Every time I open a browser up, 4-you.net opens up, even when I change the homepage setting. It has changed my homepage and default search engine and I don’t need it anymore. I’ve heard it is a virus but I did a complete scan on the computer but nothing found. How do I get rid of this hijacker thing?
4-you.net is a low-quality website that provides a fake search engine to deceive innocent computer users which usually involves browser hijackers and a variety of attack websites. When this hijacker accesses your computer, it changes your homepage, DNS settings under Firefox, Chrome or Internet explorer so that it can show up on your computer out of nowhere and your browser will be totally messed up. And these changes are always made without a user’s consent and permission.
A browser hijacker infection always comes as an add-on for your browser or bundled-up with some free software. Once you download that certain piece of freeware, you unknowingly download this browser hijacker, compromising your internet security. This may actually be mentioned in the user agreement but careless users don’t notice it. 4-you.net hijacker can cause many annoying issues and make your PC at great risk. It is available in most versions of Windows, including Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. Once running, it will force you to visit its own page again and again, also it will redirect your search results to undesired malicious web pages from where many other infections can get in to your web browser and system. Additionally, being as a type of browser hijacker, it may refer to the ZeroAccess Rootkit which can be used to steal private information or install rogue security programs. In a word, pay attention to all your downloads. This redirect virus always comes bundled with freeware, like video players, PDF creators and so forth. Once found, take immediate measure to get rid of 4-you.net from your computer to keep your PC safe.
It belongs to browser hijacker virus which can totally mess up your browser setting.
It changes your default DNS configuration and blocks you accessing your favorite sites.
It may install some malware in your computer to make bad influence without your consent.
It degenerates your computer performance gradually.
4-you.net hijacks your browser to redirect your web search results and changes the homepage and browser settings. To completely uninstall it from an infected system, manual removal is the first choice because sometimes antivirus software cannot pick up the exact computer threat timely or remove it permanently. Users can follow the manual guide here to have this virus removed instantly.
1. Clear all the cookies of your affected browsers.
Since this tricky hijacker virus has the ability to use cookies for tracing and tracking the internet activity of users, it is suggested users to delete all the cookies before a complete removal.
Google Chrome:
Click on the “Tools” menu and select “Options”.
Click the “Under the Bonnet” tab, locate the “Privacy” section and click the “Clear browsing data” button.
Select “Delete cookies and other site data” to delete all cookies from the list.
Internet Explorer:
Open Internet explorer window
Click the “Tools” button
Point to “safety” and then click “delete browsing history”
Tick the “cookies” box, then click “delete”
Mozilla Firefox:
Click on Tools, then Options, select Privacy
Click “Remove individual cookies”
In the Cookies panel, click on “Show Cookies”
To remove a single cookie click on the entry in the list and click on the “Remove Cookie button”
To remove all cookies click on the “Remove All Cookies button”
2. End the malicious process from Task Manager.
Once 4-you.net redirect is installed, computer user may notice that CPU usage randomly jumps to 100 percent, slowing down the computer. If your system’s CPU spike is constant, users should check from Task Manager and see if there is a suspicious process occupying the system resources and then end it immediately.
(The name of the virus process can be random.)
Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc at the same time and it will open up task manager directly. Then change to “Processes” tab.
3. Show hidden files and folders.
Open Folder Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Appearance and Personalization, and then clicking Folder Options.
Click the View tab.
Under Advanced settings, click Show hidden files and folders, uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) and then click OK.
4. Remove all the malicious files related to 4-you.net hijacker manually.
%AppData%Local[random].exe
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\*.exe
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionInternet Settings “ProxyEnable” = “1″
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “[RANDOM].exe”
4-you.net can change various browser settings, such as your proxy server usage and your designated homepage. It does nothing good on the computer but just ruin your computer system. Malicious activities associated with this hijacker can be the modification of your homepage settings and reduction of your internet security options. This hijacker can also prevent you from changing all the settings back. Besides, this annoying virus displays pop-up ads, sometimes in such large amounts that you are not able to close neither the ads nor the browser. It is so tricky and smart as it can keep an eye on what user is browsing on their internet and collect their confidential data like bank account details, passwords, credit card numbers etc and then send it to cyber criminals via backdoors without any knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of 4-you.net redirect from the computer in order to avoid any annoyance.
Note: If you are not a computer expert and have no idea how to perform the removal, please contact experts from YooCare Online Tech Support for further help.
Published by & last updated on December 4, 2013 7:44 pm
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