When it comes of web surfing, browser extension is believed to have malicious characteristics. Many users observed this to be true these past years where several adware is masked as legitimate browser and one of them is the Search Protect by Conduit.
Once Search Protect is installed in your computer, you may experience the following:
- Your default search engine/ homepage will change to Search Protect (Search.conduit.com) and now known as “trovi”.
- You’ll be exposed to Conduit vendor (Community Toolbar, Conduit Apps Toolbar and more), where they practice unwanted extension from this browser hijacker.
- With Search Protect as your browser, you can expect being directed to affiliated webpage without asking for it. Bulked of sponsored links goes with this browser (anywhere).
- It can remove a few boot sector lies, which may contribute to breathing issues. Although, this instance doesn’t occur often, but few users reported this type of issue.
User Control Panel for Search Protect Removal:
- Access the Control Panel on Windows 8/XP – then go to the Add or Remove Programs. When you are using Windows 7/Vista, select Uninstall a Program
- Under the Uninstall a Program, select the programs/applications linked/associated with Search Protect. Some of the obvious files are Search Protect by Conduit proper, Conduit Apps Toolbar, and BrotherSoft Extreme. Click Uninstall/Change option to remove them.
Users of Mozilla Firefox –Remove Search Protect:
• Take down the browser hijacker
- In the upper section of your Firefox Window, click Tools and then Select Add-ons from the list.
- Click Extension tab, then search for any affiliated files/app/programs with Conduit. Select the Remove option once spotted.
• Set-up your desired home page.
- Again, go to Tools and click Options.
- Drag your mouse pointer to the General tab and click Restore to Default, this is under Startup section, the interface section.
• From the search engine list, delete the Search Protect.
- On the right most of your address bar, look for the arrow pointing downwards and click it.
- Select the Manage Search Engines.
- Choose from the list those related to Conduit entry and click Remove button.
Users of Internet Explorer – Remove Search Protect Adware • Delete Conduit Toolbar
- Choose the Tools and click the Manage Add-ons.
- Move forward to the Toolbars and Extensions, then look for the related files of Conduit, BrothersSoft Extreme toolbar and more.
- After you’ve selected these files, Disable them.
• Set up the preferred Home page.
- Locate Tools and choose Internet Options.
- Select the General tab.
- Click the Use Default or just enter the correct URL in the box.
• Make changes to Search Engine list
- On the Tools menu, select the Manage Add-ons.
- Click the Search Providers.
- Select the Conduit by highlighting the related files and click Remove button.
Users of Chrome – Removal of Search Protect (Conduit Virus) • How to uninstall Search Protect toolbar.
- Locate and click the Chrome Menu Icon (at the top right hand of the Chrome window on your screen, ).
- Proceed to go to Tools, then Extensions.
- Check the unwanted affiliated extension connected/linked to the Search Protect adware.
- Once you have spotted the file/programs, delete it by selecting the trash-bin icon next to it.
• Set up Chrome’s start page.
- Go to the Chrome icon menu and click it once more.
- Choose Settings.
- Move ahead to the section called On startup (under Settings), choose the radio button for Open a specific page or set of pages option, and then click your mouse button on Set page link.
- You’ll notice the Startup page screen pops up, from this, look for the one that has Conduit on its URL. You must click the X button to the right (this will delete that URL).
- Next, choose Manage search engines (on the same interface), here you can search and select your preferred provider for your default.
To determine complete removal of Search Protect Infection, you can repeat the process of scanning with a legitimate software. This will completely remove the remaining adware within the Windows Registry and other locations in your computer system.