The Clever-Find search hijacker is an illustration of a standard unwanted program; such applications are distributed massively nowadays. In this article you will see the complete instructions of “Clever-Find” hijacker elimination in different ways: using anti-malware tools and hand-operated elimination method.
Clever-Find – What is it?
“Clever-Find” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some particular information, for example, about sport events, make your browser much more secure, enable downloading of any type of web video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nevertheless, the “Clever-Find” plugin is pretty pointless since all such features are already embedded to your web browser and/or Windows. Such marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even professional users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific instances, this hijacker is spread along with free software.
Clever-Find Search Hijacker
Here is a short summary for the Clever-Find hijacker
| NAME | Clever-Find |
| Site | Clever-find.com |
| Hosting | AS32244 Liquid Web, L.L.C United States, Lansing |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 69.16.230.42 |
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
| Similar behavior | Your, Robsearch, Tobepartou |
| Fix Tool |
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC
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How harmful is Clever-Find hijacker?
Besides its uselessness, Clever-Find hijacker is likewise really harmful for browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Clever-find.com, and additionally transforms your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned symbol).
Aside from visual alterations done by Clever-Find hijacker, you may see that a couple of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unknown web pages, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can contain web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you attempt to launch Google search page forcibly.
However all these actions are more bothersome than truly hazardous. The most significant risk, specifically for individuals who have a huge amount of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in information collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and other activities are easily gathered by Clever-Find hijacker.
How to remove Clever-Find search hijacker?
- Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
- Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
- “Move to quarantine” all items.
- Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
- Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
- Restart your computer.
Browser hijackers are usually rather simple to delete. For the most part, they have a separate application that can be found in the list of installed software. As a result of the particular marketing tactic of Clever-Find hijacker, it can be easily tracked and erased manually. However, if you got Clever-Find in the bundle with a free program, your system might be contaminated with a lot more severe malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware programs to deal with the Clever-Find PUA and all other malware.
You can make use of Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of discovering and removing a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. However, significant malware, that may exist on your PC in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To keep away from such situations, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and erase all malicious programs on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can see the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious apps, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.
To choose the action for each detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.
Reverting browser settings to original ones
To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located in the Tools tab.
After choosing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing Clever-Find hijacker manually
Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.
To reset Edge, do the following steps :
- Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
- After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
- Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
- In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
If you use Google Chrome
- Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
- In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
- Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
- Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
- After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :
As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.
I need your help to share this guide.
Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur WoodhamHow to Remove Clever-Find?
Name: Clever-Find
Description: Clever-Find - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove Clever-Find?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Clever-Find (Clever-find.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Browser Hijacker
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender
