Search.searchtg.com virus (Virus Removal Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

Search.searchtg.com virus Removal Guide

What is Search.searchtg.com virus?

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

The picture of Search.searchtg.comSearch.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 virusSearch.searchtg.com promotes various products and services, and track information about users.

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.

You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Search.searchtg.com virus. Follow these steps

Uninstall from Windows

In order to remove Search.searchtg.com manually, you have to uninstall suspicious programs from the Control Panel.

Instructions for Windows 10/8  machines:

  1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 1
  3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
  4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
  5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
  6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK. Uninstall from Windows 2

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 7/XP
  3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
  4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
  5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
  6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Delete from macOS

Check the list of installed Applications. If you find some unknown entries installed, remove them because they might be responsible for hijacking your browser.

Remove items from Applications folder:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
  3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash) Uninstall from Mac 1

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
  3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
  4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files. Uninstall from Mac 2

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Follow the steps below to clean Microsoft Edge after the hijack.

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 on Uninstall at the bottom. 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 Privacy & security.
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.

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

If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.

  1. Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
  2. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
  3. Right-click on them and pick Delete Advanced MS Edge reset 1
  4. Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  5. When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:

    Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose Advanced MS Edge reset 2

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. Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Search.searchtg.com may have arrived in the form of a browser extension. What is more, it may have allowed installation of other unknown plug-ins. Thus, you have to uninstall these entries and reset Mozilla Firefox.

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 unwanted plugin 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 Options.
  3. Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.

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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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

First of all, you have to uninstall all suspicious extensions from Google Chrome. Then you have to reset Google Chrome in order to get rid of tracking cookies and other components of the Search.searchtg.com.

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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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

You have to uninstall unknown browser extensions from the Safari. Once it's done, you should reset the browser in order to delete tracking cookies.

Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
  3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall. Remove extensions from Safari

Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Clear History…
  2. From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
  3. Confirm with Clear History. Clear cookies and website data from Safari

Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  4. From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches. Reset Safari

After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Search.searchtg.com registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.

How to prevent from getting stealing programs

Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are

There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.

Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.

Data backups are important – recover your lost files

Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.

While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.

About the author
Gabriel E. Hall
Gabriel E. Hall - Passionate web researcher

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