What Is The My Web Search Toolbar Virus?

The My Web Search toolbar (mywebsearch.adware, My Web Search), also referred to as the Mywebsearch virus or Mywebsearch redirect is malware categorized as a combination of adware and spyware that uses a browser hijacker distributed as freeware that installs directly onto your computer and internet browser as a BHO (add-on, extension). My Web Search toolbar also bundles with other malware applications which can affect internet browser settings including the home page and default search engine. A My Web Search toolbar infection installs browser helper objects (managed search toolbar) to infected internet browsers and causes web searchs and URLs inputted into the browser’s address bar to redirect to http://home.mywebsearch.com/, search.mywebsearch.com, and other websites.

My Web Search and browser hijackers in general are very dangerous and can leave a backdoor for other malware and virus infections. My Web Search is similar to other browser hijackers distributed as freeware such as MP3 Tube Toolbar and Browser Seek Toolbar. These malicious programs are provided for free but bundle with malicious third party applications software in which their terms os use state they hold no responsibility for.

My Web Search claims their search engine is realistic and their toolbar is commonly mistaken for spyware. These claims are absolutely false. My Web Search is spyware, My Web Search extracts private information and traces internet activity.

My Web Search Virus Symptoms

• My Web Search intsalls dynamic files such as registry entries and directory files onto infected systems.
• My Web Search may show symptoms of adware programs such as displaying spam advertisements on an infected system.
• My Web Search installs a managed search engine and redirects web searches and URL input on infected internet browsers (http://home.mywebsearch.com).

• My Web Search installs a toolbar titled “My Web Search toolbar” or “mywebsearch Community Toolbar” that is powered by Conduit onto an infected internet browser.

• My Web Search Toolbar leaves the backdoor open for dangerous malware, Trojans, and viruses.

How to remove My Web Search Toolbar malware

Click an option below to scroll to it on the same page (named anchor link).

1. Automatic Removal – Scan for and remove malware.
2. Uninstall My Web Search – Uninstall My Web Search program using the uninstaller (if installed on computer).
3. Remove My Web Search Toolbar – Remove add-on, or extension from your infected internet browser.
4. Manual Removal – Manually remove My Web Search files.
5. System Restore – Restore your computer to a date and time before infection.

1. Automatic Removal

The safest program to remove hijacker malware is Malwarebytes. Malwarebytes has the largest sample rate of malware due to being the top downloaded Anti-Malware application for the past 2 years. Malwarebytes also offers free and paid versions.

1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.

   

2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, open the Anti-Malware program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, please do so.

3. On the first tab labeled “Scanner” select the Perform full scan option and click the Scan button to perform a full system scan (pictured below).

4.  Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware on your computer. Once the scan is complete, Malwarebytes will prompt a message stating malicious objects were detected. Select (check) the malicious objects in the list and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove MyWebSearch malware.

2. Uninstall My Search Toolbar from your computer

 •   Close all open internet browsers
 •   From the “Start” menu in Windows, select “Control Panel”
 •   Select “Add/Remove Programs”
 •   Select “My Web Search Bar”
 •   Click “Change/Remove”

Should you reopen your Web browser and still see the My Web Search toolbar, you may need to restart your computer for the uninstall process to be completed or follow the instructions below to remove the unwanted add-on and extension per each browser installed on your computer.

3. How To Remove My Web Search Toolbar Extension

My Web Search installs toolbars for most popular internet browsers.  Most of the time, removing the extension will also remove the infection.

Please click an internet browser (below) to automatically scroll to significant directions (named anchor link).

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Apple Safari

Google Chrome Extension (CRX):

 Step 1:

Open Chrome, click on the Settings icon (wrench) and navigate to Tools > Extensions.

 
Step 2:

Select the My Web Search Toolbar plugin from the list of extensions, and click Uninstall or Disable.

• To search which extensions are currently running on Chrome navigate to Tools > Task Manager

Mozilla Firefox Extension (XPI):

Step 1:

Open Firefox, and navigate to Tools -> Add-ons (Ctrl+Shift+A).

Step 2:

Select Extensions and find the My Web Search Toolbar extension, and click disable and remove.

How to block the Mywebsearch.com cookie

1.From the Tools menu, select Options
2.In the upper section of the Options window, click Privacy
3.In the Cookies tab, click Exceptions
4. In the new Exceptions – Cookies window, enter mywebsearch.com in the Address of Website field and click Disable.

Microsoft Internet Explorer:


 Step 1:

Click the Tools button and then click Manage add-ons.

 Step 2:

Under Show, click All add-ons or Toolbars and Extensions. (Depends which IE you use)

 Step 3:

Select the My Web Search Toolbar plugin from the list of software, and click disable.

How to block the Mywebsearch.com cookie

1. From the Tools menu of Internet Explorer, select Internet Options
2. Select the Privacy tab and then click Sites. The Per site privacy actions window will be displayed
3. In the Per site privacy actions window, enter mywebsearch.com in the Address of Web site field
4. Click Block

Restricted site option

Access: Tools(Alt-x) > Internet Options

Select the Security tab and click Restricted sites

Click the “Sites” button and individually enter: Mywebsearch.com



Apple Safari Extension:


 Step 1:

In settings, go to Preferences and click the Extensions tab.

 Step 2:

Remove/Disable My Web Search Toolbar extension or turn all extensions Off.

How to block the Mywebsearch.com cookie

1. Click the general Safari menu icon and select Safari Preferences

2. Select the Privacy tab, and check: Block cookies: “from third parties and advertisers”

4. How To Manually Remove The My Web Search Virus

To manually remove the My Web Search virus, delete the directories and files below.

C:\WINDOWS\system32\sysloc\sysloc.dll
C:\WINDOWS\ieocx.dll
C:\windows\ld08.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\[User]\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ChkDisk.dll
C:\DOCUME~1\NETWOR~1\protect.dll
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ONSIO.SYS
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\akpcsc.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\autochk.dll
C:\WINDOWS\system32\autochk.dll
C:\DOCUME~1\NETWOR~1\protect.dll
C:\Documents and Settings\[User]\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\ChkDisk.dll
C:\windows\ld08.exe
C:\WINDOWS\ieocx.dll
C:\WINDOWS\system32\sysloc\sysloc.dll

Next remove the Application Data files.
App Data is a hidden folder, to learn how to show hidden files please click here.
1. Type %AppData% into Window’s Start Menu Search field and press Enter.

2. Remove the files below.

{39fc2065-c9c7-49cd-8942-44cc2dedc844}
{2267F93C-600C-420E-A229-3317AADD3951}

5. System Restore

Restore your computer to a date and time before infection using Microsoft’s automated restore points. Restoring your computer is the simple way around a Browser Seek infection.

There are many ways to restore a Window’s computer. We have written in detail how to perform a system restore here.