Hello, I just got this browser hijacker called Search.playsearchnow.com. It has been on my web browser Microsoft Edge for several days. What frustrates me is the popups displayed by this domain. It changes my homepage Google and search tool. So now I have to use this fake search site. But when I search something there, I can’t get the correct search results but some spam information. I also found that web page keeps loading but can’t show me the page completely. It seems very slow. I guess all those issues should be caused by this crap, but how can I get rid of it completely?

Belief Introduce of Search.playsearchnow.com Hijacker

Search.playsearchnow.com has been classified as a browser hijacker to attack web browsers like Internet Explorer, Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox. It changes the default homepage and search engine. Whenever you start up your web browser, this domain just becomes your start page and you can’t even change back your favorite homepage. It usually will redirect you to some malicious webpage and links. Those spam things can drop some vicious application or file into system without your permission. Actually those websites it redirects you to are hacked and inserted malware or virus by remote hackers. So if your computer gets some vicious thing running, the malware or virus may soon activate and corrupt system files and settings. Search.playsearchnow.com hijacker together with junks created by this browser hijacker will take up too much system resource and internet resource, then you will find computer works slowly and internet speed runs as a snail. That’s the reason why some webpages can’t be displayed. Even sometimes, this browser hijacker can totally change DNS server to block your access to the internet. Anyway, web browser will suffer from a lot problem resulting from this browser hijacker.

What’s worse, Search.playsearchnow.com hijacker is capable to bring other malware or virus through those popups into computer system. And other malware as well virus will seriously mess up system. Many functions will be disordered by aggressive virus and malware like Trojan horse and rogue antispyware. So if you see popups, you don’t click to open those craps. Or you will let dangerous infections access system. When you visit websites with many popups, you should stop visiting soon. This is a way to protect your computer from being infected with computer virus. Also those fake update messages popping up from some website are misleading, and you should not trust and click on the message banner. One clicking will install fake antivirus program, virus-infected extension or add-on. Besides, spam email is also a good place for browser hijacker like Search.playsearchnow.com, Trojan horse and malware to hide there. it usually say some attractive contents to trick people into clicking links or buttons, then virus and malware thing soon activate in few seconds and get installed. Keeping an eye on what you browse on the internet will help stop computer infections.

Symptoms Caused by Search.playsearchnow.com Hijacker

-Can change your homepage or the default search engine and it totally prevents you from changing them back

-Can always redirect you to other websites

-Can pop up various advertisements and sponsored links randomly to interrupt your online activities

-Can create many junk files which occupy a lot of space in hard drive

-Can download other malicious programs into computer, which make further damage.

-Can collect and send data concerning your search history and other browsing activities.

-Your sensitive information can be tracked and stolen by hacker who can access to your computer with the help of browser hijacker.

NOTE: If you find any of these symptoms on your computer, that proves your PC is under attack and seriously infected with Search.playsearchnow.com hijacker. If you are not a computer savvy, Please contact YooSecurity Online PC Experts to remove this browser hijacker for you.

The Screenshot of Search.playsearchnow.com Hijacker

search-playsearchnow-com

Manual Removal Guide of Browser Hijacker (For Computer Literate)

There is a removal guide of Search.playsearchnow.com hijacker provided here; however, expertise is required during the process of removal, please make sure you are capable to do it by yourself.

Step 1: Press CTRL, SHIFT and ESC  these three keys together at the same time to pull up Windows Task Manager; click Processes tab on top and scroll down the list to find and end odd processes related to this browser hijacker. Names of the processes are random.

Windows Task Manager

Step 2: Open Control Panel from Start Menu, then open Programs, click on Uninstall a program. Find suspicious programs or tool-bars related to the Search.playsearchnow.com hijacker. Right click on it and select Uninstall.

Programs and Features

Step 3: Go to Folder Options in Control Panel, select the View tab, and then mark “Show hidden files, folders, and drivers” and unmark “Hide protected operating system files” (Recommended) and then click Apply or OK.

Folder Options

Step 4: Go to Registry Editor to delete the path of the related items with the Search.playsearchnow.com browser hijacker.

Registry Editor

Step 5: Clear all history, data and cookies of your infected web browser.

Search.playsearchnow.com hijacker has the ability to insert into web browser and spy on user’s online activities, so it is suggested to delete all history, data and cookies of the infected web browser before a complete removal. Take Internet Explorer for example:

a. From the “Tool” menu button in the upper-right corner of the Internet Explorer window, choose “Safety” > “Delete browsing history…“.

Delete Browsing History 1

b. Then tick Cookie and website data and History, click Delete.

Delete Browsing History

Step 6: Change your homepage of the infected web browser (Take Internet Explorer as Example)

From the Navigation toolbar in Internet Explorer, click Tools menu and select Internet Options, then click General tab, and input the URL you want into the Home page box and then click OK.

Homepage

Similar video on browser hijacker removal:

Conclusion:

Search.playsearchnow.com is not a normal webpage and a useful search tool. If you keep this fake search site a long time on your computer, many computer problems will happen in future. Your web browser first will perform improperly. Browser often gets stuck, hang or unresponsive. DNS server settings of some websites are changed and you’re blocked to access the site.  Strange and unexpected toolbars, bookmarks, add-ons will stay on your web browser. When you’re browsing online, you will be disturbed by tons of endless irrelevant pop-ups. But you don’t click on any of them as your computer system can be attacked by more other virus or malware. Search.playsearchnow.com hijacker also has a bad effect on computer performance. It will slow down performance of computer, which will let computer run slower than before. Your computer may get hang or frozen for some time while you runs many programs or perform many tasks at the same time. even worse, this browser hijacker can assist cyber hackers to collect your personal information stored on the Internet and computer disk in order to gain more illegal benefits. Please get rid of this browser hijacker as soon as possible before any damages and data loss caused by it.

Suggestion: To follow removal guide that mentioned above, a level of computer knowledge is needed. Still can’t get out of browser hijacker? Contact online experts for help now!

Published by Tony Shepherd & last updated on November 26, 2016 5:39 am

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