The Direct Search Online search hijacker is an example of a basic unwanted program; such applications are distributed massively nowadays. On this page you will see the comprehensive guidance of “Direct Search Online” hijacker removal in various methods: using anti-malware tools and hand-operated elimination technique.
Direct Search Online – What is it?
“Direct Search Online” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some precise info, for example, about sport events, make your browser far more secure, allow downloading of any video clip, et cetera.
However, the “Direct Search Online” plugin is pretty pointless due to the fact that all such features are already integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. However sometimes even skilled users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular situations, this hijacker is spread together with free programs.
Direct Search Online Search Hijacker
Here is a short details for the Direct Search Online hijacker
| Site | Directsearchonline.com |
| Hosting | AS16276 OVH SAS France, Lyon |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 147.135.253.55 |
| Hosting | AS16276 OVH SAS Lyon, France |
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
| Similar behavior | Conf, Loadstart, Lovely |
| Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is Direct Search Online hijacker?
Besides its uselessness, Direct Search Online hijacker is additionally fairly hazardous for browser use. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Directsearchonline.com, and also changes your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, changing it to default with the specified symbol).
Apart from seeable changes done by Direct Search Online hijacker, you can notice that a number of your search queries are redirecting to the unknown web pages, full of web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting boosts if you try to open Google search page forcibly.
However all these activities are a lot more frustrating than truly destructive. The most significant risk, particularly for individuals who have a lot of secret information in their browsers, is installed in information gathering capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, and other activities are easily gathered by Direct Search Online hijacker.
How to remove Direct Search Online 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 almost always pretty easy to delete. In most cases, they have a separate application that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. Because of the particular marketing manner of Direct Search Online hijacker, it can be easily tracked and erased manually. Nonetheless, if you got Direct Search Online in the bundle with a free program, your system can be contaminated with much more severe malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you make use of anti-malware programs to deal with the Direct Search Online PUA and all other malware.
You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and removing different malware, including named hijacker. Nevertheless, major malware, that may exist on your personal computer in the mentioned instance, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To keep away from such situations, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and eliminate all unwanted programs on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can spectate the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious apps, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.
To set the action for each spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.
Reset browser settings to original ones
To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.
After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing Direct Search Online 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.
.
Wilbur WoodhamHow to Remove Direct Search Online?
Name: Direct Search Online
Description: Direct Search Online - 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 Direct Search Online?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Direct Search Online (Directsearchonline.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
