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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jun 2017

How to remove Search.searchtg.com virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Gabriel E. Hall · Passionate web researcher

Search.searchtg.com – a dubious search engine that has to be removed immediately

The picture of Search.searchtg.com

Search.searchtg.com is a search engine developed by Polarity Technologies. It’s a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that is classified as a browser hijacker.

The application spreads bundled with other free programs and is associated with the Descargar app. After incorrect installation of freeware or shareware, you might find this domain set as your default homepage, search engine or/and new tab.

The PUP is designed to alter browser’s settings and make other modifications to the system in order to prevent users from switching back to their previous default search engine and customizing their browser.

However, tolerating these changes and other negative features, such as increased amount of online ads, redirects to shady websites and data tracking, is not recommended. After the hijack, scan your computer with FortectIntego or another anti-malware program. It will remove Search.searchtg.com within several minutes.

The main page of the search engine includes links to Terms, Privacy Policy, contact form, and popular sites, such as Facebook, YouTube or Amazon. Thus, it barely differs from any other search tool.

However, under the innocent appearance hides lots of commercial content that might not only disturb browsing the Web but also pose a danger to your computer.

What is more, Search.searchtg.com removal should also be considered because of possible threats to user’s privacy.

According to the Privacy Policy, this tool might collect a wide range of personally identifiable and non-personally identifiable information. [1]

Nevertheless, the majority of aggregated data is used for marketing purposes and displaying targeted ads; it might also be shared or even sold to third-parties. Who are they and how they might use your data is unknown.

The image of Search.searchtg.com virus

While developers generate pay-per-click revenue, users might be browsing through insecure websites

Despite the fact that this program presents itself as a useful search engine; it’s more similar to advertising tool. Even the main page include links to software download website and music player’s download site.

However, the main issue here is hijacker’s ability to include sponsored links into search results[2] and displaying various forms of online ads.

The ability to alter search results prevents users from finding useful information. Meanwhile, developers of Search.searchtg.com generate revenue from driving traffic to affiliate’s websites.

The biggest problem is that some of these sites are potentially dangerous or misleading. They might offer to install bogus software and trick into revealing personal information, such as credit card details.

What is more, you might also be redirected to sites that were created to spread malware or trick users into calling a fake tech support line. Thus, you can easily get infected with a dangerous computer virus.[3]

Therefore, such Search.searchtg.com redirect tendencies should be one of the main reasons why you need to get rid of this annoying program immediately.

Browser hijacker travels in software packages

Search.searchtg.com hijack might occur when you download freeware or shareware under Quick or Recommended settings. These programs do not openly disclose about optional software. However, using such setup, you give indirect permission all additional apps to enter the system.

Developers of PUPs are aware that the majority of users rely on quick installation. Thus they use bundling technique that allows adding the program as an optional component.

However, if users install new programs under Advanced or Custom settings, he or she might spot the list of suggested software.

It’s important to untick all pre-selected programs or agreements to make Search.searchtg.com the default search engine. It’s the only way to stop PUPs from entering the system.

Search.searchtg.com elimination methods

At the end of the article, you will find manual Search.searchtg.com removal instructions. They will help you to locate and delete all hijacker-related entries.

The hijacker may have arrived on a computer as a program. Thus, you need to check installed programs and remove suspicious entries.

Moreover, you have to uninstall suspicious browser extensions and reset all web browsers that are installed on your PC.

However, if you want to save your time and be 100% sure that hijacker is gone for good, you should remove Search.searchtg.com automatically.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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