Beware of this virus "Searchsafer.com"

QD · ‎08-02-2012

A few weeks ago i opened a new tab in firefox and ChatZum aka search.chatzum.net appeared, i deleted all registry entries of it then a week or few days later Searchsafer.com appeared on the tab.. Its ChatZum.com under a different name.

Now this Virus disguises itself as an application/search engine come toolbar. It downloads onto your computer without your knowledge and installs. I've had a look in my installed programs and all my browser plug-ins//extensions.. It doesn't appear in any.. only on the tab of my browser.. In Chrome you can block it from being your homepage. but every tab you open either ChatZum.com search or SearchSafer.com appears with ads.

I call this a virus because it downloaded in a program or program update i downloaded, installed without my knowledge. I have deleted all trace of ChatZum/searchsafer.com from my registry, I've tried numorous anti-malware programs, I've done a few full system scans, deleted all cookies/history, temp files, temp internet files, i have done everything possible to get rid of it and its still on my pc.

Now Norton & McAfee can't/won't get rid of it because its "supposed to be safe", been green lighted.. The only way to get rid is to buy a new computer!

I don't want to buy a new pc. I don't care what Norton thinks this is safe. Norton let it thru its firewall. So people becarefull what you download.. Chatzum slows ur pc and once its on it wont go.

Quads · ‎07-21-2008

Users one BIG mistake, More than one AV running, Norton and McAfee

Never had to buy a new system because of infections with all the Malware I have infected my system with.

Quads

QD · ‎08-02-2012

I dont have 2 AV running nor installed. Norton 360 is installed only.. and i have mcaffee site adviser toolbar installed. Besides having 2 av's running at same time doesnt download and installs viruses.

Quads · ‎07-21-2008

QD wrote:
I dont have 2 AV running nor installed. Norton 360 is installed only.. and i have mcaffee site adviser toolbar installed. Besides having 2 av's tunning at same time doesnt download and installs viruses.

Oh just another user that does not understand it all.

I am starting to think maybe if a user wants a PC then they have to do a course, to understand Windows a lot more and what to do and not to do, like if you want to drive a car.

Quads

BullSpit · ‎02-23-2012

QD wrote:

A few weeks ago i opened a new tab in firefox and ChatZum aka search.chatzum.net appeared, i deleted all registry entries of it then a week or few days later Searchsafer.com appeared on the tab.. Its ChatZum.com under a different name.

Now this Virus disguises itself as an application/search engine come toolbar. It downloads onto your computer without your knowledge and installs. I've had a look in my installed programs and all my browser plug-ins//extensions.. It doesn't appear in any.. only on the tab of my browser.. In Chrome you can block it from being your homepage. but every tab you open either ChatZum.com search or SearchSafer.com appears with ads.

I call this a virus because it downloaded in a program or program update i downloaded, installed without my knowledge. I have deleted all trace of ChatZum/searchsafer.com from my registry, I've tried numorous anti-malware programs, I've done a few full system scans, deleted all cookies/history, temp files, temp internet files, i have done everything possible to get rid of it and its still on my pc.

Now Norton & McAfee can't/won't get rid of it because its "supposed to be safe", been green lighted.. The only way to get rid is to buy a new computer!
I don't want to buy a new pc. I don't care what Norton thinks this is safe. Norton let it thru its firewall. So people becarefull what you download.. Chatzum slows ur pc and once its on it wont go.

Try IOBit Uninstaller , it shows more entires (hidden) in the add\remove than Windows does.

I would also uninstall Firefox and Chrome then reinstall them after the junk is gone.

QD · ‎08-02-2012

Thx for help. that app seems to work. so far so good. thx.

nzgrub · ‎08-11-2012

How I did it.

First remove any related programs in control panel/programs and features

second go to chrome spanner/settings reset default search engine to chrome, then click on extensions link and remove searchsafer and new tab

Then I installed a nice extension from https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/icpgjfneehieebagbmdbhnlpiopdcmna this allows me to customise my new tab window.

make sure you use a good anti malware scanner like malwarebytes

hope that helps.

God bless.

treemonkey · ‎09-28-2012

I dont think you have a virus, its a search reset. You can append this quite simply by hitting about:config in your FF address bar, agree to be careful, then type keyword.url - this likely says the offending domain, you can append this and leave blank, or append to Google for example (so you can enter searches in your address bar) http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

Let us know how you get on.