Remove Direct Search Redirect — How to Fix Guide

The Direct Search search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such programs are spread enormously nowadays. In this article you will see the precise guidelines of “Direct Search” hijacker removal in different methods: utilizing anti-malware software and also hand-operated removal procedure.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

Removing Direct Search manually may take hours and may damage your PC in the process. I recommend you to download GridinSoft Anti-Malware for threats removal. Allows to complete scan and cure your PC during the trial period.

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Direct Search – What is it?

“Direct Search” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some certain details, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser much more secure, allow downloading of any kind of web video, et cetera.

However, the “Direct Search” plugin is rather useless since all such functions are currently integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even expert users are getting caught on such an appeal. In particular instances, this hijacker is dispersed along with free tools.

Direct Search Search Hijacker

Here is a summary for the Direct Search hijacker

How harmful is Direct Search hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Direct Search hijacker is additionally fairly hazardous for web browser use. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Search-direct.net, and also changes your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Apart from viewable modifications done by Direct Search hijacker, you may notice that many of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious websites, filled with links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can have web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you try to start Google search page by force.

But all these actions are much more annoying than truly harmful. The biggest danger, particularly for individuals who have a great deal of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in information collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, as well as other activities are easily collected by Direct Search hijacker.

How to remove Direct Search 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 rather simple to deal with. Most of the times, they have an independent application that can be found in the list of installed apps. Due to the specific distribution manner of Direct Search hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and removed manually. Nevertheless, if you got Direct Search in the package with a free applications, your PC might be infected with far more major malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you utilize anti-malware programs to delete the Direct Search PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of recognizing and clearing away a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. However, serious malware, that might be present on your computer in the specified case, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To keep away from such circumstances, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all malicious programs on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious programs, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can spectate the detected malware sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to choose any actions against the viruses, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all malware will be removed to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you need 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 action can be found in the Tools tab.

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Direct Search 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 :

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :



2. 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 :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :



2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :


After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

If you use Google Chrome

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :



2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :



3. 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

1. 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 :



2. 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.

How to Remove Direct Search?

Name: Direct Search

Description: Direct Search - 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?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Direct Search (Search-direct.net), 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

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