What is searchprotocolhost.exe?
The SearchProtocolHost.exe virus is one of the most famous computer viruses found in antivirus scanners and Scanner. pcap on Windows PCs. The ransomware attack encrypts files and demands a payment for the key to unlocking them- typically $300-USD 500, but it can be much higher or lower depending on the ransomware creator’s instructions- with a $200 daily fine if it’s not paid within 24 hours.
The SearchProtocolHost.exe virus modifies the Open File Location and Search folders, as well as the Special Folders list, to hide them and prevent the removal of files while scrambling the names in the file’s extensions like .bmp and .docx, among other things. Some ransomware will encrypt all files/folders on a computer with this malware within one folder or subfolder- in this case; it’s named “The Searching Folders” in their instructions.
Is searchprotocolhost.exe a virus or malware?
Many users would say “no” because of the lack of executable files on your desktop, starting with SearchProtocolHost.exe and multiple antivirus programs claiming the files are not malicious. However, to identify whether or not searchprotocolhost.exe is a virus or malware, we must understand how it works, how it has changed the windows folders, and its actions. For this process to work, there must be “cures” for this infection that can help remove searchprotocolhost.exe and smoothly and safely recover your files after getting rid of the malware.
Where is it located?
This infection is found on the master boot record of the computer, which means that if either a person or another program wants to delete it, they will need to reboot the computer first. The location of this file can vary based on how the victim got infected, with one of the most common scenarios happening when users come across a malicious website and unknowingly download this program. While it may be possible to delete this virus manually by searching for it with Windows Explorer, many users find search protocol hosts.
How to remove & uninstall searchprotocolhost.exe
To remove searchprotocolhost.exe from your computer, we recommend you run the uninstall instructions for your Windows Operating System to remove searchprotocolhost.exe and any other unwanted programs that may have been installed on your computer.
Next, we recommend that you remove the searchprotocolhost.exe virus infection from your computer. Although it will not undo any changes done by searchprotocolhost.exe, removing this infection should usually allow you to use your computer again.
If you want to remove all traces of searchprotocolhost.exe altogether, run [1] scan with Spyhunter Anti-Malware, [2] perform a system reboot, and [3] perform another scan with Spyhunter to remove any remnants of this infection from your computer.
Take Note: If you have difficulty running any of the above programs, please try installing a different version or contacting customer support for assistance.
If all the above options fail to remove searchprotocolhost.exe, try to perform a system restore in safe mode by following the steps below.
Restart your computer (make sure to take note of any changes that occur) and log back in as usual. If you still experience issues running programs, please disable any unnecessary startup programs and services (such as anti-virus and firewall software), then perform a system restore once again.
How do you stop searchprotocolhost.exe processes?
To stop searchprotocolhost.exe processes, we recommend you use Rkill because it may be able to kill all related processes and remove any malicious DLLs that were installed by this infection.
To do so, please follow the steps below:
Download Rkill by BleepingComputer.com (the download link should automatically start) or other reputable sites;
Double click on rkill-installer.exe and follow the prompts to install this program;
Now press Windows Button + R, type in “taskmgr” (no quotes), and click OK to open Task Manager. Confirm that “explorer.exe” is running, then click on File -> New Task and create a new task with the following properties: a) Name: Rkill b) Check the checkbox “Hide System Processes”;
Type in C:\Rkill\rkill.exe /MIN within the text area and press Enter.
Then type in “taskmgr” (no quotes) and click OK to open Task Manager again. Right-click on the process you’d like to kill, select End Task, and click OK again.
How to check if searchprotocolhost.exe has high CPU usage
If you suspect you have searchprotocolhost.exe CPU usage, you should start by making sure the cause isn’t from a different program. If you aren’t using any other programs that could be consuming CPU time, we recommend that you print out a list of processes on your computer and tasks currently running. To do so, please follow the steps below:
First, make sure to open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
Right-click on the Task Manager button (in the top left corner) and click on “Select Columns” or “Select Processes.”
On the following menu, select “Details” from the menu and then select “Mark all processes” from the list box. This will be at the bottom of your screen.
After selecting this option, click the “Processes” tab in the top right corner to select a specific process you want to kill.
Underneath the list box, there is a list of processes. To kill a process, right-click on it and select “End Process” (found in the bottom left corner). It is also possible to end multiple processes by holding down either Ctrl or Shift while performing this step.
If you have found that searchprotocolhost.exe is the cause of high CPU usage, we recommend you perform a complete system scan with antivirus software to remove any remaining traces of searchprotocolhost.exe.
How to check if searchprotocolhost.exe is causing high disk usage
Searchprotocolhost.exe may be causing high disk usage, as one of its symptoms is high disk usage. To check for this, we recommend that you follow the steps below:
First, go to your My Documents folder and look for “.searchprotocolhost.exe” (where x is a number from 1 – 3), which should be in the “My Documents” folder (x can be 1-3).
Right-click on each one and select Delete.
Then open Windows Explorer and look for the same file in (x can be 1-3).
Delete each one of these files in that folder as well.
How to check if searchprotocolhost.exe has high network usage
The easiest way to check whether searchprotocolhost.exe is the cause of high network usage is to run a scan with antivirus software.
When the installation begins, follow the prompts to continue the setup process. Do not make any changes to default settings.
If an update is found, the tool will automatically update itself.
Once the program has loaded, select the “Perform Quick Scan” option and click Scan.
When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. You may need to close your web browser to display the results.