What is Conduit virus

Conduit virus refers to a browser hijacker that makes unwanted changes to users’ browsers. While browser hijackers are not exactly malicious or particularly dangerous, users refer to Conduit as a virus because of its questionable and highly annoying behaviour. So while it’s not exactly a virus, we will refer to it as such for simplicity. Conduit virusConduit is a browser hijacker, which means it will install without explicit permission from users and will make unwanted changes. The changes include a different homepage, new tabs and search engine. These changes usually surprise users because they do not agree to them. They are also irreversible while the hijacker is installed. So unless users delete Conduit virus from their computers, they are stuck with the changes. Fortunately, hijackers are not difficult to get rid of.

Hijackers use software bundling to install. Software bundling is a frowned upon installation method, and programs that use it are usually classified as potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). How to prevent these unwanted installations will be explained in the following section of the report, but the short explanation is that these unwanted programs are attached to free software. They are purposely hidden from users to ensure they get installed.

How did Conduit virus install

Users are generally quite surprised when they see the hijacker on their computers. It’s not surprising because these kinds of infections use the sneaky software bundling method. Software bundling is essentially adding additonal offers to free software. The additional offers are usually adware, browser hijackers and PUPs. The offers are optional but are added to freeware in a way that authorises them to install alongside, unless users manually deselect them.

When users are installing freeware, they often do not notice the offers because they are purposely hidden. When the offers go unnoticed, they are essentially given permission to install alongside. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to pay attention when installing programs. At some point during installation, users are asked to either continue in Default settings or use Advanced (Custom). If users continue in Default, they’re allowing the offers to install. However, if they opt for Advanced, they will be given the option of reviewing what has been added and allowed to deselect everything.

It’s recommended to always deselect the offers, no matter how useful they seem. Nothing good will come of them.

What does Conduit virus do?

As we mentioned above, the so called Conduit virus is not malicious. It’s also a very noticeable infection. As soon as it installs, it will make changes to browsers like Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and Search.conduit.com or some other similar site is set as homepage and new tabs. Other sites like Storage.conduit.com, Lab.search.conduit.com and Trovi.com could be set as the search engine as well.

These sites are presented like they enhance browsing the Internet but in reality they’re just trying to redirect users to sponsored sites. The search engines that users are forced to use insert sponsored content into search results in order to redirect users. The thing about those sponsored sites is that they are not always safe and could lead users to malicious or scam sites. Thus, it’s not recommended to use the search engine. Or at least users should pay attention to what results they click on. These redirects are the main purpose of hijackers because they want to generate revenue. Users get nothing from this.

It’s also a known fact that hijackers tend to collect information about users. That information includes sites visited, searches, location, etc. The information can also be shared with or sold to third-parties, who would use the info for their own purposes.

Overall, while Conduit virus is not the most dangerous infection, it’s annoying enough to warrant removal. It makes unwanted changes to browsers, sets questionable sites as homepages and search engines, and then tries to redirect users to questionable sites.

Conduit virus removal

It should not be difficult to uninstall Conduit virus, particularly using anti-spyware software. Automatic Conduit virus removal is easier because the program will take care of everything. However, it is also possible to remove Conduit virus manually.

After the hijacker is gone, users will be able to change back their browser settings with no issue, and should no longer be redirected.

Offers

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Conduit virus and related programs.

Remove Conduit virus from Windows 8

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel choose Programs and Features and select to Uninstall a software.

Delete Conduit virus from Windows 8

Uninstall Conduit virus from Windows 7

Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features → Uninstall a program.

Uninstall Conduit virus from Windows 7

Delete Conduit virus from Windows XP

Click Start → Settings → Control Panel. Locate and click → Add or Remove Programs.

Remove Conduit virus from Windows XP

Remove Conduit virus from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for Conduit virus or any other suspicious software. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash, then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

Conduit virus removal from MAC OS X

Step 2. Delete Conduit virus from your browsers

Terminate the unwanted extensions from Internet Explorer
  1. Tap the Gear icon and go to Manage Add-ons. Conduit virus IE gear
  2. Pick Toolbars and Extensions and eliminate all suspicious entries (other than Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Oracle or Adobe) Conduit virus IE toolbars and extensions
  3. Leave the window.
Change Internet Explorer homepage if it was changed by virus:
  1. Tap the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of your browser and click Internet Options. Conduit virus IE gear
  2. In General Tab remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Press Apply to save changes. Conduit virus IE toolbars and extensions
Reset your browser
  1. Click the Gear icon and move to Internet Options. Conduit virus IE options
  2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset. Conduit virus IE reset browser
  3. Choose Delete personal settings and pick Reset one more time. Conduit virus IE reset
  4. Tap Close and leave your browser. Conduit virus IE close
  5. If you were unable to reset your browsers, employ a reputable anti-malware and scan your entire computer with it.
Erase Conduit virus from Google Chrome
  1. Access menu (top right corner of the window) and pick Settings. Conduit virus Chrome menu
  2. Choose Extensions. Conduit virus Chrome settings
  3. Eliminate the suspicious extensions from the list by clicking the Trash bin next to them. Conduit virus Chrome extensions remove
  4. If you are unsure which extensions to remove, you can disable them temporarily. Conduit virus Chrome extensions disable
Reset Google Chrome homepage and default search engine if it was hijacker by virus
  1. Press on menu icon and click Settings. Conduit virus Chrome menu
  2. Look for the “Open a specific page” or “Set Pages” under “On start up” option and click on Set pages. Conduit virus Chrome settings
  3. In another window remove malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage. Conduit virus Chrome extensions remove
  4. Under the Search section choose Manage Search engines. When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search websites. You should leave only Google or your preferred search name. Conduit virus Chrome extensions disable
    Conduit virus Chrome extensions disable
Reset your browser
  1. If the browser still does not work the way you prefer, you can reset its settings.
  2. Open menu and navigate to Settings. Conduit virus Chrome settings more
  3. Press Reset button at the end of the page. Conduit virus Chrome advanced menu
  4. Tap Reset button one more time in the confirmation box. Conduit virus Chrome reset
  5. If you cannot reset the settings, purchase a legitimate anti-malware and scan your PC.
Remove Conduit virus from Mozilla Firefox
  1. In the top right corner of the screen, press menu and choose Add-ons (or tap Ctrl+Shift+A simultaneously). Conduit virus Firefox add ons
  2. Move to Extensions and Add-ons list and uninstall all suspicious and unknown entries. Conduit virus Firefox extensions
Change Mozilla Firefox homepage if it was changed by virus:
  1. Tap on the menu (top right corner), choose Options. Conduit virus Firefox reset confirm
  2. On General tab delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default. Conduit virus Firefox reset confirm
  3. Press OK to save these changes.
Reset your browser
  1. Open the menu and tap Help button. Conduit virus Firefox help
  2. Select Troubleshooting Information. Conduit virus Firefox troubleshooting
  3. Press Refresh Firefox. Conduit virus Firefox reset
  4. In the confirmation box, click Refresh Firefox once more. Conduit virus Firefox reset confirm
  5. If you are unable to reset Mozilla Firefox, scan your entire computer with a trustworthy anti-malware.
Uninstall Conduit virus from Safari (Mac OS X)
  1. Access the menu.
  2. Pick Preferences. Conduit virus Safari menu
  3. Go to the Extensions Tab. Conduit virus Safari extensions
  4. Tap the Uninstall button next to the undesirable Conduit virus and get rid of all the other unknown entries as well. If you are unsure whether the extension is reliable or not, simply uncheck the Enable box in order to disable it temporarily.
  5. Restart Safari.
Reset your browser
  1. Tap the menu icon and choose Reset Safari. Conduit virus Safari reset menu
  2. Pick the options which you want to reset (often all of them are preselected) and press Reset. Conduit virus Safari reset
  3. If you cannot reset the browser, scan your whole PC with an authentic malware removal software.

Site Disclaimer

2-remove-virus.com is not sponsored, owned, affiliated, or linked to malware developers or distributors that are referenced in this article. The article does not promote or endorse any type of malware. We aim at providing useful information that will help computer users to detect and eliminate the unwanted malicious programs from their computers. This can be done manually by following the instructions presented in the article or automatically by implementing the suggested anti-malware tools.

The article is only meant to be used for educational purposes. If you follow the instructions given in the article, you agree to be contracted by the disclaimer. We do not guarantee that the artcile will present you with a solution that removes the malign threats completely. Malware changes constantly, which is why, in some cases, it may be difficult to clean the computer fully by using only the manual removal instructions.

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