Get rid of Adtcs.sitescout.com Redirect Virus-Removal guide

I got Adtcs.sitescout.com Redirect virus on my computer. It really makes me annoyed! Whenever I launch my web browsers, this annoyance pops up and sets itself as my homepage. The virus completely takes control my browser so that I cannot use my browser optionally as usual. I don’t know why my antivirus software fails to pick it up. How I can I get rid of this virus and get my browser back to normal? This post will provide you with efficient removal instructions to remove the browser hijacker thoroughly.

What is Adtcs.sitescout.com Redirect virus?

Adtcs.sitescout.com is a nasty application which may burst into a target computer without computer users consent and permission. This infection is distributed via junk emails attachments, vicious websites, free software, and sponsored links etc.

After the infection getting into your computer successfully, it affects all kind of your browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome and so on. It hijacks your browsers through adding add-ons, extensions on your browser and modifying browser settings like homepage and default engine. By doing this, the browser hijacker completely takes control of your browsers. You may find that your search results keep redirecting to some strange websites, instead the normal one you want to visit. At the same time, this virus shows up various and numerous pop-ups like advertisements, error messages, and suspicious links. If you click on any these pop-ups, you may be forced to visit some malicious websites.

Furthermore, if you retain this pesky virus in your system for a long time, it will corrupt registry entries in the Windows registry editor, tamper with system files, slow down your computer and even cause system frozen up all of a sudden. Not only this, this redirect virus has the ability to monitor your browsing activities and steal your precious information including search habits, credit card details, bank account and other details. So, you should remove Adtcs.sitescout.com Redirect virus from your infected machine once you find it.

Disadvantages and risks of this infection

It modifies the browser settings comprising default homepage and default search engine.
It changes your search results to irrelevant and malicious content pages and displays tons of annoying ads on the computer screen.
It monitors your online activities and collects your individual information, and send to the remote cyber criminal.
It interferes with registry and system files and makes chaos on the whole computer system.

Tips to protect your computer from this virus?

Adtcs.sitescout.com Redirect Virus can secretly come into target computer. To avoid being infected by this pesky virus, you’d better take note of the following tips:

Update your anti-spyware tool on a basic.
Avoid clicking on those malicious advertisements and sponsored links.
Don’t open those unknown e-mail attachments in the spam folder.
Be careful to download free stuffs from torrent or any other websites.
Be sure to use strong passwords; 5 characters, one special character.
Properly scan secondary storage devices before you using them.

Manual removal instruction

Adtcs.sitescout.com is created with advanced rootkit technology which can change its codes’ name and path on the compromised PC frequently. In this case, it can bypass firewall and antivirus software. So the antivirus tools fail to detect it and delete it. You can follow the removal steps below to remove this stubborn virus.

Step One: Remove add-ons and Extensions from infected browsers.

Internet Explorer:

Start Internet Explorer.
Click on gear icon at the upper right corner and select Manage add-ons.
Click Toolbars and Extensions on the left side, search and remove any add-ons related to Adtcs.sitescout.com virus.

Mozilla Firefox:

Run Firefox browser.
Click on Tools and select Add-ons.
Click Extensions on the left side, find out and disable any suspicious add-ons.

Google Chrome:

Run Google Chrome.
Click on wrench icon in the upper right corner, click on Tools and select Extensions option.

Find out the malicious add-ons and remove them from Chrome.

Step Two: End the relevant processes

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys together to open Widows Task Manager. While Widows Task Manager opens, click on Processes tab. Select the related processes and click End Process button to cease them.

Step Three: Show Hidden Files and folders

Click Start menu and Control Panel from the list. Click Appearance and Personalization, and then click Folder Options.

In the Folder Option, click its View tab. Check Show hidden files and folders and uncheck Hide protected operating system files(Recommend) under the Advanced settings, and then hit OK button.

Step Four: Delete registry entries

Attention: Be always to back up registry entries before you deleting any registry files.

Press Windows+R keys together, while a command box pop ups, type “regedit” into the Run box, and then hit OK button to continue.

In the Registry Editor, locate and delete all registry entries associated with Adtcs.sitescout.com virus.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system “DisableTaskMgr” = ’1HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “.exe”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\run\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System “DisableTaskMgr” = ’1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download “CheckExeSignatures” = ‘no’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced “Hidden” = ’0

Step Five: Find out and delete the following malicious files

%AllUsersProfile%\random.exe
%Temp%\ [random].exe
%Appdata%\roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Templates\random.exe

Step Six: Restart your machine

Conclusion:

After you try to remove Adtcs.sitescout.com Redirect Virus in the manual removal instructions mention above, but still find signs of this redirect virus after you reboot your computer. On this occasion, you need to clean up the redirect virus by using an advanced and reliable removal tool like Mighty Uninstaller. It is a professional and power removal tool, which is designed to remove any unwanted programs or files completely. And it can help to tune up your PC by removing junk files, duplicate files and invalid registry entries automatically. So, Download and install the Mighty Uninstaller on your computer, and run it to completely scan your system to remove the redirect virus quickly and safely.