CleverSearch is an adware which infects your web browsers to display unwanted ads. You may not have installed it intentionally, but it comes up usually as a “Potentially Unwanted Program” bundled with other programs so you have to be careful what you download from the internet. CS generally outlines/highlights the words of the text you’re viewing on your browsers, and pops-up ads when your mouse hovers over it. It may also list down ads in left or right pane of your browser as seen in the image below.
CleverSearch is usually detected by security software’s as Adware:Win32/InfoAtoms or Adware.Vitruvian.
This guide is also effective for removing other types of Adwares, you will see that not only CleverSearch is going to be removed, but all other Adwares residing on your computer.
Method 1: Run AdwCleaner To Scan For Adwares
AdwCleaner runs on Windows 7/XP/Vista/8/8.1 and the latest Windows 10. To perform a scan with AdwCleaner follow the steps listed below:
1. Download AdwCleaner by Clicking Here
2. After it has been downloaded, open and run it.
3. Click Scan. Wait for the scan to finish usually takes less then 3 minutes, after it has finished scanning. It will prompt you with a request to click OK and proceed. This will close other open programs, so if you haven’t already bookmarked this page, then do it now so you can get back to it after the computer restarts.
4. Click the OK button and then confirm the reboot.
5. After the computer has rebooted, a notepad file will automatically open up when you the computer starts. This file is from AdwCleaner listing all the programs it had removed.
Method 2: Run Malwarebytes For A Comprehensive Removal
1. Download Malwarebytes by Clicking Here.
2. Run and install it, after it has been installed open it.
3. From the top bar of Malwarebytes, choose Scan then choose Custom Scan and then Click Configure Scan.
4. In the next windows, put check on all boxes and in the right pane, select “all your drives”
5. Hit the Scan Now button and wait for the scan to finish, this can take a few hours depending on the data on disks but this is a comprehensive scan and the system will be completely scanned for rootkits, malwares, spywares etc.
6. After the scan has finished, choose “Quarantine All“.
After this has finished, your PC is clean reset your web browsers.
Internet Explorer:
1. Hold windows key and Press R
2. Type inetcpl.cpl
3. Click the Advanced tab, and click Reset
4. Put check on Delete Personal Settings, and hit reset again
Google Chrome:
Exit Google Chrome completely.
- Enter the keyboard shortcut Windows key+E to open Windows Explorer.
- In the Windows Explorer window that appears enter the following in the address bar.
- Windows XP:
%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\ - Windows Vista/ Windows 7/ Windows 8:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\
- Windows XP:
- Locate the folder called “Default” in the directory window that opens and rename it as “Backup default.”
- Try opening Google Chrome again. A new “Default” folder is automatically created as you start using the browser.
Mozilla Firefox:
- Click the menu button and then click help .
- From the Help menu choose Troubleshooting Information. …
- Click the Reset Firefox… button in the upper-right corner of the Troubleshooting Information page.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens.
