Is your browser going crazy and it keeps displaying pop-up ads whenever you go online? Can’t search any information on Google because each time you click on a link in a Google search result, it will redirect you to a completely unrelated website like r.looksmart.com? Is your computer infected with malware? Please read the following post carefully to find a best solution to clean up your computer and get rid of this kind of redirect virus immediately.
“r.looksmart.com” Hijacker/Redirect Description:
r.looksmart.com is another browser hijacker that secretly infiltrates into Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome and replaces your default search provider without your permission. Though it is not a new threat, it still affects many vulnerable computers and makes trouble to innocent users. In most cases, this hijacker gets installed by disguising itself to be a free and useful extension or add-on, and then it can be bundled with other freeware. If you download those freeware on your computer, your browsers will be taken control and also your browsing experience will be disturbed by crazy commercial ads. Therefore, it is crucial to be careful when installing any new program to your computer and always go for Custom or Advanced installation. If you notice any options offering to install unknown applications, there is a big chance that it will try to add a program by third parties. Always deselect these options.
If your browser is infected with r.looksmart.com redirect, you will find it hard to browse online. Every time you go to google to search up something, it lags and then when you click a link, it redirects you to a different site. Malware associated with this hijacker will also include a rootkit component designed to conceal the presence of this malware as well as disable any legitimate security programs that it detects on the infected computer. Thus, it is not surprised that you find nothing suspicious after running a lot of antivirus programs. However, computer users still can check if computer has been attacked because a browser redirect threat always display visible symptoms on the target computer like:
Home page is replaced and favorite search engines are disabled.
Unknown toolbars or extensions are automatically installed.
Annoying pop-up ads are everywhere on the webs.
Users are constantly redirected to unwanted results.
Browser is slow in loading pages.
…
If you have already noticed r.looksmart.com redirect on your browser, you may also detect a lot of ads when you make searches. The program tends to add many sponsored websites in your search results. Although this page seems to be a useful search provider, it just provides fake search results. The only goal of such virus is to use the artificial traffic to boost affiliate payments. Hence, don’t hesitate to get rid of r.looksmart.com pop-up once it is found.
How to delete r.looksmart.com hijacker on browsers completely?
To stop the annoying pop ups on browsers, users can manually get rid of this threat on computer. Besides from resetting browser defaults including home page and getting rid of unfamiliar extensions, users will also need to go through the process of checking for odd program files and registry errors which could be caused by potential malware problems brought onto the computer by this browser hijacker. Manual removal is an efficient way to get rid of this pop up completely. Certain levels of computer skills will be required during the process to perform the removal correctly.
Suggestions: If you are not a computer literate who knows a lot about computers, contact YooSecurity Online PC Experts for help now to delete this pop up hijacker and prevent things from getting worse:
r.looksmart.com Redirect Screenshot
How to get rid of r.looksmart.com adware from computer?
As mentioned above, manual removal is much more efficient and guarantees a successful uninstall of this adware from computer compared to anti-virus removal. As the browser hijacker is not only able to reset browser defaults to cause disorders, but adjust certain files and registry keys to make its effect last longer. Thus, besides from resetting browser defaults, uninstalling unknown extensions and clearing browsing histories manually, users will also need to check for program files and registry errors in order to completely fix this browser problem. A guide is contained below to walk you through the basic steps to remove the pop up hijacker.
Browser Hijacker Manual Removal Instructions
A step-by-step guide to remove the hijacker popup manually from Mozilla Firefox:
1. Windows Task Manager.
Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE or CTRL+SHIFT+ESC; or pull up Run box from Start menu to type in taskmgr
Right click on items you want to end, select Go To Process
Click on End Process
or
Click on Processes tab
End process of all Firefox items/ r.looksmart.com hijacker
2. Delete virus files and adjust registries from system.
Click on Start button
Control Panel
Search for “folder options” on top right corner
Click on View tab
Show hidden files, folders, and drives
C:\Users\profile name here\AppData\-
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\-
* Files and registries of the r.looksmart.com pop up adware can be changed or renamed time from time in order to keep the infection functioning longer. If you are not able to identify the related items, contact online experts for help instantly.
3. Reset Firefox.
Click on Tools – Options
Under General tab – reset home page on Firefox
Under Privacy tab – clear browsing histories
4. Close out all the windows and restart the system to take effects.
Video guide on browser hijacker removal:
Alternatively, you can view this browser hijacker removal video guide directly on our website:
Conclusion
r.looksmart.com is a deceptive website which pretends to be a legitimate search engine. It will not provide you any reliable search results related to your queries and instead it will produce a lot of troubles to interrupt your browsing experience. This redirect trojan will hijack web browsers such as Safari, IE, FireFox, Chrome, modify the DNS and redirect search results in Google, Yahoo and Bing to a multiple undesirable websites. If you want to search information by Google or Bing, you will find that the results will be rerouted to other dubious websites. Thus, you can’t go to the page you’re looking for straight away. Considering this threat is able to compromise your web browser and change your default search engine and homepage against your will, take immediate action to remove it from your computer now.
Note: Still can’t stop the annoying pop ups on webs? Browser won’t work because of the adware problem? Please contact YooSecurity Online Experts for help now to completely remove the hijacker from your computer as soon as possible:
Published by Tony Shepherd & last updated on April 17, 2014 8:46 am
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