How to remove Search.bytefence.com virus

by Sean Doyle · Published April 21, 2017 · Updated September 11, 2022

Search.bytefence.com virus

You may have browsed the web before and noticed many people and websites referring to something called the “Search.bytefence.com virus.” When people and websites use this term they are describing an occurrence when the ByteFence program changes your existing internet browser settings such as your homepage and default search engine and replaces them with Search.bytefence.com. By definition this is not a computer virus but it is a concern for many internet users.

Search.bytefence.com virus

Browser redirections to Search.bytefence.com usually happen when a new browser window is opened, a new browser tab is opened, or a search is performed in the address or omni bar.

The ByteFence program is detected by Antivirus programs as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware according to Google’s Virustotal.com website. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will detect ByteFence as PUP.Optional.ByteFence, Tencent programs will detect it as Net.Risk.Adware.Twcwc, and TrendMicro-HouseCall will detect it as Suspicious_GEN.F47V0409.

In addition, the program is questionable to many because of the way it is advertised. It is often found promoted by third-party software bundlers that also advertise malware, potentially unwanted programs, adware, spyware, and other threats. Third-party software bundlers oftentimes install additional programs without user consent or knowledge.

Remove Search.bytefence.com with Malwarebytes

BUY NOW FREE TRIAL FREE DOWNLOAD

Open your browser window and download Malwarebytes 3.0 Premium or Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free.
Open the executable file (mb3-setup.exe) to begin installing Malwarebytes.
Select your language, click Next, then select “I accept the agreement,” click the Next button several times, and then click the Install button to install Malwarebytes. Click Finish once the install process is complete.
Open Malwarebytes and click the Scan Now button on the Dashboard to begin scanning your computer.
Click the Quarantine Selected button once the scan is finished.
If Malwarebytes says “All selected items have been removed successfully. A log file has been saved to the logs folder. Your computer needs to be restarted to complete the removal process. Would you like to restart now?” click the Yes button to restart your computer.

Remove Search.bytefence.com with HitmanPro

BUY NOW FREE TRIAL

Open your browser window and download HitmanPro.
Open the executable file (hitmanpro_x64.exe or hitmanpro_x32.exe) to begin installing HitmanPro.
Click the Next button, check “I accept the terms of the license agreement,” and click the Next button again.
On the Setup page select “Yes, create a copy of HitmanPro so I can regularly scan this computer (recommended)” and add your email address to the registration fields to begin the free trial.
Click Next to begin scanning your computer.
Once the Scan results are displayed click the Next button and click the Next button again on the Removal results page.

Clean up junk files, repair registry, and fix other settings with CCleaner

BUY NOW FREE TRIAL FREE DOWNLOAD

Open your browser window and download CCleaner Professional or CCleaner Free.
Open the executable file (ccsetup.exe or other) to begin installing CCleaner.
Click the Install button to begin stalling the program.
Click Run CCleaner to open the program when installation is complete.
Select the Cleaner tab and click the Analyze button.
When the Analyze process is complete click the Run Cleaner button to clean all files.
Next, select the Registry tab and click the Scan for Issues button to scan for issues in your registry.
When the scan is complete click the Fix selected Issues button and Fix All Selected Issues button to fix the issues.
Next, select the Tools tab and click Startup. Examine each area, search for suspicious entries, and delete any suspicious startup entries by selecting the entry and clicking the Delete button.
Next, click Browser Plugins and search each internet browser for unwanted browser add-ons and extensions. Click the extension you want to delete and click the Delete button to remove it.

Manually repair browser settings

If you wish to keep the program installed on your computer you can manually change your settings back to normal in each browser individually. Instructions to manually repair your browser settings are listed below.