Searchtigo.com

Searchtigo.com is a fraudulent search engine that markets itself via browser hijackers (similar to but unrelated to such sites as SearchInOneStep.com, BrowserQuery.com or Wonderfulsearchsystem.com). A browser hijack that redirects your browser to Searchtigo.com is often accomplished alongside other functions such as reducing your computer's network security, creating fake alerts or installing other PC threats). Searchtigo.com itself may appear to be a search engine website, but results from Searchtigo.com can always be considered to be, at a minimum, valueless in terms of content, as well as potentially-malicious. SpywareRemove.com malware experts recommend that you scan your PC to remove any Searchtigo.com-affiliated PC threats if you experience any of the above symptoms, since Trojans, rootkits and other browser redirect-capable infections are often difficult to remove without software-derived assistance.

Sorting Through the Reputation of Searchtigo.com's Software

Major PC threats that are associated with Searchtigo.com include Trojan.FakeAlert and Adware.BHO.GEN as well as the Poprock and Nordbull viruses (which are not, as SpywareRemove.com malware experts note, actual viruses) all of which are often installed with Trojan droppers, rogue anti-spyware programs or backdoor Trojans. These PC threats may be distributed by contaminated installation packages for unrelated files, but SpywareRemove.com malware research team also recommends that you consider your PC potentially-infected after any visit to Searchtigo.com due to the risk of drive-by-download scripts. Top-level security settings for your browser and possession of up-to-date anti-malware programs can reduce the likelihood of Searchtigo.com-related attacks against your PC.

Trojan.FakeAlert, Adware.BHO.GEN and other PC threats that are linked to Searchtigo.com are noteworthy for the following symptoms and attacks:

• Most visibly, browser redirects to Searchtigo.com's fake search site. Any interaction with Searchtigo.com is, of course, discouraged. Redirects may occur when you click on a search engine link or at other opportune moments.
• Your background wallpaper may be changed to an unusual warning message about spyware, Trojans or other PC threats. If this occurs, the guilty Trojan will also prevent you from changing your background back to normal.
• The presence of rogue anti-spyware applications that pretend to detect spyware (such as keyloggers) but refuse to remove these fake infections until you pay to activate all of their features. These scamware products are often supported by the wallpaper changes that related Trojans cause.
• Many browser hijackers associated with Searchtigo.com also install BHOs or Browser Helper Objects that can deliver pop-up advertisements or monitor your online activities to gather personal information and slow down your web-browsing performance.

Rejecting Both Searchtigo.com's Fake Products and Its Online Searching Assistance

SpywareRemove.com malware researchers don't recommend trying to remove Trojans, browser hijackers, scamware or other Searchtigo.com-related PC threats unless you have appropriate anti-malware programs at the ready. PC threats that are linked to Searchtigo.com have been known to register .dll files, alter the Registry, launch themselves automatically, hide components in the Windows directory and perform other actions that would make them difficult to detect and remove without appropriate software.

However, since Trojans that are linked to Searchtigo.com do use individual memory processes that can be monitored from Task Manager, you should be able to easily-distinguish when a Searchtigo.com-related PC threats is active or not. Rebooting into Safe Mode, booting Windows from a USB device or booting into a secondary OS are all viable methods of disabling such Trojans until you can scan your PC and remove them, and with them, any browser redirects to Searchtigo.com.