Recently my computer becomes very weird. No matter what favorite sites I input to browse, I am always redirected to one site called SearchShock.com. I did not browse this page before and never set it as my default browser. How did this happen? I have no idea how to get rid of it. It is very annoying. Is there any know what it is and how to kick it off? Please help.

Description of SearchShock.com Redirect

SearchShock.com redirect is recognized as a web browser hijacker that can invade your browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla firefox, Google chrome, etc. Browser hijacker could attack your web browsers and your PC without any warning. Like other browser hijacker redirect threats, this virus mainly intends to control your browser and changes your default search engine to SearchShock.com. At first glance, it does not look harmful at all. This search tool presents the regular Web, Images, Video and News searches, and its interface is not offensive in any way, but it behaves very weird. It tries to make you believe that SearchShock.com is a reliable website that can provide you with useful search results. However, if you want to perform a web search via the browser hijacker’s homepage, you would notice that it cannot even process your search query, and the search results on your screen are showed via Coupons bar which consequently redirects you to search.coupons-bar.com. In other words, as soon as you type in a keyword into the provided box and click the Search button, you are routed to search.coupons-bar.com. SearchShock.com is created by the cybercriminal and majors in making money. It comes with Web, Video, Images and News search options, and if you click on them, you will be brought to a random survey or adware-related website. If you are misled by this redirect virus and decide to use it as the search engine, it is possible that you will install useless software, expose your private and sensitive information to unfamiliar parties, and carelessly visit potentially corrupted websites. Finally, SearchShock.com redirect weakens your computer, generates web traffic and even crashes the operating system.

How can SearchShock.com hijacker get access into the computer? We usually download some free software or application such as videos, images from the Internet, but we must pay attention that Search Shock may be bundled in these free utilities. This virus is very tricky and can escape from the detection of antivirus program so you won’t get any security alert from antivirus program when it gets installed on your computer. That’s the reason why we usually don’t know how it can access our computer without notice at all. In addition, this kind of browser hijacker usually comes from those malicious websites, if you get on those malicious website, there are always some advertising strange links popping up to attract you to click on them, and once you click on them, the disaster also comes, because it can also open a backdoor for other malicious infections or adware to mess up your computer. In this case, your computer is not only infected by one virus but more. And those unwanted programs and adware may track your browsing habits and tries to steal your personal information like credit card or online banking account, password. Therefore, you should always be careful when you download some application or install software, as one software installer contains many plugins or optional installs, and this SearchShock.com browser may be one of them. To pay more attention to what you agree to install will be of great help to protect your computer.

Main Traits of SearchShock.com redirect

-Can change your homepage or the default search engine to SearchShock.com 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 this browser hijacker.

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

The Screenshot of This Web Page

SearchShock.com

Manual Removal Guide of Browser Hijacker (For Computer Literate)

There is a removal guide of SearchShock.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: Find Ctrl, Alt, and Delete these 3 keys and then press them together to open task manager to end the process related to this hijacker, the name of the process of it is random.

XP task manager

Step 2: Try to find Folder Options in Control Panel, select the View tab, and then tick Show hidden files and folders and non-tick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) and then click OK.

FolderOptions

Step 3: Click on Start button at the right lower corner, then click on Control Panel

XP-start-control-panel

Then you will come to the Control Panel windows, click on Add and Remove Programs

xp-add-remove-icon

Then try to find the program which relates to SearchShock.com hijacker, highlight it and choose Remove, the program’s name is random.

4789794954_df8cfb11b2

Step4: Change your homepage in your browser (Take Internet Explorer as an Example)

From the Navigation toolbar in Internet Explorer, click Tools and select Internet Options.

IE tools

Then type the URL you want into the Home page box and then click OK

IE8-Internet-Options

Similar video on browser hijacker removal:

Conclusion:

If your homepage is changed to SearchShock.com and the default search engine is modified to Search Shock, it is very likely that your browser is hijacked by a redirect virus. This browser hijack aims at attacking your website and modifying homepage or default search engine, and at the same time preventing you from visiting some websites about malware removal software, security websites and other legitimate sites that would provide you with virus removal help. Thus it can redirect you to the sites you don’t want to access. Among those sites there may be several or more malicious websites that try to deceive you into purchasing such fake commodity as fake antivirus program, coupon and so on. What’s worse, it can steal your important and sensitive information, so it is better to remove it as quickly as possible.
Suggestion: To follow removal guide that mentioned above, a level of computer knowledge is needed. Still can’t get out of SearchShock.com hijacker? Contact online experts for help now!

Published by Tony Shepherd & last updated on July 20, 2014 11:21 pm

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