Remove Search26.co Hijacker (Chrome/Firefox/IE)

Can’t Remove Search26.co hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Search26.co Removal instructions!

Search26.co is a bad sign. It indicates that your computer is no longer free of threat. It announces that, in fact, there’s a browser hijacker, lurking in the shadow. It managed to slither its way in via deception. And, is now, making a colossal mess of everything. The infection gains entry to your PC, then puts you through a nightmarish experience. It spreads its clutches throughout, and influences every aspect of your system. The tool begins your browsing. That’s when you first notice the manifestation of its touch. It hijacks your default homepage and search engine. And, places Search26.co there, instead. No, you didn’t agree to the switch. Yes, it’s fact, nonetheless. Search26.co also appears every single time you browse. If you do anything online, you WILL see the site. The hijacker will find a way to force it on you. Open a new tab, and Search26.co is there. Type a search, and Search26.co is there, too. The site shows up everywhere. And, it’s not the only interference, you encounter. The hijacker also floods your screen with ads. Every type of advertisement there is, you see on your screen. That incessant intrusion doesn’t go unnoticed for long. It takes its toll. Your system starts to crash all the time. Your computer slows down. It’s a mess. The hijacker makes a mess. Don’t let. Do yourself a favor, and avoid the dangers, the infection poses. Get rid of it the first chance you get. Once you see Search26.co on your screen, acknowledge it as the warning it is. Find where the hijacker lurks. And, delete it. Do it NOW.

How did I get infected with?

Search26.co pops up, because of a hijacker. But what about the hijacker? These tools don’t appear as if by magic, out of thin air. They require permission. Yours. They have to ask if you allow their installment. Only if you do, can they proceed with the process. That’s why, they do their best to get your consent. Yes, they do ask for your approval on their entry. But, they do it via slyness and subtlety. They’re so sneaky that, if you’re not careful enough, that’s it. You end up with Search26.co. That’s what they count on. That’s the key ingredient that ensures their covert invasion. Your carelessness. The hijacker needs you to rush, and throw caution to the wind. Not to bother doing due diligence. To leave your fate to chance. Do NOT oblige! Always take the time to be thorough. Even a little extra attention goes a long way. Remember that. Te most common invasive methods, include the following. Freeware, false system or program updates, spam email attachments, corrupted links. Don’t forget to b cautious. Double-check everything, and look for the fine print. Vigilance keeps infections out of your system. The lack thereof invites them in. Make the right choice.

Why is this dangerous?

The infection, behind Search26.co, is dreadful. It doesn’t only mess with your browsing. The online interference is a minor inconvenience. Especially, when compared to the worst part of having a hijacker. The security hazard. That’s right. The nasty threat jeopardizes your privacy. It follows programming to spy on you from the moment it invades. And, that’s what it does. The tool spies on you. It tracks every move you make, and records it. Yes, records it. When it determines it has gathered enough information, it sends it. To whom? Well, to the unknown individuals that published it. Cyber criminals with malicious intentions. Are you willing to trust them with your personal and financial details? How about you don’t? Keep your privacy private. Don’t allow the hijacker to run rampant on your PC. Get rid of it as soon as the opportunity presents itself. You won’t regret it. Its prompt removal is the best course of action you can take.

How to Remove Search26.co virus

The Search26.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 Search26.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 Search26.co related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Search26.co startup location

STEP 3: Delete Search26.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Search26.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 Search26.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 Search26.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 Search26.co traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Search26.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 Search26.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 Search26.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 Search26.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 Search26.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.