How to remove the Dosearches virus – Dosearches.com redirect removal
Dosearches virus (dosearches.com)
The Dosearches virus (also found as Do Searches, not to be confused with the do-search virus) is potential malware categorized as a browser hijacker that causes many problems for computer users relating to the invasion of privacy and computer and internet browser functionality. Dosearches changes existing internet browser settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer including the homepage and default, managed, and provided search engines; in turn causing internet browsers to start up on doseaches.com when opening new browser windows and tabs as well as redirect to dosearches.com when users attempt to search the web using the browser address bar.
The Dosearches virus (though not technically a computer virus) has been reported to invade the privacy of it’s users. Dosearches.com and related parties may collect, store, and distribute user information including your name, home address, email address, internet browsing habits, and more. Dosearches.com may also use unethical techniques to collect your age, gender, household income, and occupation. The information collected is often used to submit users to mailing and marketing lists without direct consent or knowledge. The Do Searches policy also claims they will store your personal information and use it as they please at any time.
Victims of the Dosearches.com redirect virus have reported unwanted email spam, junk mail, and even telephone calls from telemarketers. Most of the unwanted communications have been in attempt to sell a victim items relating to their recent internet browser activity and occupation.
Search results displayed by Dosearches.com are not malicious as Dosearches.com may redirect users to Yahoo.com (search.yahoo.com); however, the domain http://dosearches.com/ displays malicious advertisements that promote offerware, never-ending survey scams, and malware. Advertisements displayed by Dosearches, including advertisements that claim you are the “100,000” visitor are essentially meant to scam individuals by claiming they can receive prices and rewards by manually submitting their personal information.
How does the Dosearches virus get onto a computer?
Dosearches malware often bundles with third-party downloadable content including freeware or shareware. If you recently installed questionable software or software from questionable sources, chances are you picked up software that may cause your internet browser to redirect to dosearches.com and other websites including search.conduit.com.
Unethical websites like download.com often bundle malware with their downloads in order to monetize free products and services based off the confusion and misfortune of it’s users.
Dosearches malware can also be contracted by clicking suspicious advertisements, social media content, torrent downloads, and more.
How to remove the Dosearches virus
- Uninstall Dosearches software – Use the correct procedures to uninstall software promoting the www.dosearches.com redirect (from 2 options)
- Remove Dosearches browser attachments – Remove Dosearches browser add-ons and extensions
- Automatically remove Dosearches malware – Scan for and remove malware infecting your computer system
- Manually remove dosearches.com homepage
- Manually remove dosearches.com Search Engine
- For Tech Support – Call 1-888-986-8411 and they will kindly assist you with removing this infection
1. Uninstall Dosearches (2 options)
Option 1: Windows Uninstall (Manual Uninstall)
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2. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program (depending on your version of Windows).
4. In the list of installed programs search for unwanted third party software (including programs you recently installed). Uninstall any unwanted software by double clicking the program’s icon, or highlight the program in the list and click the Uninstall button/tab.
Option 2: CCleaner by Piriform (Automated Uninstall)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can be used to uninstall stubborn software and software used to promote the Dosearches browser hijacker.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, navigate to Tools > Uninstall tab and locate unwanted software in the list. To automatically uninstall the found software click Run Uninstaller.
2. Remove Dosearches browser attachments
If necessary after uninstalling unwanted software, you may need to remove a browser add-on or extension. Please note, it may be necessary to remove multiple third-party titles.
Google Chrome
1. Click on the Customize icon (wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.
2. Search for the Dosearches extension and remove it by clicking the trashcan icon next to them.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Type Ctrl+Shift+A.
2. On the Extensions and Plugin search for the Dosearches add-on and remove it.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab search for the Dosearches add-on and remove it if located.
3. Automatically remove DoSearches malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be used to detect and remove Do Searches and/or third-party malware from your computer system.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, please do so.
3. Open the first tab labeled “Scanner” and select the Perform full scan option. Click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting your computer system.
4. Once the full system scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a message stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected).
4. Automatically repair browser settings (Automated repair)
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can also be used to repair internet browser settings and stop your browser from redirecting to dosearches.com and other unwanted search engines.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, run the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found. Look for anything that may be suspicious or contain “do or search” in the title or filename.
5. Manually remove dosearches.com homepage
- In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options or click Firefox in the top left corner and click Options > Options. Under the General tab remove dosearches.com from the “Home Page:” field and replace it with your preferred home page URL.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove dosearches.com from the Home Page field and replace it with your preferred URL.
- In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings.Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove dosearches.com and replace it with your preferred URL.
6. Manually remove dosearches.com Search Engine
- In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove the dosearches.com search engine from the list of search providers by highlighting the selections and clicking remove.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons > Search Providers and remove the dosearches.com search engine from the list.
- In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to the dosearches.com search engine to remove it.
Please note, If http://www.dosearches.com/ is set as Google Chrome’s default search engine, add (or select) a new search engine (such as Google.com) and select the new search engine as the default search engine, then remove unwanted search engine by clicking the X next to it.
This was a very thorough and helpful guide! Thank you so much!
Hi Sean, appart from buying software is there a way of removing do searches when it doesn’t show up in the google chrome settings?
You do not have to purchase software. It is listed as a suggestion and free version may work fine. Try the other manual instructions provided.
I would suggest to uninstall and remove any suspicious titles, recently downloaded freeware or shareware, and any similar items.
You may also uninstall and re-install your affected internet browser.