On my Win10 PC, when I search on Google or Bing, additional searches are inserted that lead to another search engine. This is done by malware that adds entries to the registry. When I delete them, they reappear after a few days. Is there a solution to get rid of this malware?

Yes, there is a solution to get rid of this malware. The first step is to run an antivirus scan on your computer to detect and remove any malicious software. If the issue persists after the antivirus scan, you may need to manually remove the registry entries that the malware is adding. You can do this by following these steps:

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type "regedit" in the Run dialog box and press Enter.
  3. Navigate to the registry key where the malware is adding the unwanted entries.
  4. Delete the entries that are causing the issue.

If you are unsure how to manually remove the registry entries, it's recommended to seek assistance from a technical expert or to use professional malware removal software.

But as I said, removing the entries is not permanent. So there must be something else from the malware on the PC that is re-entering it.

Yes, that's correct. If simply deleting the registry entries does not solve the problem permanently, then it is likely that the malware has other components on your system that are actively creating the unwanted entries. In such cases, it's recommended to perform a full system scan with an updated and reliable antivirus program to detect and remove all components of the malware.

If the issue persists even after the antivirus scan, you may consider doing a fresh install of your operating system, which will erase all the files and programs on your PC, including the malware.

Additionally, you can also take steps to prevent future infections, such as keeping your operating system and software up to date, avoiding downloading software from unreliable sources, and being cautious when opening emails and attachments from unknown senders.

How can I find the malware manually, as I have run virusscan without success and I do not want to reinstall the system.

To manually find the malware, you can use the following steps as a reference:

  1. Check running processes: Open Task Manager (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the "Processes" tab. Look for any processes that seem suspicious, such as ones with a strange name, high CPU or memory usage, or that you don't recognize.

  2. Check installed programs: Open Control Panel and go to "Programs and Features". Look for any programs that you don't remember installing or that seem suspicious. Uninstall them if necessary.

  3. Check startup items: Open Task Manager and go to the "Startup" tab. Look for any startup items that you don't recognize and that seem suspicious. Disable them by right-clicking and selecting "Disable".

  4. Check browser extensions: Open your web browser and go to the extensions/add-ons page. Look for any extensions that you don't recognize or that seem suspicious. Disable or remove them.

  5. Check browser settings: Check the home page, search engine, and new tab page settings of your web browser. Make sure they are set to your desired values and that they haven't been changed by the malware.

  6. Check the registry: Use the Registry Editor (regedit) to check for any suspicious entries, especially those related to your browser, startup items, and installed programs.

Keep in mind that finding and removing malware can be complex and time-consuming, and it's important to be cautious when making changes to your system. If you're not confident in your ability to find and remove the malware, it's recommended to seek assistance from a technical expert.

How to remove extensions in the browser?

To remove extensions from your web browser, you can follow these steps:

Google Chrome:

  1. Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "More Tools" and then "Extensions".
  3. Find the extension you want to remove and click on the trash icon next to it.
  4. Confirm the removal by clicking "Remove" in the dialog box that appears.

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "Add-ons".
  3. Find the extension you want to remove and click on the gear icon next to it.
  4. Select "Remove".

Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based):

  1. Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "Extensions".
  3. Find the extension you want to remove and click on the "Remove" button next to it.

Microsoft Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "Manage Add-ons".
  3. Find the extension you want to remove and select it.
  4. Click on the "Disable" or "Remove" button, depending on the version of Internet Explorer you have.

Note: The exact steps may vary slightly depending on the version of your browser and operating system.

what if i can not remove an extension. It writes" von ihrer organisation verwaltet"

If you receive a message saying "von ihrer Organisation verwaltet" (managed by your organization) when attempting to remove an extension from your browser, it means that the extension has been installed and managed by your organization's administrator.

In this case, you may not have sufficient permissions to remove the extension. You will need to contact your organization's IT support or administrator to request the removal of the extension. They will be able to assist you with removing the extension or provide an explanation for why it is necessary for it to be installed on your computer.

But it is my own PC. There is no admin

If you are receiving a message saying "von ihrer Organisation verwaltet" (managed by your organization) on a personal computer that you are the sole user of, it is possible that the browser has been configured by an administrator to enforce certain settings and extensions.

In this case, you can try resetting the browser to its default settings. The steps to reset the browser will vary depending on the browser you are using. You can find instructions for resetting some of the most common browsers below:

Google Chrome:

  1. Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "Settings".
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on "Advanced".
  4. Scroll to the bottom of the advanced settings and click on "Reset".
  5. Confirm the reset by clicking "Reset" in the dialog box that appears.

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "Help".
  3. Click on "Troubleshooting Information".
  4. Click on the "Refresh Firefox" button at the top of the page.
  5. Confirm the reset by clicking "Refresh Firefox" in the dialog box that appears.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based):

  1. Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "Settings".
  3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Reset settings".
  4. Confirm the reset by clicking "Reset" in the dialog box that appears.

Microsoft Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. Go to "Internet options".
  3. Go to the "Advanced" tab.
  4. Click on the "Reset" button.
  5. Confirm the reset by clicking "Reset" in the dialog box that appears.

Note: Resetting your browser will erase all saved data, including bookmarks, history, and saved passwords. It is recommended to backup any important data before resetting the browser.

is there a preset extension?

A preset extension is a type of browser extension that is pre-installed and configured by the manufacturer or an administrator, rather than being installed by the user. These extensions are typically used to enforce specific policies or settings, or to provide additional features that are deemed necessary by the manufacturer or administrator.

Whether there is a preset extension on your browser depends on how the browser was installed and configured. Some browsers may come with a set of pre-installed extensions, while others may not have any preset extensions. If you suspect that there is a preset extension affecting your browser, you can check your browser's extensions list to see if there are any extensions that are listed as "Enabled" but cannot be removed. If you find a preset extension that you believe is causing problems, you should contact the manufacturer or your administrator for assistance.