pages full of annoying ads, pop-ups banners, and links. Fortunately, this is nothing permanent or dangerous and in the guide below we will show you how to remove the annoying program and all of its changes. But even though “Microsoft Critical Alert” cannot be considered as dangerous as a computer virus, it still needs a bit of understanding before you proceed to the removal instructions. That’s why we suggest you read the information below to familiarize yourself with the specifics of this software.

Can “Microsoft Critical Alert” be compared to a virus?

If your browser has suddenly been invaded by an intrusive program that imposes some changes on it, and the ads and popping tabs seem impossible to be stopped, the first thing you may think of is a virus or some nasty malware like a Trojan or Ransomware. However, “Microsoft Critical Alert” is not a virus and it falls under a different category of software called Browser hijacker, which is not a harmful, but rather unwanted type of software. Generally, browser hijackers are browser components, which aim to expose you to online advertisements, and they do that by imposing some changes in your browser and redirecting your web searches to all kinds of sponsored advertisements. The online advertising industry is using such applications to directly display advertisements on the user’s screen while they are browsing the web. Very often, advertisers pay programmers huge amounts of money to bring traffic and clicks to their websites, and browser hijackers are used exactly for that purpose. The infamous Pay-Per-Click method comes into play here, where the hijacker developers receive some money from every click that redirects users to such sponsored ads, pop-ups, banners and pages. In recent years, this method has turned into a popular source of income for many online based businesses and software developers. Since profits here can be huge, so is the amount of the intrusive browser hijackers that may interrupt your browsing activity.

Users usually install the browser hijacker by themselves

In case you’re wondering how “Microsoft Critical Alert” got installed on your computer and took over your browser, you should know that you may have installed it there yourself. This usually happens thanks to a distribution method called software bundling where ad-generating components like browser hijackers may get bundled inside the installer of another program that the users download and install. Free software may contain such a bundle, but you may also get it if you download applications from file sharing platforms, torrents, free installation managers, spam email links, open source download platforms or even free downloads from the web. The moment you run the setup, it may prompt you to the standard installation procedure, and this is what most users do. However, in order to prevent any additional software from getting installed along with the software you desire, it is best to skip that option and seek for the so-called Advanced or Custom installation. Not only it will reveal the bundled programs if any, but it will enable you to prevent their installation. Do keep in mind that preventing them is way easier than uninstalling them later, and in most of the cases, you may need a removal guide like the one below to fully remove the browser hijacker.

Uninstalling “Microsoft Critical Alert” may save you from some hidden hazards…

Even though “Microsoft Critical Alert” is not malicious itself, you should always keep in mind that tricky threats such as viruses, Trojans and even the recently popular Ransomware may hide in many different places and may use different system vulnerabilities to sneak inside your PC. Randomly popping ads, page redirects, and intrusive messages are some of the favorite places, where hackers love to hide their malware. That’s why, it is not excluded that, in the flow of advertisements, you may unknowingly come across a real nasty infection. Having this in mind, it may be best to uninstall “Microsoft Critical Alert” in order to eliminate the possibility of unexpected security hazards. Moreover, the irritation and the browsing-related disturbance this browser hijacker may cause can really drive you nuts. Your browser may become so slow, due to the unstoppable flow of ads that it tries to display, that it may take ages for you to load the pages you want. Your computer may also get sluggish and no one likes a sluggish system. In case that this is enough for you to decide to remove “Microsoft Critical Alert”, the guide below contains all the needed instructions. Just follow them and you will soon get your browser back to normal.

“Microsoft Critical Alert” Pop-up Scam Removal

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot “Microsoft Critical Alert”, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name “Microsoft Critical Alert” on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name “Microsoft Critical Alert” might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by “Microsoft Critical Alert”, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.

Welcome, reader, to our EasyDocMerge “Virus” uninstall guide. The following instructions will aid you in uninstalling the unwanted software from your PC.

The infections caused by browser hijackers are becoming more and more numerous at the present moment. In the article you are about to read we will focus on one specific browser hijacker – EasyDocMerge “Virus”. We will describe the way this program works, how it affects all your browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Opera or Explorer) and how it could result in a substitution of your browser homepage and default search engine; redirecting to a variety of unknown web addresses and the production of many online pop-up and banner ads.

What is a browser hijacker?

The programs defined as hijackers are promotion-oriented. Software developers create them in order to serve the needs of producers and providers, who need to advertise their products and services. There is nothing dangerous about these programs, nor is there anything illegal. Such software could only affect any browser you have installed on your PC. All the other programs and features of your system are safe in case of such an infection. Also, we have already mentioned the way EasyDocMerge might change your browsers – in terms of ad production, redirecting and setting new homepages and search engines. All that might be irritating but is relatively harmless as well.

Is there any connection between a browser hijacker and any virus?

Fortunately, no type of malware could be related to any version of a browser hijacker. There are considerable differences between these types of software. For instance, virus programs do not need any directly or indirectly stated approval to infect your PC. EasyDocMerge always needs your permission and below you will see how such programs could trick you into indirectly giving it.  Another difference is that in the case of a browser-hijacker contamination only your browsers are affected and your system is not prevented from functioning properly. On the contrary, in the case of a virus infection your entire computer might be affected and this may result in a total system crash or the destruction of many important files of various sorts. Torrents, shareware and various web pages often contain Adware and hijackers and you may catch them from there. However, the most common sources of such annoying software are the infamous bundles. They represent mixtures of different programs and may often include ad-spreading software. Also, they might contain interesting games and new apps which the user may want or need.

How may such a program trick you into installing it on your PC?

We have already mentioned that such software is most commonly incorporated into program bundles. If you are really interested in the download and use of something that such a bundle contains, you have to be particularly careful while installing it. These bundles could be programmed to trick you into incorporating their entire content into your system thanks to the lack of patience you may experience. Remember that you may use something from the bundle without getting infected with EasyDocMerge. In order to do that, you have to take your time while installing this program and use one of the following features your installation wizard could contain – either the Advanced, or the Custom one. Only this way will you be able to choose what to install on your computer and what not to install. Also, remember to stay away from the following installation features: the Default, the Automatic, and the Quick one (or any other option promising easy and immediate installation of the bundle). If you avoid them, EasyDocMerge could never get your indirect permission to get installed on your PC.

Some other safety tips

As browser hijackers could also be included in other things on the web, you need to develop certain healthy surfing habits in order to avoid them more efficiently. The list of these habits includes:

• Getting the best anti-malware tool to inform you about possible contaminated web pages. By doing this, you will be able to stay away from viruses like Trojans and Ransomware as well.
• Simply choosing the places you visit online more carefully. Be picky when it comes to the web pages you tend to open and you will not regret that.
• Do not click on any of the ads you see online as they may lead to the generation of even more ads and you might end up infected with Adware, browser hijackers or other annoying (or even dangerous) programs.

EasyDocMerge “Virus” Uninstall

I – Uninstallation

1. Use the Winkey+R keyboard combination, write Control Panel in the search field and hit enter.
   
2. Go to Uninstall a program under Programs.
   
3. Seek the unwanted software, select it and then click on Uninstall
   1. If you are unable to spot EasyDocMerge, search for any unrecognized programs that you do not remember installing on your PC – the unwanted software might disguise itself by going under a different name.

II – Safe mode and revealing hidden files

1. Boot your PC into Safe Mode /link/
2. Reveal hidden files and folders /link/

III – Cleaning all your browsers

1. Go to your browser’s icon, right-click on it and select Properties.
   
2. Go to the Shortcut tab and in the Target make sure to delete anything written after “.exe”.
   
3. Now, open your browser and follow the instructions below depending on whether you are using Chrome, Mozilla or IE.

• Chrome users:

1. Go to your browser’s main menu located in the top-right corner of the screen and select Settings.
2. Scroll down, click on Show Advanced Settings and then select Clear browsing data. Just to be sure, tick everything and clear the data.
3. Now, in the left pane, go to Extensions and look through all extensions that are integrated within your browser. If you notice any suspicious add-on, disable it and then remove it.
   

• Firefox users:

1. Similarly to Chrome, go to the main menu and select Add-ons and then Extensions.
2. Remove any suspicious browser extensions that you may have even if they do not have the name EasyDocMerge on them.

• IE users:

1. Go to Tools and select Manage add-ons.
   
2. Click on all add-on types from the left pane and check if there is anything suspicious in the right panel. In case you find anything shade, make sure to remove it.

IV – Removing Shady processes

1. Go to your start menu, type Task Manager in the search field and from the results open View running processes with Task Manager.
2. Thoroughly look through all processes. The name EasyDocMerge might not be there, but if you notice any shady looking process that consumes high amounts of memory it might be ran by the unwanted program.
3. If you spot the process ran by EasyDocMerge, right-click on it, open its file location and delete everything in there. Then go back to the Task Manager and end the process.

V – DNS check

1. In the start menu search box write View Network Connections and open the first result.
   
2. Right-click on the network connection you are using and go to Properties.
   
3. Select Internet Protocol Version (TCP/IPv4) and click on Properties.
   
4. If Obtain DNS server addresses automatically is not checked, check it.
   
5. Go to Advanced and select the DNS If there is anything in the DNS server addresses field, remove it and click OK.
   
6. Click OK on the rest of the opened windows.