Remove Nefryhok Search from Chrome/Firefox

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In this article we are going to try and help you remove Nefryhok Search. Our instructions cover all Windows versions as well as most browsers – Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer etc. Nefryhok.xyz shares a very similar UI with Tavanero – another known browser hijacker.

Is Nefryhok Search trying to take over your searches? If so, you might want to read on

Nefryhok.xyz is just one of many programs that share similar traits and basically have no other purpose than to generate profit for their developers. Programs like Nefryhok Search are known as Browser Hijackers. Software of this type is notorious for its tendency to alter your browser homepage, change your default search engine, open page redirects that you did not administer and on top of that this affects all browsers, so it does not matter if you are using Chrome, IE or Firefox.

All in all, applications like this one are a pain in the neck and the sooner you eradicate them from your machine, the better. With that being said, removing a Browser Hijacker, while not an overly-complicated task, is still considerably more difficult than uninstalling some other, non-intrusive program. Still, we are confident that our readers will be perfectly capable of dealing with the issue after they receive a little help from us. Below, those of you, who have had Nefryhok Search installed onto their PC, can find a detailed manual on how to eliminate it. However, it is important that you understand how Browser Hijackers work and how you can protect your PC from them in the future. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you read the rest of the article in order to get a better grasp of this sort of unwanted programs.

Is Nefryhok.xyz a computer virus?

Despite some opinions you might have already encountered, there is a very significant difference between malicious viruses such as Ransomware and unwanted programs like Nefryhok Search. Oftentimes, users panic once they realize that their system has been invaded by the intrusive Browser Hijacker, thinking that their PC has fallen prey to some sort of a harmful virus. It is true that Hijackers can be incredibly frustrating once inside your PC, yet they are nothing like the noxious Ransomware. While the latter can lock your files and demand ransom for them, the former is in most cases a mere annoyance that will nag you until you remove it. Therefore, even if your PC has had the Hijacker installed on it, do not panic and keep on reading in order to find out how to handle the situation. Consider yourself lucky – Nefryhok Search can be removed relatively easy, a real virus is not as merciful.

Why users still need to be careful around Browser Hijackers

As previously said, programs like Nefryhok Search are usually not considered a security risk themselves. However, there are still some questionable activities and tasks that a Browser Hijacker might carry out. We already mentioned the possibility of your homepage and search engine being changed without your consent. Apart from that, the unwanted piece of software might display warning messages in your browser that say you need to get a certain PC optimization tool in order to resolve a certain error or a number of errors. The thing is, in most cases those warnings are either exaggerated or outright false. Besides, optimization applications promoted by Browser Hijackers are often nothing but more unwanted and intrusive programs that only claim to be useful, while not actually helping you in any way. Additionally, Browser Hijackers might look through your recent browsing history and later use the acquired data to present you with online ads that have been modified according to your personal preferences. This can be considered a privacy invasion and with good reason. No one likes having their online activities monitored and observed. All of these features are just more reasons for you to terminate the invasive software as soon as you can.

What is the best way to keep Hijackers out of your system in the future?

In most cases, it is the users’ unawareness that gets them unwanted software. If you are not careful when surfing the internet and especially when downloading new stuff, sooner or later you will stumble across some sort of an undesirable program. In fact, a Browser Hijackers is the least problematic thing you can land from being careless online. Therefore, from now on make sure to always have good and up-to-date anti-virus software. Also, be cautious with the sites you are visiting and the files you are downloading. Apart from that, one very common method for the installation of Nefryhok Search is the so called file-bundling. With this method the unwanted application gets inside your machine by being integrated within the installer file of some other program. If you use the Quick settings to install that other program, you also get all the added content. Therefore, make sure to always utilize the Advanced configuration settings, where you can actually see what has been added and leave it out before proceeding with the installation.

Remove Nefryhok Search from Chrome/Firefox

Many types of malware will restrict your access to their core files. It is highly recommended that you reboot your PC in safe mode before attempting to use this guide.

• To enable Safe Mode reboot you PC, then hit F8 repeatedly. When the corresponding menu opens please select Safe Mode with Networking.

WARNING! If you are using Windows 8,0 or later and/or your operating system is installed on a fast SSD drive this may fail to work. In this case click here to see how to start your PC in Safe Mode.

#1: Uninstall the malicious program from your control panel

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Enter control panel to look for any suspicious programs, which may have installed on your PC. To do that:

1. Navigate to your Desktop
2. Press simultaneously the Win button together with the R button (Win+R)
3. In the Run window that just opened type appwiz.cpl

4. Go through the list of programs and find Nefryhok Search or anything else that may seem suspicious. Right-click on it and choose the uninstallation option

WARNING! Carefully read any confirmation messages that may be created in the process. Sometimes you may get offers to download more Adware applications and this can be linked to either the Yes or the No answer depending on the wording!

• Optional:

Go through the list of programs again and check online for any potentially unwanted programs. We have an article that covers this awesome free software that makes sure that your computer is free from bloatware and programs that you don’t need.

#2: Remove Nefryhok Search From Chrome

Now we’ll remove the extensions that the malware has attached to your browser.

1. Open your Google Chrome browser.
2. Type chrome://extensions/  in the URL address bar and press Enter.
3. Click on “Developer Mode” on the top right and look for the extension installed by Nefryhok Search and anything that might be related to it. Copy their IDs (the string of letters), then remove them by clicking on the trash bin icon.

1. Type Regedit in the Windows Start Menu and press Enter. Go in : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions and delete the entries corresponding to the suspicious IDs you recorded.

#3: Remove Nefryhok Search From Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. Type “about:support” in the URL address bar and press Enter.
3. Click on the “Refresh Firefox” button on the right and confirm.

#4 Remove Nefryhok Search From Internet Explorer

1. Open your Internet Explorer internet browser.
2. Click on the Gear icon on the up right, then on manage add-ons.
3. Go through the list disable any suspicious extensions.

#5 Remove any leftover parasitic processes

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From the task manager:

1. Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc and open the Task manager, then click on the Processes
2. Go through the list of processes and look for unknown or otherwise suspicious entries.
3. If you see anything suspicious right click on the process and shoes Open File Location, then terminate the process and delete any files you find in the directory.

WARNING! If the directory you open from this menu has no files inside of it it’s probably because the malware has hidden them. You need to reveal hidden files and folders in order to be able to see them. Click here if you don’t know how to do that.

From the start menu:

1. Press simultaneously the Win button together with the R button (Win+R)
2. In the Run window that just opened type msconfig
3. Click on the Startup tab.

This menu controls which programs are loaded when windows starts after a reboot. Disable anything that seems suspicious. Optionally you can also disable any program that you don’t need and also has a high impact on your startup time.

Feel free to write to us in the comment section with any questions that you may have. Also if we have been helpful to you please share this article to help us reach more people like you.