Circumstances of being infected with a piece of adware are integrally associated with user distress and software malfunctions. One of the recent samples, which repeatedly reroutes one’s browser to isearch123.com during web surfing, deploys belligerent traffic redistribution while paying totally no heed to the preferences of whoever the victim is. There exist certain markers of malign activity in AV heuristics and definitions, and in the particular scenario under consideration those include covert installation, lack or absolute absence of authorization for making changes to custom Internet settings, and the affiliation with already known adware specimens. The threat in question is usually distributed along with another potentially unwanted browser helper object known as LuckyTab Class.
When a PC gets compromised by said digital parasite, the user’s role is restricted to observing their browser act up, with little to no capability of somehow influencing the well-trodden viral routine implementation. A number of custom settings in Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer, including the start page, default search engine and new tab, become altered in an obtrusive way. It doesn’t matter what websites are preferred by the victim for the listed parameters, they get substituted by isearch123.com. It isn’t a dangerous web page, nor is it currently blacklisted by the specialized online security services – it’s simply the tip of the iceberg backed by a malicious program. The actual bug takes and keeps a firm grip on the target web browsers and enjoys the scope of system privileges that legit apps hardly ever get. As a result, the user will constantly visit the unwelcome landing page when performing the ordinary daily Internet navigation actions.
Isearch123 virus and its accomplice LuckyTab Class stealthily slip into a computer when another application is being installed. The bundling methodology, which this essentially is, proved to work wonders for delivering malicious payloads, mostly because users don’t always notice anything but the main program when going through compound setups of that sort. Sometimes there’s a rescue check box in the wizard that can be deselected to prevent the attack, but this isn’t the case at all times. The fix typically goes beyond the standard and generally practiced techniques, therefore it takes a special procedure to solve the nontrivial isearch123 adware problem.
Automatic removal of isearch123 adware
The benefits of using the automatic security suite to get rid of this infection are obvious: it scans the entire system and detects all potential fragments of the virus, so you are a few mouse clicks away from a complete fix.
- Download and install recommended malware security suite
- Select Start Computer Scan feature and wait until the utility comes up with the scan report. Proceed by clicking on the Fix Threats button, which will trigger a thorough removal process to address all the malware issues compromising your computer and your privacy.
Get rid of isearch123 using Windows native uninstall feature
- Select Control Panel entry in the Windows Start menu. Go to Programs and Features (Windows 8), Uninstall a program (Windows Vista / Windows 7) or Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP)
- On the Uninstall or change a program screen, find the entry for isearch123 or any similar new application that looks suspicious. Select it and click Uninstall/Change
- Be advised this technique works well for the regular applications but might be inefficient for removing malicious programs
Remove isearch123 adware from web browser
The workflow below is intended to eliminate malicious objects, such as add-ons or plugins, from the browsers that got impacted. Given the persistence-related features of this particular infection, the optimal workaround is to restore the affected browser’s settings to their original state. This will prevent the virus from further interfering with your preferences.
Isearch123.com removal from Google Chrome
- Click the Chrome menu icon and select Settings
- When the Settings screen opens, find the link that says Show advanced settings and click on it
- Proceed by clicking on the Reset browser settings button
- For you to evade any unintended consequences of the reset, Chrome will display a note about the settings and fragments of browsing data that will be lost. Read the notification and click Reset in case you agree
- Restart Chrome.
Isearch123.com removal from Mozilla Firefox
- Open Firefox and select Troubleshooting Information on the Help drop-down list
- Locate the sub-section titled Reset Firefox to its default state and click on the Reset Firefox button to proceed
- Restart Firefox.
Isearch123.com removal from MS Internet Explorer
- Select Internet Options under Tools in IE
- Select the Advanced tab on Internet Options screen and click on the Reset button
- The browser will now display the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog. Review the points on what the resetting includes. Activate the option saying Delete personal settings and click on the Reset button as shown on the image
- Restart Internet Explorer
Verify thoroughness of the removal
Having carried out the instructions above, add a finishing touch to the security procedure by running an additional computer scan to check for residual malware activity
