How To Remove The Search.Openmediasoft.com Redirection Virus and Uninstall Open Media Soft Hijacker Malware
What is Search.openmediasoft.com (Openmediasoft.com)?
Search.Openmediasoft.com (Openmediasoft.com, Openmediasoft virus) is malicious website that utilizes browser hijackers to infect system in order to alter browser settings such as the home page and provided search engine causing infected internet browsers to redirect to Search.Openmediasoft.com and other unwanted web addresses associated with Openmediasoft.com and the Openmediasoft redirection virus.
On top of hijacked browser settings, the Openmediasoft virus is also used by cyber scammers alongside third party malware platforms including adware and spyware. These third parties are paid each time they bundle with Openmediasoft add-ons, extensions, and toolbars or perform other malicious task such as turning over legitimate Chrome Extensions to Openmediasoft for money (Since Openmediasoft is obviously malicious, they’re not actually allowed to submit their own extensions to Google’s repository). For every 100 infected computers, the Openmediasoft malware distributor is paid $2500 a month, and so on (image below).
Search.Openmediasoft.com and Openmediasoft.com URLs in general are very corrupt and dangerous. The Search.Openmediasoft.com infection and related malware has been reported to trace, track, and remotely distribute victim’s information without consent. The information collected can be as minuscule as the infected user’s screen resolution and as severe as credit card and social security numbers (via keyloggers).
Why is my browser redirecting to Search.Openmediasoft.com?
If your internet browser is redirecting to Search.Openmediasoft.com, Openmediasoft.com, and other URLs assocated with Openmediasoft without your permission (including Google pop-up windows) your computer is infected with malware and your provided search engines have been changed without consent. Redirections are often prompted when searching the internet or typing URLs into the browser’s address bar.
The Open Media Soft virus (Search.Openmediasoft.com) may have been contracted while visiting a website hosting malware, falling victim to phishing scams, downloading free or shared software, and other possibilities. As stated before, the Openmediasoft.com extension often installs alongside third parties in order to generate an unethical revenue source.
How to remove Search.Openmediasoft.com, Openmediasoft virus
There are multiple options to remove the Openmediasoft virus and third party malware negatively affecting your system below.
1. Anti-Malware Software (Detect And Remove Malware)
Malwarebytes is the most recommended Antivirus / Anti-Malware software used to scan, detect, and remove malware such as adware, browser hijackers, and related parasites, including Search.Openmediasoft.com and the intruder utilizing the Openmediasoft.com program. View other reputable Antivirus software recommendations.
2. System Restore (Optional Troubleshooting)
Perform a system restore to an automatic restore point created by Windows each week or during system updates. A System Restore can be used to “restore” the computer to a date and time before the Search Openmediasoft infection and other parasites were initially contracted.
- Learn more and view complete System Restore instructions
- Learn more and view Windows 8 Refresh and Reset instructions
3. Uninstall Openmediasoft Application (Window’s Uninstaller)
Browser hijackers and related malware often install a program onto a computer system in order to properly accommodate the strategy of the parasite infection. Use the directions below to completely uninstall the Openmediasoft program.
Search for Openmediasoft and third party software on your computer. If any suspicious programs are found, research them and if needed remove them.
Windows Uninstaller
1. Access Window’s Start Menu and select Control Panel
2. Select Uninstall a program or Add and remove programs
3. Look for Openmediasoft and other suspicious (potentially malicious) applications/software in the list of installed programs and click the Uninstall button or double click the program to remove it.
4. Remove Search Openmediasoft Toolbar, Add-ons, & Extensions
Before removing Openmediasoft and related add-ons, extensions, and toolbars, make sure you have uninstalled any relating software from your computer using the steps above.
Use the steps below to remove the Openmediasoft browser helper objects attached to each browser installed on your computer that are causing your browser to redirect to Search.Openmediasoft.com and other advertisement or search based websites.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click Tools and select Add-ons. (Ctrl+Shift+A)
2. On the Extensions and Plugin search for Openmediasoft Toolbar and additional third party add-ons. Remove Openmediasoft and any third party add-ons if located.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab search Openmediasoft Toolbar and additional third party add-ons. Remove Openmediasoft and any third party add-ons if located.
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 Openmediasoft Toolbar and additional third party extensions. Remove the Openmediasoft extensions (and others) by clicking the trashcan icon adjacent to the add-on/extension/toolbar.
5. Repair Home Page (Remove Search.Openmediasoft.com)
The Search.Openmediasoft.com virus causes home pages to change to webpages such as Search.Openmediasoft.com, Home.Openmediasoft.com, Start.Openmediasoft.com and others without permission. In fact the URL that may use Openmediasoft.com can technically be any combination of web-ready keys such as 1.Openmediasoft.com, dachshund.Openmediasoft.com, and even Pizzapartypicnic.Openmediasoft.com.
The instructions below detail how to remove Search.Openmediasoft.com and other associated URLs from your home page for internet browsers Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Google Chrome.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click Tools and select Options.
2. On the General tab search for and remove Search.Openmediasoft.com and other malicious URLs. Click Restore to Default or add your preferred web address once Search.Openmediasoft.com (etc) is removed.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Internet Options.
2. On the General tab remove Search.Openmediasoft.com and other and other malicious URLs. Click Restore to Default or add your preferred web address as your home page.
Google Chrome
1. Click on the Customize and control Google Chrome icon (Wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and select Settings.
2. Under the On startup section click Set pages.
3. To remove Search.Openmediasoft.com and other malicious URLs that have hijacked Google Chrome’s home page (Start up page), click the X next to Search.Openmediasoft.com when Search.Openmediasoft.com is highlighted by clicking it (shown in the image below). Click OK. Add or keep your preferred home page address such as botcrawl.com, or Google.com.
6. Repair Search Engine (Stop Redirecting To Search.Openmediasoft.com)
If your browser is redirecting to Search.Openmediasoft.com, Home.Openmediasoft.com, Start.Openmediasoft.com and other unwanted websites while searching the internet using the address bar or inputting URLs into the address bar, etc, use the steps below to repair your browser’s internal search engine.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click the small search arrow or magnify glass near the search bar at the top of the internet browser.
2. Click the Manage search engines… option.
3. Select the Openmediasoft.com search address and click remove. If you don’t see the malicious search provider on the list of search engines, it might be set as the default engine or listed under Other search engines.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. Navigate to the Search Providers list.
3. Select the Openmediasoft.com search address and click the Remove button.
Google Chrome
1. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome icon (3 bar or wrench icon) and select Settings.
2. In the Search section click the Manage search engines… button.
3. Remove the Openmediasoft.com search provider by clicking the X next to it when highlighted.
If the Openmediasoft.com search provider is set as the default search engine on Google Chrome, add or chose another search engine (such as Google.com) as a default engine by selecting the legitimate search engine and clicking the make default transparent blue box that appears when the selection is highlighted.
7. Delete Browser Cache And Cookie Files (Browser Data)
If you visited Openmediasoft.com and/or suspicious websites during the Openmediasoft infection, or clicked promoted third party adware links related to Openmediasoft.com browser hijackers, it is strongly recommended to delete your browser data to protect your privacy. You can delete your browser cache and cookie files in your browser’s preference or settings.
