Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by FindWide.com and other threats.
Threats such as FindWide.com may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
FindWide.com is the main page of a browser hijacker called FindWide. Read the article carefully on how to remove it. The hijacker can modify the new tab, homepage, and may set an add-on. The search engine of your browsers will be changed to a custom one. You might get redirected. Search results will show advertisements and mislead you.
Name
FindWide.com
Type
Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description
The homepage, the new tab, and search engine of your browsers are changed.
Symptoms
Your browsers can have their homepage, new tab, and search engine modified. A browser extension may be added. Search results can be misleading and show ads.
Distribution Method
Freeware Installers, Bundle Packages, Chrome Web Store
The main distribution method for FindWide.com is through third-party installations. Without your knowledge, the hijacker can get into your computer. It hides in freeware installs and bundle packages. Additional components are selected for installation by default in those packs. The components remain undisclosed in most cases, so FindWide.com can install itself. Checking for a Custom or an Advanced setting in the setup is your best bet in preventing unwanted programs to be installed.
In the picture above you can see the extension associated to FindWide.com. Available at the Chrome Web Store, the extension shows a search engine that looks like Yahoo. Another distribution method for this hijacker is from advertisement clicks or from unknown website visits. Such sites might be partnered with the hijacker’s developers. Affected browsers are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari.
FindWide.com – More Information
FindWide.com is the main website for the browser hijacker with the same name. If installed on your computer, you will notice a change in settings. Your browsers can have their new tab and homepage changed. The search engine of all browsers will be set to a custom one. The hijacker claims to keep your browsers protected by changing the search engine and make it unmodifiable when the application is active.
A browser extension related to the hijacker can be installed. Its name is FindWide Search Protection. One of the locations that is available from is at the Chrome Web Store. It could also come in bundle with various applications on your computer. The extension might redirect you to sites of affiliate partners of the hijacker. You will see targeted advertising content. The browser extension can do the following:
Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
Manage your apps and extensions
Everything that you write in the FindWide.com search engine will be filtered through http://search.findwide.com. So, if you enter any personal information, the hijacker will collect it. The search results of the unwanted program can mislead you. On the search results page, there are advertisements and links, which are not related to the searches. An example is shown in the picture down here:
Sometimes the browser extension can set the search engine to one that looks like Yahoo.
Redirects are a possible outcome when you browse with the hijacker installed. They can be triggered from the homepage, new tab or advertisement clicks. Pop-ups, pop-unders, text links and banners can all display on pages as advertising content. All redirects might be trying to make more traffic for sites affiliated with the hijacker, by using a pay-per-click scheme.
From the Privacy Policy of FindWide.com found on their site, it is clear that both personally and non-personally identifiable information is collected.
Information that may be collected from each user:
Your name
Your email address
Technical information
Information is gathered, using the services and site of FindWide in multiple ways. Cookies, tracking technologies, your personal input and anonymous technical information sent from the program are all used to collect information about you. The information might be shared and sold to trusted partners of FindWide, who are undisclosed in the policy. You should remove this hijacker.
Remove FindWide.com Completely
To remove FindWide.com manually from your PC, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. If the manual removal does not get rid of this browser hijacker completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your PC safe in the future.
Delete FindWide.com from Windows and Your Browser
1.Remove or Uninstall FindWide.com in Windows
Remove or Uninstall FindWide.com in Windows.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall FindWide.com in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program.No matter if you are using Windows 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Hold the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear (fig.1).
In the field type in “appwiz.cpl” and press ENTER (fig.2).
This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall FindWide.com.
2.Remove FindWide.com from Your Browser
Remove FindWide.com from Your Browser.
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla FirefoxRemove a toolbar from Google Chrome Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer Remove a toolbar from Safari
Start Mozilla Firefox Open the menu window
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select FindWide.com and click “Remove”
After FindWide.com is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Google Chrome and Open the drop menu
Move the cursor over “Tools” and then from the extended menu choose “Extensions“
From the opened “Extensions” menu locate FindWide.com and click on the garbage bin icon on the right of it.
After FindWide.com is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Internet Explorer:
Click “‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’
In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window, make sure that in the first window ‘Add-on Types’, the drop menu ‘Show’ is on ‘All add-ons’
Select FindWide.com to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After FindWide.com has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Safari
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’ In the new window select ‘Extensions’ Click once on FindWide.com Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall FindWide.com. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the FindWide.com will be removed.
Remove FindWide.com automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
1. Remove FindWide.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Remove FindWide.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove FindWide.com.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove FindWide.com.
Step 1:Click here to go to SpyHunter’s download instruction page. Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser. Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.
Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button. Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any FindWide.com files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently. Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.
2. Back up your data to secure it against attacks related to FindWide.com in the future
2. Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup.
1. For Windows 7 and earlier 1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 1. Enabling the Windows Defense Feature (Previous Versions)
1-Click on Windows Start Menu 2-Type Backup And Restore 3-Open it and click on Set Up Backup 4-A window will appear asking you where to set up backup. You should have a flash drive or an external hard drive. Mark it by clicking on it with your mouse then click on Next. 5-On the next window, the system will ask you what do you want to backup. Choose the ‘Let Me Choose’ option and then click on Next. 6-Click on ‘Save settings and run backup’ on the next window in order to protect your files from possible attacks by FindWide.com.
1-Press Windows button + R 2-In the window type ‘filehistory’ and press Enter 3-A File History window will appear. Click on ‘Configure file history settings’ 4-The configuration menu for File History will appear. Click on ‘Turn On’. After its on, click on Select Drive in order to select the backup drive. It is recommended to choose an external HDD, SSD or a USB stick whose memory capacity is corresponding to the size of the files you want to backup. 5-Select the drive then click on ‘Ok’ in order to set up file backup and protect yourself from FindWide.com.
1- Press Windows button + R keys. 2- A run windows should appear. In it type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and then click on Run. 3- A System Properties windows should appear. In it choose System Protection. 5- Click on Turn on system protection and select the size on the hard disk you want to utilize for system protection. 6- Click on Ok and you should see an indication in Protection settings that the protection from FindWide.com is on. Restoring a file via Windows Defense feature: 1-Right-click on the encrypted file, then choose Properties. 2-Click on the Previous Versions tab and then mark the last version of the file. 3-Click on Apply and Ok and the file encrypted by FindWide.com should be restored.
Optional: Using an Alternative Anti-Malware Tool
Remove FindWide.com Using an Alternative Tool
STOPZilla Anti Malware
1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove FindWide.com. Step 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here. Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards. Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it. Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button. Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again. Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button. Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.
2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all FindWide.com associated files completely. Step 1:Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t launched it after install. Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button. Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.
NOTE! Substantial notification about the FindWide.com threat: Manual removal of FindWide.com requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
VPN is a service that keeps your web browsing secure and private. Stop mass surveillance and browse freely by using a VPN. Keep your data encrypted, your IP hidden and your location changed!
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
VPN is a service that keeps your web browsing secure and private. Stop mass surveillance and browse freely by using a VPN. Keep your data encrypted, your IP hidden and your location changed!
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove FindWide.com.
1. For Windows 7 and earlier
STOPZilla Anti Malware
