Claro Search Malware is an infection that changes your browser settings and later causes tons of redirections to Isearch.claro-search.com. This domain looks like just one more search engine full of Google ads and it basically lives because of these ads. Claro Search Malware is responsible for promoting this website. Unfortunately, it does that in a bit unfair way.
Claro Search Malware can infect any browser and it comes together with some downloads of shareware, freeware. Quite often it is poor quality freeware software that is distributed with toolbars to make money. These toolbar mess PC search settings and cause massive redirections. Even if toolbar has some sort of uninstaller, it will not remove the hijacker fully. Claro Search Malware can also come through infected websites via Trojan viruses. It is practically impossible to notice this malware during the infiltration and once it gets inside it starts working straight away. Claro Search Malware changes some setting in your registry that allow to continue its further activity.
Redirections are one of the most annoying things that can happen on your computer. It doesn’t allow you visiting any of your favorite websites, not to talk that it becomes completely impossible to make any searches. Additionally, you can get infected by tons of other malware programs without having a clue that they are entering your system.
You must remove Claro Search Malware without any doubt. Scan your system with some antimalware program, such as, Spyhunter or Hitman Pro. After that you should change your search providers manually to the ones you had before. This is done the following way:
Note: These instructions will fail if Claro Search malware is installed, or exist as toolbar/add-on in any browser as the settings will revert. Make sure you uninstall it and scan with anti-malware program ( e.g. Spyhunter ) first. It is extremely important to uninstall ALL software that got installed on the same day as Claro Search from control panel!
On Internet explorer:
- Click arrow on the right of search box
- Do following: On IE8-9 choose Manage Search providers, On ie7 click change search defaults.
- Delete Claro Search from the list
- Reset home page as well
On Firefox :
- Enter “about:config” in url bar. This will open settings page
- Type “Keyword.url” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
- Type “browser.search.defaultengine” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
- Type “browser.search.selectedengine” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
- Search for ‘browser.newtab.url’. Right-click and reset. This will make sure that the search page won’t launch on each new tab.
- Search for other things referring Claro Search in the list
- Claro Search might affect some setting files in Firefox.
On Google Chrome:
- Click gear icon on browser toolbar
- Select Settings
- Select Basics ->Manage Search engines
- Remove Claro Search from list
- Go back to settings. On Startup choose open blank page ( you can remove Claro Search from the set pages link too).
- Claro Search might affect some setting files in chrome as well.
Automatic Malware removal tools
(Win)
Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,
(Mac)
Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,
Hi Dear,
Thanks for your guide in exclude the malware “Claro Search”. It is certainly part of some freeware utilities. I installed a CDA to MP3 converter, manually, and refused to install any offer of toolbar and searchers, however this was not efficient, since the Claro was installed in the software installation progress.
@Jorge
Thanks for the help!
I just wanted to add that I also manually installed an MP3 converter, refused to install toolbar offers, and somehow picked up Claro in the process. I can’t remember which MP3 converter it was, because I tried a few. Maybe Jorge remembers? I bet we had the same one. I just wanted it to be known so that others can be warned before downloading.
@Caroline
I just downloaded MergeMP3 and immediately began to have the issues you all have mentioned. Did the AVG virus scan work?
Regina: Antiviruses rarely detect such search hijackers, but do the scan if you got AVG installed.
Got infected by Claro, dwl Spyhunter, but will not remove Claro unless I buy regisred version!
Bent Holmstrom : you can delete detected items manually as well.
@Giedrius Majauskas (admin)
I see no manually removal, can I have installed Spyhunter in a wrong way, or a wrong version (2.2.0.118)
Bent: Expand each threat detected. There will be an exact location of infected file or registry entry to be deleted.
I got Claro from some sort of the mirror downloads for Game Booster. With Claro, it installed a few other malware and trial software which is now bricking my PC.
I installed Spyhunter as per the guides recommendation, waited for a hour for it to scan, only to find out that I cannot remove them unless I pay 40 euros.
You know what?
No.
How about no?
For costumer protection, please change your false information about the so called FREE software you have suggested to remove the malware. Thank you.
Sindroms : Expand each detected item. You can delete them manually as well. Spyhunter informs the type of infection, where it is exactly located. This is important for various forms of malware that change file locations and install in several different places depending on its version or OS version
I was affected with the Claro search “virus” and registered and purchased the full version of Spy Hunter. After doing the initial scan and finding all the junk from Claro, Spy Hunter “supposedly” removed it all and then locked up my pc. After restarting the computer, Spy Hunter locked everything up again on Windows resume. The worst part is that, even now when i open Google Chrome, it STILL takes me to Claro search…..not impressed at all.
Melissa : Change Home page in the settings. Claro search executable “protects” this settings, so till toolbar is removed, it will revert back on browser restart.
I have changed the homepage in the settings tab in Chrome. It is set to google but still on browser restart, goes to Claro search. If i hit the home button, it goes to google. 🙁 @Giedrius Majauskas (admin)
Melissa : Do a scan with Hitman Pro (just in case) and then try this :
Press settings icon
There is a setting called “On startup”, there will be set to open either specific page or set of pages. Make sure claro search is not in the list.
I wound up with Claro Search which wreaked all kinds of havoc. I downloaded AdwCleaner which is a small (528k) free program, ran it and it got rid of all traces of Claro Search. It worked flawlessly. Just Google AdwCleaner and follow the directions. Good luck!
+1 on AdwCleaner. Just fixed my wifes computer using that. Worked great. Malwarebytes could not remove claro search, AdwCleaner fixed it up. Thank You.
i downloaded tuneup
and i got claro search
How can I find Manually root to delete Claro????
Please
Viera
All and any help to remove CLARO will be appreciated!
I seemed to get rid of the Claro malware, but AdwCleaner found and removed several more files and Registry entries. However, by searching my Registry for “Claro”, several more entries are found. Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software there is a folder called 5de8fd1e76ee910, with a subfolder called 2.5.911.18. In this folder I find for instance: Names like “Chrome homepages” and “chrome_starup_urls”, type “REG_MULTI_SZ”, and data: [malicious url removed]
Is it risky to delete such keys? Do the strange names of these folders indicate that they are placed there by malware infection? Can they be safely deleted?
In case it is possible to answer such questions, I would be very grateful
You should delete these keys.
@Giedrius Majauskas (admin)
Thanks for answering. To be safe I will take a mirror image of my system disk and try to delete the keys.