Do you know what Search.rapidserach.com is?
Have you noticed a sudden change of your default homepage? If so it might be an indication that a browser hijacker known as Search.rapidserach.com is up and running on your personal computer. If that, in fact, is the case, make no mistake and do not take this program lightly as it exhibits quite a few invasive features. Having it active on your PC will essentially make surfing the web an annoying and frustrating experience, to say the least. In addition to that, the undesirable changes induced it could also prove to be quite dangerous and might be the primary reason other suspicious programs could gain easy access to your operating system. To find out how this could happen, read the rest of this article. We also provide detailed removal instructions crafted by malware experts at Spyware-Techie.com that you should use to completely delete Search.rapidserach.com.
The overall functionality of Search.rapidserach.com is invasive, to say the least. Upon intrusion this devious piece of software immediately edits registry values and files related to your web browser's default settings without any authorization or notification. It is important to note that the hijacker in question affects popular browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Due to such broad compatibility nearly every Internet user could get their personal computer infected with this invasive application. The main alteration triggered by it is of your default homepage, and while it might not seem like much, you must know that, in reality, it will have a profoundly negative effect on the way you experience the web. In essence, for as long as this hijacker is active on your personal computer you will be forced to use a suspicious third-party website as your default homepage whether you want that or not. Unfortunately, that is not the worst thing about this browser hijacker. Upon further research, our malware experts have discovered that in some instances using the search box provided within the newly appointed homepage could prove to be quite dangerous. That is so because it might present you not only with worthless but even dangerous search results, which could lead you to harmful websites. In such a case you could simply get your personal computer infected with some unknown malicious program. Do not take any chances, and conduct a complete removal of Search.rapidserach.com to surf the web safely and the way you like it.
Search.rapidserach.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
If you are a user that wants to keep your PC clean and secure at all times, do not take virtually security lightly. It goes without saying that safe browsing habits must be practiced on a daily basis. This means that you need to avoid all suspicious third party websites as they are often infamous for being the main source of devious software. To dramatically reduce the risk of infecting your computer refrain yourself from questionable sites and download all of your programs from their official developers' websites. Our researchers also urge you to learn as much as you can about the application that you wish to have before even obtaining it. That is important because malware developers tend to lure naive Internet users into downloading and installing their dubious product by using devious marketing techniques. You can simply check our website for the application that you are about to acquire just to be on the safe side. Lastly and most importantly you need to have a professional malware detection and removal tool active on your PC as it provides overall virtual security. Make sure to install such a tool if you do not have one already. All of these preventative steps combined will help you keep your operating system secure at all times.
The complete removal of Search.rapidserach.com is essential. Use the instructions that we present below to terminate it completely as that is your best bet to restore your web browser's default settings. If after performing the manual removal, you are still bothered by the undesirable change triggered by this hijacker, it is likely that some of its leftovers are still active on your personal computer. To avoid finding yourself in such a situation and to be sure that the removal procedure has been successful you must double-check your operating system for potential traces associated with Search.rapidserach.com.
How to remove Search.rapidserach.com from your PC
Google Chrome
- Open your File Explorer.
- Go to C:\Users\(your username)\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default.
- Select and delete files entitled Preferences, Secure Preferences, and Web Data.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open your File Explorer.
- Go to C:\Users\(your username)\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\(unique Mozilla profile ID).
- Right-click a file called prefs.js and select Delete.
Internet Explorer
- Click the Windows button.
- Type regedit into a search field and tap Enter on your keyboard.
- Go to to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main.
- Right-click a registry value entitled Start Page and select Modify.
- Replace the unwanted URL with a new one and then click OK.
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}.
- Modify the unwanted URL's in the following registry values:
a) FaviconURL.
b) FaviconURLFallback.
c) TopResultURL.
d) URL.
In non-techie terms:
Our researchers are aware of the fact that manual removal might come across as a bit too complicated for users with no advanced computer knowledge. If you happen to be one of those users, there is nothing to worry about. Simply follow the alternative removal guide that we provide below and you will be able to delete this browser hijacker in an automated manner.