Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info Ads Virus. How to delete?

Written by Valdis Koks

Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info search hijacker is a kind of virus that squeezes into your computer system, and afterwards alters the search engine configurations in your internet browser to one which it is paid for. It also makes some unwanted modifications that might lead to personal information leakages, as well as to various other malware penetration. In this post, you will read the manual of Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info hijacker clearing in various strategies, and also the procedure of making your browser as good as new.

icon hijacker - Do I really need it?

Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info Info

Name Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info extension
Type Browser hijacker1
Short Description The unwanted software that amends important browser settings without the user’s permission.
Symptoms The Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info hijacker replaces the browser parameters set by the users and replaces these settings with its own values.
Distribution Method Bundling with Freeware or Shareware, misleading pop-up ads produced by adware.
Detection Tool Inspect If Your System Has Been Affected by the Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info hijacker.

The ways of injection of Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info search hijackers are different. Many of them come from the malware spreading via the malvertising or evil-minded links of various web sites. In some cases, your system might be contaminated with this malware via the trojan-downloader, which is utilized to distribute different other malware. There is a single form of this undesirable program – browser plugin that may build right into any kind of internet browser which supports the add-on setup2.

You will not likely setup this plugin on your own, because their names are very uncertain, and the functionality is really questionable. The “developers” of Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info hijacker generally specify that it can save the .doc/.docx files from the sites already to .pdf format, or to download the whole site on your disk. It is extremely difficult to picture if someone may be needed in such operations in 2023, when the Internet access is not time-limited and every PC is able to open the needed .docx documents at Google Docs.

However, besides their impracticality, they can simply be spotted in the Chrome Web Store. Of course, virus analysts sound the alarm relating to such spam right into the legit source of web browser extensions, requiring the Google response – getting rid of these extensions from their place. However, they are still not hurrying to repair that safety issue.

Icon - Your PC hijacker

Is the Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info virus?

At the first blush, you can assume that these redirects are just aggravating, but not dangerous. As a result of this reason a number of users are just playing for time as opposed to removing this malware, getting much more chances of being contaminated with numerous other malware, which are far more harmful than Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info is.

Besides the changed browser search engine or search results, you may additionally see different advertisements even on those sites that do not have any ads on it by default. And you may easily misclick while shutting off the promotion, and initiate the downloading of an unknown file, which can be a malware, or a potentially undesirable application, or perhaps ransomware – whatever the maintainers of this hijacker desire.

If your browser is corrupted because of the Azorult trojan task, the system may start malfunctioning soon – this symptome is one of the most typical in case of trojan infiltration.

Icon - remove Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info hijacker

How to remove Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info?

First, let me say several words about prevention the Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info malware injection. It is very easy to discuss the tactics of shielding your personal computer from such frustrating items as browser hijackers, but it is very easy to be caught on this lure even being a skilled user. As it was specified above, this virus may hide after the eye-catching (at the first sight) ad, or in packs with various other adware you may get in dozens of methods. But despite the typical intricacy of the infiltration approaches, it is really easy to avoid the Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info hijacker appearing in your system:

  • Do not follow the dubious links;
  • Restrict the usage of pseudo-free software (one which is offered as free, but has an additional unwanted programs in its pack);
  • Leave the habit of clicking advertisements on the web. If you need to buy something, it is better to google it;
  • Avoid downloading the files from dubious sources, like forums or file sharing websites.

Preparation before removing Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info.

Before starting the actual uninstall procedure, we recommend that you do the following introductory milestones.

  • Make sure you have this hand-operated tutorial constantly ready to use.
  • Carry out a back-up of every one of your data, including the stored logins, passwords as well as various other qualifications. You must support your info with a cloud back-up option and make sure your data are shielded from any kind of kind of loss, even from the most extreme infections.
  • Wait up until the long-lasting backup procedure is over.

Step 1: Uninstall Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info and related software from Windows

Here is a method in few simple steps that ought to be able to uninstall most applications. Either you use Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, these milestones will work well. Moving the app or its folder to the Trash can be a very wrong idea. In case you do that, remnants of the app may remain, and that can cause the unstable performance of your system, malfunctions with the file type associations and other unpleasant behavior. The effective solution to get an app off your device is to remove it manually. To do that:

1. Keep holding the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will soon arrive.

Windows keyboard R

2. In the field that appeared, type in “appwiz.cpl” -1  and choose OK – 2.

Run appwiz.cpl

 

3. This will open a window with all the apps available on the device. Choose the app that you want to get rid of, then choose “Uninstall

Follow the steps above and you will successfully get rid of most unwanted apps.

Step 2: Get rid of Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info from all your available browsers.

Mozilla FirefoxGoogle ChromeInternet ExplorerMicrosoft Edge

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox. Go to its menu window

2. Choose the “Add-ons” icon in the menu.

3. Find the unwanted extension and select “Remove

Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Remove

4. Upon deleting the extension, reload Mozilla Firefox, closing it with the help of a red “X” button in the upper right corner and start it again.

1. Launch Google Chrome and go to its drop menu

Google Chrome drop menu click

2. Click on “Tools” and then in the extended menu select “Extensions

Google Chrome Tools select Extensions

3. In the “Extensions” menu find the unwanted extension and apply the “Remove” button related to it.

Google Chrome Extensions Remove

4. As soon as the extension is deleted, reload Google Chrome by closing it by means of the red “X” button at the top right corner and launch it again.

1. Launch Internet Explorer

2. Click on the gear icon marked ‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and choose ‘Manage Add-ons’

Manage-add-ons

3. In the “Manage Add-ons” window, locate the extension you want to delete and then click “Remove”. A pop-up window will come up to inform you that you are about to delete the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and choose “Remove”.

Internet Explorer extension removal

4. Once the unwanted extension is deleted, reload Internet Explorer by shutting it down from the red “X” button located at the top right corner and launch it again.

1. Launch Edge

2. Access the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.

3. From the drop menu choose “Extensions”.

Microsoft Edge menu Extensions

4. Locate the suspected dangerous extension you want to delete and then click on the Remove button.

Microsoft Edge Extensions Remove

Step 3: Clean any registries that could be added by Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info on your device.

The usually attacked registries of Windows machines are the following:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

You can access them by going to the Windows registry editor and getting rid of any values added by Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info. Follow the steps below:

  1. Start the Run Window command once again, type “regedit” and click OK.Window command regedit
  2. As soon as you open it, you can freely go to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are displayed above.Window command Run and RunOnce keys
  3. You can delete the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and deleting it.Window command regedit delete the value virus

Tip: To locate a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and select “Modify” to find which file it is set to run. If this is the malware file location, delete the value.

Step 4: Scan for Setupstronghighlyinfo-file.info with Loaris Trojan Remover

1. Click on the “Download” button to proceed to Loaris Trojan Remover download.

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by Trojan Remover. Click on the corresponding links to check License AgreementPrivacy Policy.

2. Click “Install” to start.

Loaris Trojan Remover Install

There were 4 scan types suggested:

  • Standard Scan.
  • Full Scan.
  • Custom Scan.
  • Removable Scan.

 

3. After the installed has finished, click on the ‘Scan’ tab. Click on ‘Full Scan’.

Loaris Trojan Remover Full Scan

4. Once the scanning is started, Loaris will initiate the thorough analysis of your device and may soon identify specific threats currently slowing down the performance of your system. Make sure to wait until the scanning is completed to let the software fully evaluate the safety of your workstation.

Loaris Trojan Remover - scan in process

5. After Loaris Trojan Remover has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button. There were options to move the files to quarantine, ignore or delete them.

Loaris Trojan Remover - show viruses

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

 

  1. About browser hijackers on Wikipedia
  2. Possible danger of free browser extensions

About the author

Valdis Koks

Security engineer, reverse engineering and memory forensics

Leave a Comment