How to Remove "DIRECT-SEARCH" Virus (Easy Removal Guide)

What is DIRECT-SEARCH?

DIRECT-SEARCH can redirect your browser search, collect your personal information and sell it for advertising.
DIRECT-SEARCH is usually hard in removing. Some people could not find uninstall program for DIRECT-SEARCH in the Control Panel.
Sometimes DIRECT-SEARCH uninstaller does not work.

How DIRECT-SEARCH got on your computer?

Usually you got DIRECT-SEARCH with as part of a bundle with another tool you downloaded from the Internet. Since DIRECT-SEARCH manufacturer pays software developers for distributing DIRECT-SEARCH within their applications, DIRECT-SEARCH is often included as part of the installer.
Usually, you have not only one DIRECT-SEARCH problem, but a bunch of similar WIN32:PUPs.

You have 2 ways to remove DIRECT-SEARCH:

1. Remove Automatically.
2. Remove Manually.

Why I recommend you to use an automatic way?

1. You know only one virus name: "DIRECT-SEARCH", but usually you have infected by a bunch of viruses.
   The UnHackMe program detects this threat and all others.
2. UnHackMe is quite fast! You need only 5 minutes to check your PC.
3. UnHackMe uses the special features to remove hard in removal viruses. If you remove a virus manually, it can prevent deleting using a self-protecting module. If you even delete the virus, it may recreate himself by a stealthy module.
4. UnHackMe is small and compatible with any antivirus.
5. UnHackMe is fully free for 30-days!

Here’s how to remove DIRECT-SEARCH virus automatically:

STEP 1: Install UnHackMe (1 minute)

STEP 2: Scan for malware using UnHackMe (1 minute)

STEP 3: Remove DIRECT-SEARCH virus (3 minutes)

So it was much easier to fix such problem automatically, wasn't it?
That is why I strongly advise you to use UnHackMe for remove DIRECT-SEARCH redirect or other unwanted software.

How to remove DIRECT-SEARCH manually:

STEP 1: Check all shortcuts of your browsers on your desktop, taskbar and in the Start menu. Right click on your shortcut and change it's properties.

You can see DIRECT-SEARCH or another web site at the end of shortcut target (command line). Remove it and save changes.

In addition, check this command line for fake browser's trick.
For example, if a shortcut points to Google Chrome, it must have the path:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe.
Fake browser may be: …\Appdata\Roaming\HPReyos\ReyosStarter3.exe.
Also the file name may be: “chromium.exe” instead of chrome.exe.

STEP 2: Investigate the list of installed programs and uninstall all unknown recently installed programs.

STEP 3: Open Task Manager and close all processes, related to DIRECT-SEARCH in their description. Discover the directories where such processes start. Search for random or strange file names.

Remove DIRECT-SEARCH virus from running processes

STEP 4: Inspect the Windows services. Press Win+R, type in: services.msc and press OK.

Remove DIRECT-SEARCH virus from Windows services

Disable the services with random names or contains DIRECT-SEARCH in it's name or description.

STEP 5: After that press Win+R, type in: taskschd.msc and press OK to open Windows Task Scheduler.

Delete any task related to DIRECT-SEARCH. Disable unknown tasks with random names.

STEP 6: Clear the Windows registry from DIRECT-SEARCH virus.
Press Win+R, type in: regedit.exe and press OK.

Remove DIRECT-SEARCH virus from Windows registry

Find and delete all keys/values contains DIRECT-SEARCH.

STEP 7: Remove DIRECT-SEARCH from Google Chrome.

STEP 8: Remove DIRECT-SEARCH from Internet Explorer.

Set Internet Explorer Homepage

STEP 9: Remove DIRECT-SEARCH from Mozilla Firefox.

Change Firefox Home Page

STEP 10: And at the end, clear your basket, temporal files, browser's cache.

But if you miss any of these steps and only one part of virus remains – it will come back again immediately or after reboot.