SearchNet

SearchNet is the name of a vicious computer infection which targeted the Windows XP operating system and Internet Explorer back in 2006. Malware researchers categorize SearchNet differently; you may find that it is referred to as a Trojan horses, redirect virus, or even and an adware program. The malicious infection afflicts the settings of Internet Explorer and redirects computer users to either to searchnet.com or zhongsou.com. It is important to note that today the domain searchnet.com is used by another owner, which now provides computer users with a search engine, some articles and advertisements related to Walgreens.com.

At the moment, the new searchnet.com provides computer user with a chance to browse by categories, which include restaurants, movies, theaters, doctors, auto, hotels, and deals. Back in 2006, the search engine would provide you with a simple search box and some advertisements, which were displayed randomly, in the same way as it is done now by many search providers.

The search engine to which computer users were redirected when the SearchNet virus was active used to display third party advertisements. The search engine results page would be full of iframe advertisements, none of which was associated with the searchnet.com search engine. There are many different search engines that are similar to the former searnet.com, and, if you want to prevent so-called redirect viruses in the future, you should pay close attention to your online security.

The malicious SearchNet virus would install a great many files and registry entries in order to prevent you from using your favorite search provider. The files associated with SearchNet include SearchNet.exe, ServeUp.exe, SNHpr.dll, SrvNet32.dll, and Uninstall.exe, all of which are created in the ProgramFiles directory.

The SearchNet Trojan would run as a service and start running every time Windows starts. The so-called redirect virus would use kernel mode drivers in order to prevent removal. Today this malicious program is no longer active, but there are many other malicious computer programs that can alter the setting of your computer without your interference, and, if you want to prevent malware attacks, keep the computer protected by an up-to-date malware and spyware removal tool.