Search.hnotepadpro.co Hijacker Removal

Can’t Remove Search.hnotepadpro.co hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Search.hnotepadpro.co Removal instructions!

Browser hijackers are known to alter victim’s browsing settings, in order to generate specific kind of advertisement content that the user is most likely to click on. Victims can easily be tempted because this virus has the ability to steal their browsing habits to make sure that the shown ads would steer their curiosity. If your browser has been hijacked, your homepage, as well as new tab windows and search engine will be replaced by Search.hnotepadpro.co. This website redirects to suspicious and often dangerous third-party sites that acan further infect the computer with other viruses. Not to mention the risk of hackers getting a hold of all the personal data of the user such as passwords, credit card numbers, bank account credentials, IP addresses, ID logins, various file types like documents, photos, executable files, etc.

How did I get infected with?

Hijackers are a nuisance to have. In most cases, victims don’t even realize they are giving malicious software access to their computer. This often happens when they install free software from illegitimate sites or by opening spam emails and attachments, as well as click on suspicious ads, pop-ups, fake updates and blinking messages. As far as installing software is concerned, users are strongly advised to opt for a Custom/Advanced installation in Setup Wizard, so they can have full control over what kind of programs and applications they are about to let in their computer. This way, any undisclosed software from those free bundles will be exposed for the user to see. A key rule is to always update and install content from licensed and official websites. An infected torrent file can also be a bearer of malicious software, which is why downloading from pirate sources is not recommended.

Why is this dangerous?

While the Search.hnotepadpro.co website is not considered a virus itself, its redirects can lead to suspicious sites that can cause severe damages to your computer by infection it with viruses like Trojan Horses, ransomware, worms, etc. By altering user’s browser settings, this hijacker can generate revenue from the pay-per-click method. It is possible that the shown content is presented like a legitimate advertisement, by including big brand names like PayPal, eBay, Amazon, etc. Which is why the user can be easily misled to click on them. If you happen to fall victim to such malicious software, there are some steps you can take, in order to remove this virus from your computer. In this article we can show you how to deal with this hijacker before it steals your private information and lose not only money, but all of your personal files as well. Just follow the instructions below.

How to Remove Search.hnotepadpro.co virus

The Search.hnotepadpro.co infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the Search.hnotepadpro.co infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down Search.hnotepadpro.co related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search.hnotepadpro.co startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search.hnotepadpro.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search.hnotepadpro.co related processes in the computer memory

• Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
• Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Search.hnotepadpro.co startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

• Open any folder
• Click on “Organize” button
  
• Choose “Folder and Search Options”
• Select the “View” tab
• Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
• Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
• Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean Search.hnotepadpro.co virus from the windows registry

• Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

• and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

• Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

STEP 3 : Clean Search.hnotepadpro.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search.hnotepadpro.co by clicking on the little recycle bin
• Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

• Open Mozilla Firefox

• Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
• Disable the unwanted Extension
• Go to Help
• Then Troubleshoot information
• Click on Reset Firefox

• Open Internet Explorer

• On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
• Click on Internet options
• go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
• Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Search.hnotepadpro.co

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for Search.hnotepadpro.co, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

• Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
• go to Network and Internet
• then Network and Sharing Center
• then Change Adapter Settings
• Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

• Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

• in the target field remove Search.hnotepadpro.co argument and then apply the changes.
• Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
• Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove Search.hnotepadpro.co Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.