What is Search.so-v.com?
Search.so-v.com is the page of which users rarely expect something harmful. Because of the page design of a search engine, many users don’t mind that search.so-v.com has replaced their usual search provider and homepage. However, it is difficult not to notice the shady effect that Search.co-v.com has on browsing experience. The main reason why you should remove Search.so-v.com instead of keeping it is that the page is actually a browser hijacker which will promote sponsored sources. Disguised to relevant ones, the third-party links will be displayed every time you perform the search. In addition to these misleading tricks Search.co-v.com will from time to time redirect you to them forcibly, and when a user is tired with it and tries to regain control over the browser, it appears that the option of changing the homepage is blocked.
How Search.so-v.com got installed on your computer?
Having the Search.so-v.com infection on a computer in the majority of cases means that a user has installed some freeware and has been inattentive during the process. You may ask how these two statements are connected. The thing is that malware is commonly distributed being injected into setups, and this method is called bundling. So not to let malware infiltrate your PC you should monitor the installation process. Very often the installations that contain additional programs have two types of setup – Default and Advanced; always choose the Advanced one and pay attention to every of its steps. As soon as you see an option offering to install some handy tools, take your time and read about them on the Internet, after which the ones that don’t seem trustworthy to you.
Having the Search.so-v.com infection on a computer in the majority of cases means that a user has installed some freeware and has been inattentive during the process.
Symptoms of Search.so-v.com infection
- First and the most striking proof of having a browser hijacker is change of the main page. Usually it is a search engine page that is designed so that user would believe in its legitimacy.
- Generally, hijackers cause redirections when user makes a search query on its page or tries to reach a blocked site (usually another search engine or anti-malware sites)
- Another indicator of hijacker infection is appearance of new programs, toolbars and browser extensions that you don’t remember installing and processes in start-up queue.
- Also, you may notice the significant slowdown in the system operating, since running of the applications required for malware activity may consume a lot of CPU.
- Besides, hijacker infection may as well negatively affect the speed of Internet connection.
How to remove Search.so-v.com?
To make sure that the hijacker won’t appear again, you need to delete Search.so-v.com completely. For this you need to remove the application from the Control Panel and then check the drives for such leftovers as Search.so-v.com files and registry entries.
We should warn you that performing some of the steps may require above-average skills, so if you don’t feel experienced enough, you may apply to automatic removal tool.
Performing an antimalware scan with Norton would automatically search out and delete all elements related to Search.so-v.com. It is not only the easiest way to eliminate Search.so-v.com, but also the safest and most assuring one.
Steps of Search.so-v.com manual removal
Uninstall Search.so-v.com from Control Panel
As it was stated before, more likely that the hijacker appeared on your system brought by other software. So, to get rid of Search.so-v.com you need to call to memory what you have installed recently.
How to remove Search.so-v.com from Windows XP
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Add or Remove Programs
- Find the application related to Search.so-v.com and click Uninstall
How to remove Search.so-v.com from Windows 7/Vista
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Uninstall Program
- Find the application related to Search.so-v.com and click Uninstall
How to remove Search.so-v.com from Windows 8/8.1
- Right-click the menu icon in left bottom corner
- Choose Control Panel
- Select the Uninstall Program line
- Uninstall the application related to Search.so-v.com
How to remove Search.so-v.com from Windows 10
- Press Win+X to open Windows Power menu
- Click Control Panel
- Choose Uninstall a Program
- Select the application related to Search.so-v.com and remove it
If you experience problems with removing Search.so-v.com from Control Panel: there is no such title on the list, or you receive an error preventing you from deleting the application, see the article dedicated to this issue.
Read what to do if program won’t uninstall from Control Panel
Remove Search.so-v.com from browsers
Since some of hijacker threats use a disguise of a browser add-on, you will need to check the list of extensions/add-ons in your browser.
How to remove Search.so-v.com from Google Chrome
- Start Google Chrome
- Click on Tools, then go to the Extensions
- Delete Search.so-v.com or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Search.so-v.com from Internet Explorer
- Launch Internet Explorer
- Click on the Tools/Gear icon, then select Manage Add-ons
- Delete Search.so-v.com or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Search.so-v.com from Mozilla Firefox
- Start Mozilla Firefox
- Click on the right-upper corner button
- Click Add-ons, then go to Extensions
- Delete Search.so-v.com or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
Reset your browsers
How to reset settings in Google Chrome
- Click on the icon in the right-upper corner
- Choose Settings
- Click Show advanced settings
- Click the Reset Settings button
How to reset settings in Mozilla Firefox
- Click the icon in the upper right corner
- Choose Help
- Select Troubleshooting Information
- Click the Reset Firefox… button
How to reset settings in Internet Explorer
- Click on the Tools button
- Go to Internet options
- Go to the Advanced tab
- Click Reset
