Virus and Spyware Removal Guides, uninstall instructions

What is search.htheweathercenter.org?

search.htheweathercenter.org is categoirzed as a fake search engine. It is very similar to many other websites of this type such as search.hnewsscoop.co, search.hfastmapsanddirections.com, and search.hyourfreeonlineformsnow.com.

This site may seem similar to other legitimate search engines such as Yahoo or Google, however, developers promote it using a potentially unwanted app (PUA), a browser hijacker called The Weather Center. Once installed, this PUA changes browser settings.

Furthermore, this unwanted app and the search.htheweathercenter.org search engine collect information relating to users' browsing habits.

What is search.htodayonlinenews.org?

search.htodayonlinenews.org is categorized as a fake, dubious search engine. It is very similar to search.hmyclassifiedslist.net, search.hnewsscoop.co, search.hfastmapsanddirections.com, and many others. They are all promoted through potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), browser hijackers.

In this case, search.htodayonlinenews.org is promoted using an app called Today Online News. When installed, PUAs collect user-system information relating to browsing activity and modify browser settings.

What is search.hquickneasyrecipes.co?

search.hquickneasyrecipes.co is a fake search engine that is very similar to others of this type including, for example, search.hnewsscoop.co, search.hfastmapsanddirections.com, and search.hyourfreeonlineformsnow.com.

This may seem to be a legitimate search engine, similar to well-known sites such as Google - developers promote it as 'useful' and offering potential users an enhanced browsing experience. In fact, it is also promoted using a browser hijacker, an app called Quick N Easy Recipes.

Applications of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted apps (PUAs). Together with search.hquickneasyrecipes.co, this PUA collects information relating to browsing habits and, when installed, modifies browser settings.

What is Plomb?

This program was discovered by Jakub Kroustek. There are many ransomware-type programs online, including Plomb, which belongs to the Dharm ransomware family. Developers (cyber criminals) use it to encrypt data stored on users' computers and then to demand ransom payments for retrieval of files.

When encrypted, each file is renamed by adding the ".plomb" extension plus an email address and the victim's ID. For example, "1.jpg" is renamed to "1.jpg.id-1E857D00.[plombiren@hotmail.com].plomb". Like most malicious programs of this type, Plomb creates a ransom message (within the "FILES ENCRYPTED.txt" file) and displays a pop-up window with instructions.

What is search.hnewsscoop.co?

Similar to search.hfastmapsanddirections.com, search.hyourfreeonlineformsnow.com, and many others, search.hnewsscoop.co is a fake search engine that, according to the developers, enhances the browsing experience.

Judging on appearance alone, search.hnewsscoop.co may seem legitimate and useful, however, research shows that developers promote this website using a browser-hijacking app called News Scoop. In addition, search.hnewsscoop.co and News Scoop continually record information relating to browsing habits.

What is search.hmyclassifiedslist.net?

Developers present search.hmyclassifiedslist.net as a legitimate search engine that supposedly generates the most accurate results, thereby enhancing the browsing experience.

Initially, search.hmyclassifiedslist.net may seem legitimate and useful, however, this site is promoted using a rogue application called My Classifieds List, which hijacks browsers and modifies settings. In addition, search.hmyclassifiedslist.net (and My Classifieds List) tracks browsing activity by recording information.

What is search.hfastmapsanddirections.com?

search.hfastmapsanddirections.com is one of many fake search engines that, according to the developers, enhances the browsing experience. Its appearance suggests that search.hfastmapsanddirections.com is legitimate, however, this site is promoted using a browser-hijacking application called Fast Maps And Directions.

In addition, search.hfastmapsanddirections.com and Fast Maps And Directions gather various information relating to browsing activity.

What is hp.myway.com?

Mindspark Interactive Network has developed many applications, including CrazyForCrafts, which supposedly allows access to thousands of crafting project ideas directly from the browser (new tabs).

In fact, CrazyForCrafts is categorized as a potentially unwanted app (PUA), a browser hijacker, since many people download and install it unintentionally. Furthermore, this PUA promotes a dubious search engine: hp.myway.com.

What is specif1c.com?

specif1c.com is a rogue website designed to redirect users to various websites and deliver dubious content. It is virtually identical to hadmatontrin.com, dartsearch.net, getmacsoft.com, and many others.

Most visitors arrive at this website without consent - they are redirected by intrusive advertisements (displayed by other rogue sites) or potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

In most cases, PUAs infiltrate computers without users’ permission. In addition to causing redirects, these applications deliver intrusive advertisements and monitor browsing activity by gathering various user-system information.

What is apple.com-speed-macos.live?

apple.com-speed-macos.live is a deceptive, untrustworthy website (almost identical to apple.com-clean-os.live and apple.com-cleaning-os.live) designed to trick visitors into believing that their computers are infected with viruses.

This website displays a fake virus alert pop-up window encouraging users to take immediate action "to begin the repair process", which will supposedly resolve the problem and remove infections. In fact, this process downloads and installs a potentially unwanted application (PUA).

Generally, people are forced to visit this website unintentionally. This usually happens when they have PUAs already installed on their systems. These unwanted apps open deceptive websites (in this case, apple.com-performance-macos.live). Furthermore, when installed, PUAs often deliver intrusive advertisements and gather various information.