Pico-search.com

What is Pico-search.com?

Browser hijackers such as Pico-search.com pose a real and significant threat to your computer’s security, so you have to remove it without hesitation. This particular hijacker only looks like a legitimate search engine, but be warned it is distributed with the help of an illicit distribution method that involves bundling it with free programs and putting the resulting bundle up for download on freeware distributing sites. Apart from being distributed in a dishonest manner, this hijacker has other issues that we are going to cover throughout this article. Please continue reading to learn more.

How does Pico-search.com work?

Browser hijackers are also fake search engines that pose as reliable and innovative claiming that they will improve your browsing experience, but the fact of the matter is that they do nothing of the sort. You can use Pico-search.com for processing search queries, but there is no point in doing so because it redirects them to Google.com effectively undermining this hijacker’s image as a unique search engine. The only reason why this hijacker even exists is that it can generate advertisement revenue. If you visit Pico-search.com, then you will see that it has advertisements on its main page. The presented content may be of unreliable nature and get your computer infected with more malware. Nevertheless, most of its content is websites that promote strange and questionable products with cliché slogans. However, the bulk of the promotions should be shown in the search results, but we did not see any promotional links at the time of our research.

Regardless of that we are certain that it should display ads in the search results at some point. Here is a quote from http://Info.pico-search.com which states that “Pico Search aims to provide the ultimate online search experience. Our advanced technology provides you with the best of what the web has to offer, and makes it easier than ever to find exactly what you are searching for.” Obviously, this claim is false because, as we have pointed out, this hijacker redirects all searches to Google.com so it does not have the ability to introduce anything new to make your search experience any better.

Furthermore, according to this hijacker’s privacy policy, it is set to collect information that includes “internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser user agent, referring page, date/time stamp and cookies and web beacons.” This information is collected automatically and used to customize the promote content to generate more advertising revenue. You should not allow it to gather this information because it may be misused and given to third parties.

Where does Pico-search.com come from?

Our research has revealed that this browser hijacker is a product of a malware developer known as Babylon Ltd which usually develops malicious toolbars that distribute its browser hijackers. However, recently, this company has switched tactics and now distributes its hijackers using software bundles. Once again, the information provided on it states that” Pico Search has partnered with some of the most popular software packages in world, giving you the option to install our search settings during setup and giving them the opportunity to offer you their products for free.” So if you want to use this hijacker for free you have to be subjected to commercial advertisements, but you do not have a choice in the matter because of its questionable distribution methods. As stated, Pico-search.com is distributed using software bundles, but what is not known is that this hijacker is likely to be injected into your web browser without your consent. Indeed, this infection is set to become your web browser’s homepage by being secretly injected by the malicious installers.

How do I remove Pico-search.com?

Given how this hijacker operates it is evident that its only purpose is to make money for its developers. To the detriment of the average user, this hijacker is configured to promote shady websites that may subject you to dangerous content, so if you want to restore your computer’s security, you must remove Pico-search.com. follow the instructions provided below to get rid of it manually. However, if you experience problems, we suggest using SpyHunter as it can wipe out this infection in its entirety.

Removal Guide

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Simultaneously press Windows+R keys.
2. Enter regedit in the box and click OK.
3. Go to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
4. Find Start Page and right-click it.
5. Click Modify.
6. Replace http://pico-search.com with your desired homepage address.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Simultaneously press Windows+E keys.
2. Go to %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{ID number}
3. Find and open prefs.js with Notepad.
4. Replace user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://pico-search.com"); with your desired homepage address.

Google Chrome

1. Simultaneously press Windows+E keys.
2. Go to %LocalAppData%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
3. Find and Delete Preferences, Secure Preferences and Web Data files.

Delete junk files

1. Press Windows+E keys.
2. Go to the following locations and delete the pico-search.com folder

• %APPDATA%
• %PROGRAMFILES%
• %PROGRAMFILES(x86)%

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