ScaryBear Software

This entry is intended to explain why Tuvaro Search is adware, what malicious features it exhibits, how to get rid of it and restore correct browser settings.

It looks like the basic vector in malicious software advancement is no longer about aggressive entities like ransomware or scareware – these probably pose too much risk to the bad actors of the software world in terms of confronting the law enforcement. Cybercriminals have been making moves towards partial legitimacy, or at least mimicking thereof. Immense numbers of users are now getting infected with adware, that is, unsafe programs aimed at promoting sponsored stuff on the Internet, apps like Tuvaro.

To its credit, Tuvaro, otherwise known as Tuvaro Search, which is marketed as a search provider does return rather relevant results for users’ queries, but the quantity of ads on its pages beats most of the other similar adware-powered landing pages we have seen. To start with, the payload for this potentially unwanted app gets delivered to target computers with other files, mostly free utilities made for watching or converting media content, PDF creators, download apps and the like.

What happens after the infiltration is Tuvaro Toolbar twisting web browser settings which are normally defined by the user. This applies to the default search engine as well as the homepage. When this is being done, you don’t get asked if you mind or not – that’s the determinative thing that makes this browser add-on a malicious one. The unauthorized distortion of how Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome work on the compromised machine is an intrusive approach never practiced by the regular legit browser extensions and suchlike objects. Consequently, the web page hosted at tuvaro.com is going to take over the defaults, being constantly visited because of the malicious interference with the system.

The impression from the juicy graphics on tuvaro.com main page is completely spoilt by the way the user got there and the abundance of sponsored links on every single search results page. One can put the “equals” sign between these ads and money, which explains the objectives that the bad guys are driven by. The only ones that are not satisfied in this publisher – advertiser scheme are individual users that got affected. In order to break out of this closed loop of Tuvaro adware, the respective app ought to be removed. This nontrivial task should be accomplished in compliance with a special procedure which is at your disposal – read and follow the instructions provided.

Tuvaro Search removal with automatic cleanup tool

An optimal workflow for eliminating the Tuvaro virus is to leverage a security application which will identify all potentially malicious software on your computer and handle it the right way. This approach ensures thoroughness of the removal and system remediation, and allows avoiding unintended damage that might occur as a result of manual malware deletion.

1. Download and install Tuvaro Search removal software. Launch it and click the Start New Scan button. Wait for the application to check your computer for threats

2. When the app is done scanning your system, it will come up with an extensive list of detected objects. Click the Fix Threats option to have the utility completely remove this adware and affiliated infections found on your PC.

Uninstall troublemaking software through Control Panel

– Go to Start menu and select Control Panel on the list

– Click on the Add or Remove Programs (Uninstall a program) button

– Take a good look at the software list displayed. Search for Tuvaro toolbar proper or affiliated apps that were installed recently and prior to the hijack issues. These are usually free browser helper objects, Flash-related software, file format converters, media apps and the like. When found, the probable culprit should be uninstalled

– Note that Tuvaro Search may not be listed on Control Panel therefore it may be problematic to figure out which particular program is associated with the virus in your case. If you are unsure, stick to the automatic cleanup advice and / or try the browser reset option described below.

Remove Tuvaro virus from compromised browsers

This part of the guide encompasses easy-to-follow steps required for terminating the activity of the adware under consideration on major web browsers it affects.

Tuvaro Search removal for MS Internet Explorer

– Go to Tools –> Manage add-ons

– When on the Manage add-ons interface, click on Search Providers in its left-hand section and select a service that you would like to use as your preferred engine by right-clicking it and picking Set as default option. Also, do not fail to eliminate Tuvaro from this list by clicking the Remove button

– Click Toolbars and Extensions item on the same screen, find Tuvaro related objects there (Tuvaro Toolbar, tuvaro Helper Object), highlight each one and click the Disable button at the bottom

– In order to set the preferred IE homepage, select Internet Options under Tools, then proceed to the General tab and type in the desired address under Home page instead of tuvaro.com

Tuvaro Search removal for Mozilla Firefox

– Type about:config in the address bar and hit Enter

– When Firefox comes up with the warranty alert, read it and click the confirmation button as shown on the image below

– Type tuvaro in the Search field and press Enter. Doing so will return en entire list of Firefox preferences associated with this adware. Right-click on every one of these entries and select Reset from the menu each time

– Go to Tools and select Add-ons

– Proceed to Extensions and remove the one related to Tuvaro

– Go to Manage Search Engines… as shown below

– Highlight Tuvaro on the list and click Remove button to eliminate it. Save the changes before exiting

Tuvaro Search removal for Google Chrome

– Click on the Chrome menu icon, then select Tools –> Extensions

– Find Tuvaro Chrome Toolbar or similar affiliated item on the screen. When found, the unwanted object should be deleted by clicking on the trash bin next to it

– Go back to the Chrome menu but now select Settings

– Go to On startup sub-section, select Open a specific page or set of pages radio button, and click Set pages

– Chrome will now come up with Startup pages interface, where you should locate Tuvaro and remove it by clicking the X button as shown

– In the sub-section called Appearance, make sure Show Home button is checked, and click the Change option

– Under Home page, select Use the New Tab page

– Go to the Search sub-section and click Manage search engines. Examine the list to find the object named Tuvaro and click the X button to its right in order to eliminate it. Be sure to also choose the search engine to be used by default

Double-checking never hurts

To make sure the Tuvaro hijacker has been removed, consider running an additional security scan as a completion of the cleanup procedure