How to Get Rid of a Homepage Hijacker
A homepage hijacker is a type of computer virus. The purpose of the homepage hijacker is to change your Internet homepage to a page that is loaded with additional viruses. In addition, a homepage hijacker virus might redirect your Web searches to random sites, slow your computer and add icons to your desktop. Dozens of homepage hijacker viruses exist, including About: Blank Homepage Hijacker, Global-Finder.com Homepage Hijacker and False-Positive Homepage Hijacker.
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Instructions
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Automatic Removal
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Open your antivirus program. If you do not have an antivirus program, consider downloading Windows Defender or AVG (see Resources). Windows Defender and AVG are free antivirus programs.
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Update your antivirus program. Most antivirus programs have an "Update" or "Check for Updates" button. If you do not know how to update your antivirus program, check the manufacturer's homepage.
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Run a scan using your antivirus programs. Most antivirus programs give you the option of running a full scan or a quick scan. A full scan will search your entire computer for the homepage hijacker. A quick scan will search only the places that the homepage hijacker is most likely to be found. Running a scan with an up-to-date antivirus program should detect and remove the homepage hijacker. If it does not, continue to the next section.
End Infected Processes
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Press "Ctrl + Alt + Delete."
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Click on the "Task Manager," and then the "Processes" tab.
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End all of the processes that are associated with the homepage hijacker. To end a process, right-click on it and select "End Process." To determine if a process is associated with the homepage hijacker, type the name of the Process into the Process Library (see Resources).
Delete Infected Files
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Click on the "Start" menu.
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Click on the "Search Programs and Files" box.
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Search for and delete all of the files associated with the homepage hijacker. To delete a file, right-click on it and select "Delete." For a list of associated files, type the name of the specific homepage hijacker virus into the 411-Spyware or 2-Spyware search box (see Resources).
Delete Infected Registry Entries
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Hold down the Windows key and press "R." The "Run" box opens.
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Type "regedit" (without the quotation marks) into the "Run" box, and click "OK." The Registry Editor opens.
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Locate the registry entries that are associated with the homepage hijacker and delete them. For a list of associated registry entries, type the name of the specific homepage hijacker virus into the 411-Spyware or 2-Spyware search box (see Resources).
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References
Resources
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