How To Remove The Searchnu Virus – Searchnu.com Redirect (Searchnu Removal Instructions)
What is Searchnu (Searchnu.com, Searchnu Virus)?
Searchnu, often referred to as the Searchnu virus is malware, categorized as a browser hijacker that changes internet browser settings without permission, causing internet searches to redirect to Searchnu webpages such as searchnu.com, search.searchnu.com, a variety of searchnu.com/ domains followed by a numerical series that may include searchnu.com/421 or searchnu.com/1443, and even search-results.com. The Searchnu virus also displays search results on the domain search-results.com.
Another symptom of the Searchnu virus is that it changes or hijacks internet browser homepages causing infected internet browsers to direct to Searchnu related websites upon start up. Furthermore Searchnu malware may also alter browser shortcuts, making it difficult to remove Searchnu and stop redirecting to searchnu.com and other websites.
The Searchnu hijack often installs alongside third-party software including freeware, shareware, codecs, and torrents. Searchnu may bundle with malware, including the Ilivid virus or adware such as Coupon Drop Down.
If your computer is infected with the Searchnu virus and redirecting to Searchnu.com, please use the free instructions included in this article to remove Searchnu and third-party malware.
Searchnu.com Dangers
There are many dangers concerning Searchnu.com concerning the invasion of privacy, entrapment, and cyber crime involving credit theft, identity theft, and extortion. Such browser hijackers are often capable of collecting, tracing, and tracking browser and computer activity, including personal data or information manually submitted online.
- Searchnu may display advertisements from adware and spyware platforms including popups and in text. Advertisements displayed may promote malicious links.
- Searchnu may open a backdoor for third party malware, including adware, browser hijackers, and spyware.
Use the options below to remove Searchnu and related websites such as Search-Results.com from your computer and browser as well as to detect and remove malware from your computer.
1. Anti-Malware Software (Detect And Remove Malware)
Malwarebytes is the most recommended Antivirus – Anti-Malware software used to scan, detect, and remove malware including browser hijackers such as Searchnu.com.
Optimization tools can be used to automatically remove Searchnu and repair start-up settings. A recommended tool is CCleaner by Piriform. If Antivirus or Anti-Malware software such as Norton 360 or Malwarebytes do not remove Searchnu, use a program such as CCleaner to remove Searchnu and repair internet browser settings. CCleaner can also be used to uninstall stubborn Searchnu software.
2. System Restore (Troubleshoot)
Perform a system restore to an automatic restore point created by Window’s each week or during system updates. This can be very helpful if you suspect a severe malware or virus infection. Once complete, repair your Home Page and Provided Search Engines if necessary to stop redirections. This can also be used to remove browser helper objects that may have negative affects on your system, including additional Searchnu software. Note, Windows creates restore points once a new program has been installed.
3. Uninstall Unwanted Programs
If a program associated with Searchnu.com is affecting your browser and system, search for it and uninstall it using Window’s Uninstaller.
Browser hijackers often install add-ons, extensions, and Toolbars, and in order to do so they sometimes have to install a program on your system. This program must be uninstalled before removing add-ons from specific browsers.
1. Access Window’s Start Menu and select Control Panel
2. Select Uninstall a program or Add and remove programs
3. Look for Searchnu related software in the list of installed programs, select it and click the Uninstall button or double click the program to remove it. If you can not find any, move on.
4. Remove Browser Helper Objects (Add-ons, Extensions, Toolbars)
As stated in the steps above, browser hijackers often install add-ons, extensions, and Toolbars to infiltrate internet browser how they please. Such as to change the home page and internal search engine or to spy and collect users information.
Use the steps below to search for and remove malicious Searchnu related add-ons, extensions, and toolbars per each browser installed on your computer.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click Tools and select Add-ons. (Ctrl+Shift+A)
2. On the Extensions and Plugin look for any suspicious add-ons and Toolbars related to Searchnu and remove them.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab look for any suspicious add-ons and Toolbars related to Searchnu and remove them.
Google Chrome
1. Click on the Wrench or 3 bar icon next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.
2. Look for any suspicious extensions and Toolbars that may be related to Searchnu and remove them by clicking the trashcan icon.
5. Repair Home Page
Use these steps to remove Searchnu.com websites from your home page such as searchnu.com, search.searchnu.com, a variety of searchnu.com/ domains followed by a numerical series such as searchnu.com/421 or searchnu.com/1443, and even search-results.com.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click Tools and select Options.
2. On the General tab remove searchnu.com and it’s associated webpages and click Restore to Default or add you preferred URL.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Internet Options.
2. On the General tab remove searchnu.com and it’s associated webpages and click Restore to Default or add your preferred URL.
Google Chrome
1. Click on the Wrench or 3 bar icon next to the address bar and select Settings.
2. Under the On startup section click Set pages.
3. Click the X next to the searchnu.com and it’s associated webpages then add or keep your preferred URL such as botcrawl.com.
6. Repair Provided Search Engines
Use the instructions below to stop your browsers internal search engine from redirecting to searchnu.com based search results such as search-results.com.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Click the small search arrow or magnify glass near the search bar at the top of the internet browser.
2. Select Manage search engines…
3. Select searchnu.com, search-results.com, and/or associated websites and click remove. If you don’t see a Suddenlink webpage it may also be set as default 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 searchnu.com, search-results.com, and/or associated websites and click the Remove button.
Google Chrome
1. Click the 3 bar or wrench settings icon and select Settings.
2. In the Search section select the Manage search engines… button.
3. Remove searchnu.com, search-results.com, and/or associated websites by clicking the X next to the URL when highlighted.
If searchnu.com, search-results.com, or other websites are set as the default search engine, add and chose another search engine (such as Google.com) as a default engine by selecting it (Google.com) and clicking the make default transparent blue box that appears shown in the image below.
7. Delete Cache And Cookies
If you visited searchnu.com, search-results.com, and/or associated websites and fear you and your data is being traced, tracked, and/or used against your consent it is recommended to delete your browser data. You can delete your browser cache and cookie files in your browser’s preference or settings options.
8. Repair DNS Settings (If Necessary)
In some scenarios concerning browser hijackers, DNS IP addresses have been changed without permission. To check your DNS IP settings please refer our previous article about a service called Open DNS.
