Clean.shield-plus.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is clean.shield-plus.com?
clean.shield-plus.com is another fake Internet search engine that, according to the developers, enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results. Initially, this site may seem legitimate and useful, however, criminals promote clean.shield-plus.com using a browser-hijacking app called Shield-Plus History Cleaner.
Furthermore, clean.shield-plus.com and Shield-Plus History Cleaner continually record various system information relating to users' web browsing habits.
Immediately after infiltration, Shield-Plus History Cleaner hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL/homepage/default search engine browser settings to clean.shield-plus.com.
Furthermore, Shield-Plus History Cleaner prevents users from reverting these changes - it continues to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, users are unable to return browser options to their previous states and are automatically redirected to clean.shield-plus.com when they enter a search query into the URL bar or open a new browser tab. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. Information tracking is also an issue.
Be aware that clean.shield-plus.com and Shield-Plus History Cleaner record user-system information relating to users' Internet browsing activity. The information typically includes personal details that developers share with third parties to generate revenue. The third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) misuse private data to generate revenue.
There is a high probability that information tracking will lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to clean.shield-plus.com, immediately eliminate the Shield-Plus History Cleaner browser hijacker and never return to this site.
| Name | Shield-Plus History Cleaner browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
clean.shield-plus.com is virtually identical to search.theappzworld.com, webstart.me, search.allinoneoffice.net, and hundreds of other fake search engines.
All promise to generate improved results and provide other useful features (e.g., weather forecasts, quick access to popular websites, etc.), however, since all fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers, they typically deliver no real value for regular users.
Websites such as clean.shield-plus.com cause unwanted redirects and gather personal information. Some deliver misleading results and intrusive advertisements. These typically lead to dubious sites. Therefore, using a fake Internet search engine can lead to high-risk computer infections.
How did clean.shield-plus.com install on my computer?
As mentioned above, clean.shield-plus.com is promoted using the Shield-Plus History Cleaner browser hijacker. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) infiltrates systems without users' consent.
Research shows that browser-hijacking applications are often distributed using intrusive advertisements and the "bundling" method (stealth installation of PUPs together with regular software).
Developers do not adequately disclose installation of third party apps - this information is concealed within various sections (e.g, "Advanced/Custom" settings) of the download or installation processes. Clicking ads and skipping download/installation steps often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue applications such as Shield-Plus History Cleaner.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. The key to safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and closely observe each step. Opt-out of all additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them.
Be aware that intrusive ads often look legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites. In most cases, intrusive ads are displayed by adware-type PUPs. Therefore, if you are continually redirected to dubious websites, immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins.
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is clean.shield-plus.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Shield-Plus History Cleaner application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove clean.shield-plus.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Shield-Plus History Cleaner browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove clean.shield-plus.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove clean.shield-plus.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Shield-Plus History Cleaner browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "Shield-Plus History Cleaner"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the clean.shield-plus.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Shield-Plus History Cleaner browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://clean.shield-plus.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "shield-plus".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shield-plus history cleaner browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Shield-Plus History Cleaner" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.clean.shield-plus.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "clean.shield-plus.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shield-plus history cleaner browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "Shield-Plus History Cleaner", as well as all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://clean.shield-plus.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "shield-plus.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with shield-plus history cleaner browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shield-plus history cleaner browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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