If you encounter numerous redirects to the Install.protected-search.com, other unreliable or dubious sites on the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Firefox then it is possible that you unintentionally installed malware from the ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware) group on your PC.
Technically, the adware is not a virus, but it does bad things, it displays lots of of third party advertisements, unwanted pop ups and deals. It may download and install on to your personal computer other harmful and unwanted programs without your permission, force you to visit misleading or malicious websites. Moreover, the adware can modify your web browser setting like homepage, new tab and default search engine with an intrusive web site.
The worst is, the adware can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your personal info and, later, can sell it to third party companies. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to get rid of Install.protected-search.com popup advertisements from your computer.
So, obviously, you need to remove the adware without a wait. Use the free few simple steps below. This guide will help you clean your personal computer of adware and thereby remove the Install.protected-search.com pop ups.
How to remove Install.protected-search.com pop-ups
When the adware gets installed on your computer without your knowledge, it’s not easy to uninstall. In many cases, there is no Uninstall program which simply uninstall the adware that causes undesired Install.protected-search.com pop-up ads from your computer. So, we advise using several well-proven free specialized tools such as Zemana Anti Malware, MalwareBytes or Hitman Pro. But the best way to remove Install.protected-search.com ads will be to perform several manual steps, after that additionally use antimalware tools.
To remove Install.protected-search.com pop-ups, perform the steps below:
- Remove questionable programs using Windows Control Panel
- Get rid of Install.protected-search.com redirect from Internet Explorer
- Remove Install.protected-search.com pop-ups from Chrome
- Remove Install.protected-search.com from Firefox by resetting web browser settings
- How to remove Install.protected-search.com pop-ups with freeware
- How to block Install.protected-search.com
Delete Install.protected-search.com advertisements without any utilities
Most common adware may be deleted without any antivirus programs. The manual adware removal is few simple steps that will teach you how to remove the Install.protected-search.com redirect.
Remove questionable programs using Windows Control Panel
Some PUPs, browser hijacking applications and adware can be uninstalled by uninstalling the free applications they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed programs in Windows Control Panel. Use the “Uninstall” command in order to remove them.
Press Windows button , then press Search . Type “Control panel”and press Enter. If you using Windows XP or Windows 7, then click “Start” and select “Control Panel”. It will show the Windows Control Panel as shown below.
Further, click “Uninstall a program”
It will open a list of all programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any dubious and unknown apps.
Get rid of Install.protected-search.com redirect from Internet Explorer
The Internet Explorer reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked or you have unwanted addo-ons or toolbars on your web browser, which installed by an malware.
First, run the Internet Explorer, then press ‘gear’ icon . It will display the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the browser, then click the “Internet Options” as displayed on the image below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then click the “Reset” button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button as displayed in the following example.
After the procedure is done, press “Close” button. Close the Microsoft Internet Explorer and reboot your system for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web browser’s search engine by default, new tab and home page to default state.
Remove Install.protected-search.com pop-upS from Chrome
If you have adware, Install.protected-search.com popups problems or Google Chrome is running slow, then reset Google Chrome can help you. In this guidance we will show you the method to reset your Google Chrome settings and data to default state without reinstall.
- First run the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following steps: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Google Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next press the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is done, your web browser’s default search engine, homepage and newtab page will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Remove Install.protected-search.com from Firefox by resetting web browser settings
If Mozilla Firefox settings are hijacked by the adware, your web browser displays unwanted popup ads, then ‘Reset Firefox’ could solve these problems. It will save your personal information such as saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.
Press the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and press the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as on the image below.
A small menu will appear, press the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, press “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Firefox web-browser settings to their original settings.
How to remove Install.protected-search.com pop-ups with freeware
Manual removal tutorial does not always allow to completely delete the adware, as it’s not easy to identify and delete components of adware and all malicious files from hard disk. Therefore, it’s recommended that you run malicious software removal utility to completely remove Install.protected-search.com off your web browser. Several free malware removal tools are currently available that can be used against the adware. The optimum solution would be to run Zemana AntiMalware, MalwareBytes and Hitman Pro.
How to remove Install.protected-search.com advertisements with Zemana Anti Malware
Download Zemana to delete Install.protected-search.com ads automatically from all of your internet browsers. This is a free software specially developed for malware removal. This utility can remove adware, browser hijacker from Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Edge and Firefox and MS Windows registry automatically.
Installing the Zemana is simple. First you will need to download Zemana Free on your personal computer from the link below.
164037 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After the download is finished, close all software and windows on your PC system. Double-click the install file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as displayed on the image below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the “Setup wizard” that will help you setup Zemana on your machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is finished successfully, Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed in the following example.
Now click the “Scan” button . Zemana utility will begin scanning the whole machine to find out ad-supported software that cause annoying Install.protected-search.com pop up advertisements to appear.
When the scan get finished, Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) will display a list of all items found by the scan. You may delete items (move to Quarantine) by simply press “Next” button. The Zemana Free will begin to get rid of adware responsible for redirections to Install.protected-search.com. Once disinfection is complete, you may be prompted to reboot the system.
How to block Install.protected-search.com
If you surf the Internet, you can’t avoid malvertising. But you can protect your web browser against it. Download and use an ad blocking program. AdGuard is an ad-blocking that can filter out a large number of of the malicious advertising, blocking dynamic scripts from loading malicious content.
Please go to the following link to download AdGuard. Save it on your Desktop.
26628 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown in the following example.
Follow the prompts. Once the installation is finished, you will see a window as on the image below.
You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block Install.protected-search.com, as well as other malicious or misleading sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.
Where the adware comes from
Most commonly, the freeware installer includes additional applications like this adware which causes annoying Install.protected-search.com advertisements. So, be very careful when you agree to install anything. The best way – is to choose a Custom, Advanced or Manual install mode. Here uncheck all bundled software in which you are unsure or that causes even a slightest suspicion. The main thing you should remember, you do not need to install any bundled programs which you don’t trust!
To sum up
Once you’ve done the steps above, your personal computer should be clean from this adware and other malicious software. The Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Chrome and IE will no longer open intrusive Install.protected-search.com website when you surf the Internet. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step guidance does not help you, then you have caught a new adware, and then the best way – ask for help.
Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the undesired Install.protected-search.com pop up ads.