![\"search_results_look_weird\"](\"https:\/\/sitesdev.net\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/search_results_look_weird.jpg\")
Have you been noticing \u201cstrange\u201d search results when you\u2019re surfing the web? Have your search results been taking longer than usual to appear? You may have been infected by a new, very clever bit of malware known as Redirector.Paco.<\/p>\n
There are actually two flavors of this malicious software, the key differences between them is that one version sets up a proxy server on your local machine to serve the phony search results, while the other routes your search inquiry through a server that the hackers control, elsewhere on the \u2018net.<\/p>\n
In both cases, what you get are search results generated by the hackers\u2019 custom search engine. They do this because they\u2019re spring boarding off of Google\u2019s Adsense For Search, which is used by legitimate website owners, worldwide. If you\u2019ve ever used the search bar on any website you\u2019ve visited, you\u2019ve seen Adsense for Search. The site owner makes money when you click on the search results generated by the search bar on their site.<\/p>\n
In this case, the hackers have co-opted that process and display their search results, so every time you think you\u2019re doing a search on Google, Yahoo, or Bing, they are making money with each link you click on the search results page. Unfortunately, the malware is notoriously well-designed, spoofing certificates such that once it\u2019s installed, your computer has no idea that anything is amiss.<\/p>\n
To date, the malware has infected nearly a million computers worldwide by hiding in modified versions of installers for popular programs like YouTube Downloader, WinRAR, KMSPico, and Stardock\u2019s Start8.<\/p>\n
Depending on which version is installed on your machine, you may notice that your search results take significantly longer than they used to, in order to display. If that\u2019s the case, pay close attention to your browser\u2019s status bar. You may see something like, \u201cdownloading proxy script,\u201d or \u201cwaiting for proxy tunnel.\u201d If so, then you\u2019ve been infected.<\/p>\n
So far, there aren\u2019t many antivirus programs or anti-malware suites that can remove this for you, but rest assured that updates are coming, now that this latest threat has been identified. If you\u2019d rather not wait, and want to take action now, give one of our knowledgeable team members a call. We can inspect the machines on your network and determine whether or not you\u2019ve been impacted.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Have you been noticing \u201cstrange\u201d search results when you\u2019re surfing the web? Have your search results been taking longer than usual to appear? You may have been infected by a new, very clever bit of malware known as Redirector.Paco. There are actually two flavors of this malicious software, the key differences between them is that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":24671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[34,30],"yoast_head":"\n