Shield My Searches search hijacker is an example of a standard unwanted program; such programs are promoted massively these days. In this article you will see the precise information of Shield My Searches hijacker removal in different methods: utilizing anti-malware software and also hand-operated removal process.
About Shield My Searches hijacker origins
Shield My Searches installation popup
Shield My Searches 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 assists to search some certain info, for instance, about sport events, make your web browser much more safe, enable downloading of any web video, et cetera.
Nonetheless, the Shield My Searches plugin is pretty ineffective since all such features are currently embedded to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising mottos are targeted on low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific instances, this hijacker is distributed along with free programs.
Here is a short details for the Shield My Searches hijacker
| Site | shieldmysearches.com |
| Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, New York City |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 172.67.222.172 |
How harmful is Shield My Searches hijacker?
Besides its uselessness, Shield My Searches hijacker is additionally fairly hazardous for browser usage. It transforms your search engine to its specific – shieldmysearches.com, and likewise transforms your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified sign).
Apart from visual alterations done by Shield My Searches hijacker, you might observe that a couple of your search questions are redirecting to the unknown websites, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can include the web links for malware downloading. The possibility of redirecting rises if you attempt to start Google search page forcibly.
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection, opening the advertising websites. |
| Similar behavior | MySearch Search, StreaminSearchs, AllStreamSearch |
| Fix Tool |
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC
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But all these actions are more irritating than truly damaging. The most significant danger, primarily for individuals who have a great deal of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in data collecting functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited websites as well as various other activities are easily collected by Shield My Searches hijacker.
How to remove Shield My Searches 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 very easy to deal with. In most cases, they have a separate app that can be found in the list of installed applications. Because of the certain distribution method of Shield My Searches hijacker, it can be simply tracked and erased by hand. Nevertheless, if you got Shield My Searches in the bundle with a free application( s), your PC might be infected with far more major malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I ‘d advise you to make use of anti-malware programs to delete the Shield My Searches PUA and all various other malware.
You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and removing a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. However, significant malware, that may be present on your computer in the discussed instance, can disable the Windows antimalware program by modifying the Group Policies. To prevent such circumstances, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and delete all malicious programs on your computer 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 see the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm till 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 each spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be removed to quarantine.
Reverting browser settings to original ones
To reset your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any virus, 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 displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to original.
Deleteing Shield My Searches 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 the time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of 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 most large 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 Shield My Searches?
Name: Shield My Searches
Description: Shield My Searches - 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 Shield My Searches?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Shield My Searches (Shieldmysearches.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
