Unable to remove 'search-great' browser hijacker; I feel like I tried everything - please help

[Rman]

Hi,

I was an idiot and downloaded an unsafe link for an image viewer app.

I now seem to have a browser hijacker that redirects to Yahoo.

The text in the URL briefly reads 'search-great' before it redirects.

Everything obvious I have tried, including:

- checking for dodgy sounding folders in temporary files/roaming/app data and deleting them

- flushed DNS

- ran virus scans with malwarebytes/hitmanpro/adwcleaner--- they even found PUPs and quarantined them, but this has not fixed the issue

- system restore to earlier time

- common actions like checking if there was anything suspicious I could uninstall (I found nothing suspect) and reinstalling Chrome

What else can I try, any ideas?

This is making me really sad now. I genuinely feel like I exhausted all options I could find online.

What else can I do?

 

[Victor M]

Ask ChatGPT about the mechanisms of browser hijackers. Then ask follow up questions on each individual mech until it gives you concrete things to look for. You can also say "answer again" and she will list slightly different answer.

 

[nasdaq]

Hi,

You are dealing with this malware
Search-great.com Redirect Virus - Easy Removal Steps - Hackerdose

You can follow the directives on the page and I;m sure it will take you much time.

If you download this search tool and post the FRST.TXT AND ADDITIONAL.TXT that will be generating from your system I will give you a simple solution.
Your call.

Download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST).
Choose the 32 or 64 bit version for your system.
and save it to a folder on your computer's Desktop.
Ensure that you are in an Administrator Account
Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
Check the boxes as seen here:

Press Scan button.
It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

Please attach the logs for my review.
How to attach a file to your reply:
In the Reply section in the bottom of the topic Click the "more reply Options" button.

https://deeprybka.trojaner-board.de/eset/eng/attachlogs.png

Wait for further instructions

p.s.
This program is updated often.
If it's identified as suspicious by your Anti-Virus program trust it if Downloaded from the link I provided.
if the download was from the site I provided you should restore the program from the Quarantine folder. It's SAFE.
====

 

[Rman]

Thank you for the reply. However I have now fixed the issue. I think. But I will refer back to this in case it reoccurs