Have you opened your web browser and found a previously unseen home page called isearch.omiga-plus.com? If you answered 'Yes' then, congratulations, you've bagged yourself a browser hijacker! Actually, I'm joking, because browser hijackers are pretty darn annoying. This browser hijacker replaces home page and default search engine provider. It also modifies browser settings so that less computer-savvy users don't know how to get rid of it for good. The trick is that this isearch.omiga-plus.com modifies not only browser settings but also browser shortcuts and even Windows registry. It even has back up plan if you decide to re-install your web browser or at least reset browser settings. That's why I constantly hear people saying that they home pages keep changing to: http://isearch.omiga-plus.com no matter what they do. If you don't know how to remove it as well, please follow the steps in the removal guide below.
You may have heard of browser hijackers before, in which case you probably know that, like most forms of malware, they usually come packaged with another program and will install themselves on your computer along with the program that you are knowingly downloading. However this is not the only source of a browser hijacker as sometimes they can already be installed on a new laptop or desktop when you purchase it.
Let's go back to the browser hijackers that are bundled with another program however - because there are ways of preventing these from sneaking onto your computer. First of all you need to know that it doesn't matter how reputable the software you are downloading is, browser hijackers aren't choosy when it comes to finding a bundle partner and will package themselves with anything from dubious freeware or shareware to genuine, known makes of software.
This doesn't mean that you need to stop downloading software, files, or even games from the Internet, but if you want to prevent isearch.omiga-plus.com from infiltrating your operating system then you need to take a little more care when you do download something.
And that means reading End User License Agreements more closely than usual. Browser hijackers are usually fairly honest about their intentions to install themselves and attention will be drawn to them in the Agreement that comes attached to the program or software you are originally downloading. Therefore, should you not want to run the risk of installing a browser hijacker, it is well worth you taking just a few minutes more to read the small print and see exactly what it is that you are downloading onto your PC.
You should also boost your computer's protective security layer by installing Microsoft's most up to date security patches as these provide a solid defense against 'drive by' malware – software that is installed on your machine when you happen to visit an infected website. It is also important to do regular checks on the other software programs that you have installed on your machine and make sure you have their latest versions installed, as the manufacturers release periodic updates which include the latest security patches.
Finally, you probably don't need us to tell you this, (although you'd be surprised at how many people – and even companies – are lax about their antivirus and anti-malware software) – so we'll say it anyway! Make sure you have a reputable anti-malware software program installed on your computer. Unfortunately a lot of these programs don't stop browser hijacker – because of their 'potentially unwanted' status, but not having security software on your computer is really just asking to be attacked. Don't let browser hijackers – or any type of malware – make you their victim.
If you have questions, please leave a comment down below. I will be more than happy to help you. Good luck and be safe online!
Written by Michael Kaur, http://deletemalware.blogspot.com
1. First of all, download recommended anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this infection. Hopefully you won't have to do that.
2. As this infection is known to be installed by vulnerabilities in out-dated and insecure programs, it is strongly suggested that you use an automatic software update tool to scan for vulnerable programs on your computer.
3. Remove Omiga Plus related programs from your computer using the Add/Remove Programs control panel (Windows XP) or Uninstall a program control panel (Windows 7 and Windows 8).
Go to the Start Menu. Select Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs.
If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, select Control Panel → Uninstall a Program.
If you are using Windows 8, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for "control panel".
Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there.
4. When the Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstall a Program screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and remove the following:
If you are using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, click Uninstall up near the top of that window. When you're done, please close the Control Panel screen.
Remove isearch.omiga-plus.com from Google Chrome:
1. Click on Chrome menu button. Go to Tools → Extensions.
2. Ensure that the Developer mode checkbox in the top right-hand corner is checked. Go to Chrome extensions directory and delete the folder Extended Protection extension is loaded from.
3. Then select Settings. Scroll down the page and click Show advanced settings.
4. Find the Reset browser settings section and click Reset browser settings button.
5. In the dialog that appears, click Reset. Close Chrome.
6. Right-click Google Chrome shortcut you are using to open your web browser and select Properties.
7. Select Shortcut tab and remove "http://isearch.omiga-plus.com...." from the Target field and click OK to save changes. Basically, there should be only the path to Chrome executable file.
Remove isearch.omiga-plus.com from Mozilla Firefox:
1. Open Mozilla Firefox. In the URL address bar, type about:config and hit Enter.
Click I'll be careful, I promise! to continue.
In the search filter at the top, type: omiga-plus
Now, you should see all the preferences that were changed by Omiga Plus. Right-click on the preference and selectReset to restore default value. Reset all found preferences!
4. Right-click the Mozilla Firefox shortcut you are using to open your web browser and select Properties.
5. Select Shortcut tab and remove "http://isearch.omiga-plus.com...." from the Target field and click OK to save changes. Basically, there should be only the path to Firefox executable file.
Remove isearch.omiga-plus.com from Internet Explorer:
1. Open Internet Explorer. Go to Tools → Manage Add-ons.
2. Select Search Providers. First of all, choose Live Search search engine and make it your default web search provider (Set as default).
3. Select Omiga-Plus and click Remove to remove it. Close the window.
4. Right-click the Internet Explorer shortcut you are using to open your web browser and select Properties.
5. Select Shortcut tab and remove "http://isearch.omiga-plus.com...." from the Target field and click OK to save changes. Basically, there should be only the path to Internet Explorer executable file.
6. Finally, go to Tools → Internet Options and restore your home page to default. That's it!
You may have heard of browser hijackers before, in which case you probably know that, like most forms of malware, they usually come packaged with another program and will install themselves on your computer along with the program that you are knowingly downloading. However this is not the only source of a browser hijacker as sometimes they can already be installed on a new laptop or desktop when you purchase it.
Let's go back to the browser hijackers that are bundled with another program however - because there are ways of preventing these from sneaking onto your computer. First of all you need to know that it doesn't matter how reputable the software you are downloading is, browser hijackers aren't choosy when it comes to finding a bundle partner and will package themselves with anything from dubious freeware or shareware to genuine, known makes of software.
This doesn't mean that you need to stop downloading software, files, or even games from the Internet, but if you want to prevent isearch.omiga-plus.com from infiltrating your operating system then you need to take a little more care when you do download something.
And that means reading End User License Agreements more closely than usual. Browser hijackers are usually fairly honest about their intentions to install themselves and attention will be drawn to them in the Agreement that comes attached to the program or software you are originally downloading. Therefore, should you not want to run the risk of installing a browser hijacker, it is well worth you taking just a few minutes more to read the small print and see exactly what it is that you are downloading onto your PC.
You should also boost your computer's protective security layer by installing Microsoft's most up to date security patches as these provide a solid defense against 'drive by' malware – software that is installed on your machine when you happen to visit an infected website. It is also important to do regular checks on the other software programs that you have installed on your machine and make sure you have their latest versions installed, as the manufacturers release periodic updates which include the latest security patches.
Finally, you probably don't need us to tell you this, (although you'd be surprised at how many people – and even companies – are lax about their antivirus and anti-malware software) – so we'll say it anyway! Make sure you have a reputable anti-malware software program installed on your computer. Unfortunately a lot of these programs don't stop browser hijacker – because of their 'potentially unwanted' status, but not having security software on your computer is really just asking to be attacked. Don't let browser hijackers – or any type of malware – make you their victim.
If you have questions, please leave a comment down below. I will be more than happy to help you. Good luck and be safe online!
Written by Michael Kaur, http://deletemalware.blogspot.com
Isearch.omiga-plus.com Removal Guide:
1. First of all, download recommended anti-malware software and run a full system scan. It will detect and remove this infection from your computer. You may then follow the manual removal instructions below to remove the leftover traces of this infection. Hopefully you won't have to do that.
2. As this infection is known to be installed by vulnerabilities in out-dated and insecure programs, it is strongly suggested that you use an automatic software update tool to scan for vulnerable programs on your computer.
3. Remove Omiga Plus related programs from your computer using the Add/Remove Programs control panel (Windows XP) or Uninstall a program control panel (Windows 7 and Windows 8).
Go to the Start Menu. Select Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs.
If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, select Control Panel → Uninstall a Program.
If you are using Windows 8, simply drag your mouse pointer to the right edge of the screen, select Search from the list and search for "control panel".
Or you can right-click on a bottom left hot corner (formerly known as the Start button) and select Control panel from there.
4. When the Add/Remove Programs or the Uninstall a Program screen is displayed, scroll through the list of currently installed programs and remove the following:
- WPM17.8.0.3159
- Wsys Control
- Extended Protection
- eSave Security Control
If you are using Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, click Uninstall up near the top of that window. When you're done, please close the Control Panel screen.
Remove isearch.omiga-plus.com from Google Chrome:
1. Click on Chrome menu button. Go to Tools → Extensions.
2. Ensure that the Developer mode checkbox in the top right-hand corner is checked. Go to Chrome extensions directory and delete the folder Extended Protection extension is loaded from.
3. Then select Settings. Scroll down the page and click Show advanced settings.
4. Find the Reset browser settings section and click Reset browser settings button.
5. In the dialog that appears, click Reset. Close Chrome.
6. Right-click Google Chrome shortcut you are using to open your web browser and select Properties.
7. Select Shortcut tab and remove "http://isearch.omiga-plus.com...." from the Target field and click OK to save changes. Basically, there should be only the path to Chrome executable file.
Remove isearch.omiga-plus.com from Mozilla Firefox:
1. Open Mozilla Firefox. In the URL address bar, type about:config and hit Enter.
Click I'll be careful, I promise! to continue.
In the search filter at the top, type: omiga-plus
Now, you should see all the preferences that were changed by Omiga Plus. Right-click on the preference and selectReset to restore default value. Reset all found preferences!
4. Right-click the Mozilla Firefox shortcut you are using to open your web browser and select Properties.
5. Select Shortcut tab and remove "http://isearch.omiga-plus.com...." from the Target field and click OK to save changes. Basically, there should be only the path to Firefox executable file.
Remove isearch.omiga-plus.com from Internet Explorer:
1. Open Internet Explorer. Go to Tools → Manage Add-ons.
2. Select Search Providers. First of all, choose Live Search search engine and make it your default web search provider (Set as default).
3. Select Omiga-Plus and click Remove to remove it. Close the window.
4. Right-click the Internet Explorer shortcut you are using to open your web browser and select Properties.
5. Select Shortcut tab and remove "http://isearch.omiga-plus.com...." from the Target field and click OK to save changes. Basically, there should be only the path to Internet Explorer executable file.
6. Finally, go to Tools → Internet Options and restore your home page to default. That's it!
