How to Remove Search.protectedio.com Homepage (Removal Help)

Techexpert

9 years ago

Question

I am getting Search.protectedio.com on my home screen most of the time, it is very irritating. Please help!! How to remove Search.protectedio.com? from Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox.

Answer

Explanation & Solution

It’s a fake search website associated with a browser hijacker. This uses fake web links to promote the company that developed it. It’s designed to look like a legitimate addon, but in fact it will interfere considerably with your browsing. It can also potentially expose you to dangerous websites, so you should delete Search.protectedio.com as soon as you can. You can find out how to uninstall it here.

Search.protectedio.com Homepage Removal Image

Search.protectedio.com is usually installed without your knowledge, since it is most often bundled with other software from a file download site. When it is specifically mentioned, it’s called unwanted search website and pretends to be a security scanning program to trick you into not wanting to get rid of it. Usually, though, it’s installed silently if you don’t stop it, such as when using the default install option for the package you choose.

The most obvious, and most annoying, symptom is that your search requests will be intercepted by the unwanted searches. You’ll be sent to the Search.protectedio.com website frequently. This looks like a basic but legitimate search hub, with a simple design and many text links. However, these links are there to promote specific companies, not to help with your search. Some may lead to sites containing viruses and other malware.

Search.protectedio.com can infect all major browsers, so using Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox instead of Internet Explorer won’t stop it. For that reason, you’ll need to be careful when you’re browsing, especially when downloading files. Always check with a trusted source about programs claiming to be security software, never grab files from untrustworthy websites, and always use the custom install option.

How can you remove Search.protectedio.com?

Although using the Windows Control Panel to uninstall Protectedio may seem the obvious answer, this won’t actually give you back a clean computer. You will still have a browser that sends you to Search.protectedio.com on a regular basis, so you’ll still be at risk. To delete the unwanted adware, you can follow the steps we provide here. These are easy to understand and will completely get rid of the Search.protectedio.com infected files. Follow the following instructions.

Removal Instructions

Automatic Fixit

Download Adware Remover Tool to remove Search.protectedio.com Automatically, It’s a Freeware utility specially designed for Adware Removal. This tool can remove most of the Adwares from Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. It can remove all the traces of Search.protectedio.com from registry as well.

Adware-Removal-Tool.exe

Manual Steps

Step 1: To Uninstall Search.protectedio.com from computer

Click on Start button and then click on Control Panel.
Now click on Programs –> Uninstall a program or Program and Features (Windows-7, 8, Vista). You also may click on “Uninstall a program”

For Windows XP users click on Add/Remove Programs.

You’ll get a window which has listed all the installed programs.
Uninstall “Search.protectedio.com” from there.

(Note: If you face any type of problem while uninstalling Search.protectedio.com” then you can use Revo uninstaller tool, it can it remove forcefully. Click here to download Revo Uninstaller Tool).
Also do uninstall all the unwanted & unknown programs which are listed in “Suspicious Programs list”(See below for the list). You should uninstall them immediately if you found any into your computer.

(Note: If you face any type of problem while uninstalling anything from control panel then you can use Revo uninstaller tool, it can remove any software forcefully. Click here to download Revo Uninstaller Tool).
Uninstall all unwanted programs

Suspicious Programs list

Browser defender
HD-Plus 1.8
Vplay
Browser protect
Browser protected by conduit
Delta search, Babylon
LessTabs
WebCake 3.0
Yealt
LyricsContainer
VideoSaver
AddLyrics
privacy safe guard
unfriend checker
Price peep today
Coupon amazine
TidyNetwork.com
DownloadTerms 1.0
Yontoo

Also uninstall all the unwanted & unknown programs which are not listed here.

Step 2 : To Remove Search.protectedio.com from Internet Explorer.

Step 2.1: Remove Search.protectedio.com from homepage

Open Internet Explorer then go to Tools menu (Press “F10” key once to active the menu bar) and then click on Internet Option a configuration page will be opened, then click on General tab. Now look into under HOME PAGE Edit Box you will get www.Search.protectedio.com, replace it to www.google.com, then click on apply and close.

Step 2.2: Remove Search.protectedio.com add-ons from Internet Explorer.

Open Internet Explorer then go to Tools menu (press “F10” key once to active menu bar) and then click on Internet Option a configuration page will be opened
Click on Programs tab then click on Manage Add-ons, now you’ll get a window which have listed all the installed add-ons.
Now disable the Search.protectedio.com add-on, also disable all the unknown / unwanted add-ons from this list. (As per below screenshot).

Step 2.3: Reset Internet Explorer

Open Internet Explorer. Click on Tools menu (Press “F10” key once to active the menu bar), click on Internet Option. A internet option window will open.
For IE9, IE10 users may click on Gear icon . Then click on tools.

Click on Advanced tab then click on RESET button.
Now you will get a new popup for confirmation, tick mark on Delete personal setting then click on RESET button on that. (As shown on below screenshot)
Now your Internet Explorer has been Restored to default settings.

Now you will appear a popup stated “complete all the tasks”. After completion click on close button.

Step 3 : To Remove Search.protectedio.com from Mozilla Firefox

Step 3.1 : Remove Search.protectedio.com from Mozilla Hompeage

Open Mozilla Firefox, Click on Tools menu (If tools menu doesn’t appear then press “F10” key once to active the menu bar) then go to Options, after that a configuration page will be opened, then click on General tab and then look on the very first section named as Startup. Under start-up you will see a HOME PAGE Edit Box, under this edit box you will see www.Search.protectedio.com, please replace it to www.google.com, then click on apply and close.
Restart Firefox Browser

Step 3.2 : Remove Search.protectedio.com from add-ons

Open Firefox and then go the Tools menu (Press “F10” key once to active Menu bar) click on Add-ons, you’ll get a page click on extensions from the left side pane. now look on right side pane you’ll get all the installed add-ons listed on there. Disable or Remove Search.protectedio.com add-on, also disable all the unknown / unwanted add-ons from there. (As per below screen shot)

Step 3.3: Reset Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and then go the Help menu (Press “F10” key once to active Menu bar)
Go to Help menu then click on “Troubleshooting information”
Note: you can also open this page in this ways, open Firefox then type this command in the address bar “about:support” (without quote) and then hit enter or OK.
You will get a page “Troubleshooting information” page, here you will get “Reset Firefox” option in the right side of the page.
Click on Reset Firefox option and then follow their instructions to reset firefox.
Mozilla Firefox should be Restored.

Step 4 : To Remove Search.protectedio.com from Google Chrome

Step 4.1: Remove unwanted homepage & search engine from Google Chrome

Start Google Chrome, click on options icon (Located in very top right side of the browser), click on Settings. You will get a configuration page.
Under configuration page find a option named as “Open a specific page or set of pages” click on its Set Pages. Another window will come up. Here you will appear the bunch of URL’s under “Set pages”. Delete all them and then enter only one which you want to use as your home page.

In the same configuration page click on Manage search engines button. Delete all the search engines from there, just keep only www.goole.com as your default search Engine.

Step 4.2 : Remove unwanted extensions from Google Chrome

Start Google Chrome, click on options icon (Located in very top right side of the browser), then click on Tools then, click on Extensions. (As shown on below screenshot)

You will get a configuration page which have listed all the installed extensions, remove Search.protectedio.com extension. Also remove all the unknown / unwanted extensions from there. To remove them, click on remove (recycle bin) icon (as shown on screenshot)

Step 4.3 : Reset Google Chrome – Restore to default setting.

Open Google Chrome, click on menu icon and then click on settings (Note: menu icon is located right side top corner it is look like this: ). (See the below screenshot for better understand)
Scroll down and click on “Show advanced settings…”option, after click on that you’ll appear some more options in bottom of the page. Now scroll down more and click on “Reset Browser setting” option. (See the below screenshot for better understand)
Now, Close all Google Chrome browser’s window and reopen it again.

Step 5 : Remove Search.protectedio.com infection from Windows shortcuts.

Follow the following steps for all browser’s shortcuts like: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari as well.

Right click on the shortcut of Internet Explorer and then do left click on the properties option. You’ll get a shortcut’s properties.
Click on shortcut tab and then delete the “www.Search.protectedio.com/?utm” string from target field.
Need to delete this URL:

Repeat the above steps on all browser’s shortcuts like: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari in all location Desktop / Taskbar / Startmenu.

Remove Search.protectedio.com infection from startmenu’s shortcuts.

Remove Search.protectedio.com infection from taskbar’s shortcuts.

Step 6 : To Remove Search.protectedio.com from Registry

Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “REGEDIT” into the run box then click on OK. You’ll get a registry editor window.
In the registry editor, click on Edit menu and then click on find option, you’ll get edit box to search any string into registry editor
Type “Search.protectedio.com” into the find box and then click on Find Next.
The search result will highlight the key or value which have contains the Search.protectedio.com string.
Now delete the Registry Key/Value/Value-Data if any one contains “Search.protectedio.com” string (must see the example screenshot below)
Note:- Do not delete the complete value data, just delete the Search.protectedio.com path only (for example see screenshot3 below)
Use F3 key to find Next. and do the last step to all results.
We are giving you the example on “Conduit” Adware.

Screenshot 1

Screenshot 2

Screenshot 3

Step 7 : To Remove Search.protectedio.com from Autorun Tasks

Click on Start button and then do Right-Click on the computer and then do left-click on Manage. A manage window will appear.
In the manage window click on Tasks Scheduler from right side pane, then click on “Task Scheduler Library“, Now look on left side pane and Remove all the Tasks which have contains Search.protectedio.com string and also remove all the unknown / unwanted tasks from there (As per the screenshot below).

Step 8 : To Remove Search.protectedio.com from Startup

Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “MSCONFIG into the run box then click on OK. You’ll get a msconfig window.
In the msconfig window click on Startup tab, here you’ll get all the startup entries, so look on the list and then do Un-check the entries which is contains Search.protectedio.com. Also Un-check all the others entries which you found unwanted. then click on OK to apply all the changes.

Step 9 : To Remove Search.protectedio.com from Services

Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “MSCONFIG” into the run box then click on OK. . You’ll get a msconfig window.
In the msconfig window click on Services tab, here you’ll get all the start-up services list, click on “Hide Windows Services” all the windows related services will be hidden. now it’s only display the 3rd party installed services, now look on the list and then do Un-check the service which have contains Search.protectedio.com. Also Un-check all the unknown / unwanted services. then click on OK to apply all the changes.

Step 10 : To remove Search.protectedio.com registry entries with Adwcleaner.exe

10.1 : Download AdwCleaner from the below link.

Click Here to Download: Adwcleaner.exe

10.2 : Run that downloaded file (Adwcleaner.exe).

10.3 : When you get it started, click on scan button to search the Search.protectedio.com files and registry entries (As shown below screenshot).

10.5 : When scanning process will be finished, click on Clean button to delete all the Search.protectedio.com files and registry entries (as shown on below screenshot)