Searchgoose Virus

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*Source of claim SH can remove it.

The Searchgoose virus is an application classified under the category of browser hijackers, which are known to invade browsers and clutter their tabs and pages with various forms of advertisements. The Searchgoose virus may also redirect users to dubious websites and promote fraudulent software.

 

Searchgoose
The Searchgoose.com virus uses said elements to redirect your searches

Searchgoose

Searchgoose is a program designed to exploit your screen for advertising purposes by infiltrating your browser and installing elements that generate ads and redirect pages. These components enable Searchgoose to manipulate your searches, display ads within your browser, and artificially generate traffic for specific websites. Although its activities may resemble those of a virus, the objectives of a hijacker differ significantly from most viruses and malware programs.This is not ransomware that renders your files inaccessible or a Trojan that turns your computer into a Bitcoin-mining bot. Nevertheless, the presence of a hijacker in a computer causes enough problems that most users want to uninstall such applications.

To remove the Search Goose virus from your computer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Run a reputable antivirus or antimalware software scan to detect and remove the virus.
Step 2: Use the “Add or Remove Programs” feature in your computer’s settings to uninstall any suspicious programs related to Search Goose.
Step 3: Reset your web browser settings to their default values to eliminate any browser hijacking caused by the virus.
Step 4: Clear your browser’s cache and cookies to remove any traces of the virus.

To remove Searchgoose from Firefox, you can follow these steps:
1. Open Firefox on your computer.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top-right corner of the browser window.
3. From the dropdown menu, select “Add-ons” or “Extensions.”
4. In the Add-ons Manager or Extensions Manager, locate the Searchgoose extension.
5. Click on the “Remove” or “Disable” button next to the extension.
6. A confirmation prompt may appear asking if you want to remove or disable the extension. 7. Confirm your choice.
8. Once the extension is removed or disabled, restart Firefox to complete the process.

To remove the Search Fine Com browser hijacker, try the following steps:
1. Uninstall any unfamiliar or suspicious programs related to Search Fine Com using the “Add or Remove Programs” feature in your computer’s settings.
2. Reset your web browser settings to their default values. In most browsers, you can find this option in the settings or preferences menu.
3. Remove any suspicious browser extensions or add-ons associated with Search Fine Com. 4. Access your browser’s extensions or add-ons management menu to do so.
5. Clear your browser’s cache, cookies, and browsing history to eliminate any remnants of the hijacker.
6. It’s also recommended to run a reliable antivirus or antimalware scan to ensure your system is clean from any potential threats.

What is Searchgoose?

Searchgoose is a browser hijacker that may subject users to online dangers by displaying deceptive ads on their screens. It can also directly reroute users’ traffic to ad-laden sites, some of which may be unsafe. This alone should be sufficient reason to uninstall this app from any computer and browser. The presence of ad-generating software like Searchgoose increases the risk of encountering threats such as spyware, ransomware, worms, and Trojans.

However, this is not the only issue associated with such applications. Searchgoose is a junkware application that can scrutinize your browsing history and collect data on your internet surfing habits. It uses this information to customize the ads it displays but may also sell it to unidentified third parties. If the ads created by Searchgoose overwhelm you, you find the idea of an unknown app accessing your browsing history disconcerting, and the automatic page redirects make it challenging to access the websites you are genuinely interested in, the solution is to uninstall the intrusive browser hijacker.

As some users may have discovered, removing Searchgoose can be more challenging than uninstalling other standard software. Although browser hijackers are technically not viruses, they can be quite difficult to remove, a trait common to most malware forms. Nonetheless, uninstalling this app is the only truly effective way to stop its ads, eliminate the new homepage it has imposed on your browser, and restore your preferred search engine as the browser’s default.

Regardless of the browser you are using (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc.), the hijacker probably will not provide an option to remove it. Apps like Searchgoose, Shampoo Extension and Wigglewurm typically do not have uninstallation wizards, and they usually do not appear in the Uninstall a Program list in the Windows Control Panel. Moreover, you may not see the unwanted app in the browser’s add-ons manager, so you probably will not have the option to uninstall it from there.

So, how could one remove a hijacker?

To remove an app like Searchgoose from your browser, you can follow one of two main approaches. The first is manual removal, but you must exercise caution not to delete any system files or Registry keys from your operating system. The guide below demonstrates how to eliminate Searchgoose manually. The second option is to use a specialized removal program. We recommend using a reliable anti-malware tool tested against unwanted software to clean your browser quickly and efficiently.

SUMMARY:

NameSearchgoose
Type Browser Hijacker
Detection Tool

*Source of claim SH can remove it.

Remove Searchgoose Virus

If you have a Windows virus, continue with the guide below.

If you have a Mac virus, please use our How to remove Ads on Mac guide.

If you have an Android virus, please use our Android Malware Removal guide.

If you have an iPhone virus, please use our iPhone Virus Removal guide.


Step1

Some of the steps will likely require you to exit the page. Bookmark it for later reference.

Reboot in Safe Mode (use this guide if you don’t know how to do it).

Step2

WARNING! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING!

*Source of claim SH can remove it.

Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC at the same time and go to the Processes Tab (the “Details” Tab on Win 8 and 10). Try to determine which processes are dangerous. 

malware-start-taskbar

Right click on each of them and select Open File Location. Then scan the files with our free online virus scanner:

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    After you open their folder, end the processes that are infected, then delete their folders. 

    Note: If you are sure something is part of the infection – delete it, even if the scanner doesn’t flag it. No anti-virus program can detect all infections. 

    Step3

    Hold together the Start Key and R. Type appwiz.cpl –> OK.

    appwiz

    You are now in the Control Panel. Look for suspicious entries. Uninstall it/them.

    Type msconfig in the search field and hit enter. A window will pop-up:

    msconfig_opt

    Startup —> Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer or otherwise look suspicious.

    Step4

    *Source of claim SH can remove it.

    Hold the Start Key and R –  copy + paste the following and click OK:

    notepad %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/hosts

    A new file will open. If you are hacked, there will be a bunch of other IPs connected to you at the bottom. Look at the image below:

    hosts_opt (1)

    If there are suspicious IPs below “Localhost” – write to us in the comments.

    Open the start menu and search for Network Connections (On Windows 10 you just write it after clicking the Windows button), press enter.

    1. Right-click on the Network Adapter you are using —> Properties —> Internet Protocol Version 4 (ICP/IP), click  Properties.
    2. The DNS line should be set to Obtain DNS server automatically. If it is not, set it yourself.
    3. Click on Advanced —> the DNS tab. Remove everything here (if there is something) —> OK.
    DNS

    Step5

    • After you complete this step, the threat will be gone from your browsers. Finish the next step as well or it may reappear on a system reboot.

    Right click on the browser’s shortcut —> Properties.

    NOTE: We are showing Google Chrome, but you can do this for Firefox and IE (or Edge).

    browser-hijacker-taskbar-properties

    Properties —–> Shortcut. In Target, remove everything after .exe.

    Browser Hijacker Removal Instructions

    ie9-10_512x512  Remove Searchgoose from Internet Explorer:

    Open IE, click  IE GEAR —–> Manage Add-ons.

    pic 3

    Find the threat —> Disable. Go to IE GEAR —–> Internet Options —> change the URL to whatever you use (if hijacked) —> Apply.

    firefox-512 Remove Searchgoose from Firefox:

    Open Firefoxclick  mozilla menu  ——-> Add-ons —-> Extensions.

    pic 6


    chrome-logo-transparent-backgroundRemove Searchgoose from Chrome:

    Close Chrome. Navigate to:

     C:/Users/!!!!USER NAME!!!!/AppData/Local/Google/Chrome/User Data. There is a Folder called “Default” inside:

    Rename the Folder to Backup Default

    Rename it to Backup Default. Restart Chrome.

    Step6

    Type Regedit in the windows search field and press Enter.

    Inside, press CTRL and F together and type the threat’s Name. Right click and delete any entries you find with a similar name. If they don’t show up this way, go manually to these directories and delete/uninstall them:

    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—–Random Directory. It could be any one of them – ask us if you can’t discern which ones are malicious.
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—-Windows—CurrentVersion—Run– Random
    • HKEY_CURRENT_USER—-Software—Microsoft—Internet Explorer—-Main—- Random

    If the guide doesn’t help, download the anti-virus program we recommended or try our free online virus scanner. Also, you can always ask us in the comments for help!


    About the author

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    Brandon Skies

    Brandon is a researcher and content creator in the fields of cyber-security and virtual privacy. Years of experience enable him to provide readers with important information and adequate solutions for the latest software and malware problems.

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