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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jul 2019

How to remove SideCubes Search

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

Alice Woods · Likes to teach users about virus prevention

SideCubes Search is the browser hijacker promoted on various free download sites and by Safe Finder-related products

SideCubes Search virus 

SideCubes is the in-browser threat that alters online searches and diminishes browsing online for the user with its additional intrusive content and tons of redirects to ad-supported pages. This potentially unwanted program changes the homepage settings and sets the default search engine to search.sidecubes.com or even installs SideCubes Toolbar. These two hijackers are exactly the same and related through the provider and developer Safe Finder. The principle of such PUPs is to show altered results when the person searches online and redirect the traffic to affiliated sites and sponsored domains.

Also, SideCubes is set to promote and push or even install content on the browser that does the same – causes frustration. Keep in mind that this is a potentially unwanted program[1] which can access information about the user from the first infiltration minute. Data tracking is also related to personalized marketing campaigns and similar money-making techniques used by PUP developers.[2]

Name SideCubes Search
Type Browser hijacker
Redirecting to Search.SideCubes.com
Symptoms Delivers advertisements, redirects to suspicious pages, interferes with in-browser searches
Distribution Freeware installations, software bundling, other PUPs
Danger Collects information and shares details with third-party advertisers
Elimination Install FortectIntego and clean the machine fully from PUPs

SideCubes Search is the potentially unwanted program that installs various add-ons, extensions, and toolbars on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox and affects every online search and browsing time in general. Users mostly report that results get injected with hyperlinks, direct advertisement or causes pop-ups and redirects to commercial sites when clicked.

SideCubes comes to the machine via deceptive techniques, so such advertisements and redirect can lead to the installation of additional intrusive applications. Beware that visiting sponsored sites can automatically affect your machine and even damage some parts if you don't react to infection as soon as possible.

Various excperts[3] note how important is to remove SideCubes Search once you notice the suspicious activity and all the content linked to this browser hijacker. The manual process of uninstallation is possible, but you need to find all the associated files and applications, which is time-consuming.

Better rely on automatic SideCubes removal with FortectIntego or a similar tool designed to scan the machine and clean suspicious programs, cyber intruders or even useless files and damaged data. Don't overlook such programs like adware, browser hijackers, or rogue tools because these harmless-looking programs can lead to more severe infections.

SideCubes Search

While analyzing the main site of SideCubes virus links to Safe Finder and other PUPs, issues with data tracking and similar shady functions get revealed. The Privacy Policy section states that the company is pushing toolbars, applications, and other online searching-related products, so you shouldn't be surprised when something out of nowhere appears automatically installed. 

SideCubes Search shares information collected about you, according to the data sharding section:

We may share your data with our Services Providers who process your information to provide services to us or on our behalf. We have contracts with our Service Providers that prohibit them from sharing the information about you that they collect or that we provide to them with anyone else, or using it for other purposes.

Search.sidecubes.com is a potentially unwanted program, so this information tracking is common. Cookies and other techniques are used to record your most viewed items, visited pages, and search queries. This is one of the most frustrating but hidden features of the PUP.

However, once SideCubes enters your computer, it may also initiate various unwanted system changes. If you noticed that your home page and your default search engine were changed to search.sidecubes.com, that's what we are talking about. In addition to that, it may flood you with tons of advertisements and return for the altered search results that are filled with links leading you to related websites. By redirecting internet users to predetermined websites, this hijacker seeks only to make money from advertising. 

SideCubes Search PUP

Ways to spread browser hijackers

Browser intruder like this is mostly spread with the help of a very unfair distribution method that is called bundling. Therefore, don't be surprised after noticing this site on your browser right after installing a questionable free program. In fact, we have managed to detect a related program – a toolbar of the same name, which is used to transmit this in-browser virus to people's computers.

However, you should also be careful when installing any other freeware because there are hundreds of other apps that may be related to this hijacker. If your computer is unprotected and you do not have a security program installed on it, you should closely check every single program that you need to install.

Read the EULA or Privacy Policy section before any doubtful installation from download sites and domains. Moreover, don't rush the installation; select the Advanced or Custom installation method and closely follow the entire progress one step at a time. Quick or Recommended options automatically install all the included programs.

Remove Search.sidecubes.com the computer and clean the system fully

If you noticed Search.sidecubes.com redirects, it means that this hijacker has affected your PC. Don't worry because such infiltrations are very common. You can remove SideCubes from your computer by choosing one of these techniques:

  • Scan your computer with a reliable anti-spyware program and clean the system automatically.
  • Uninstall a freeware, which is related to SideCubes Search virus and the hijacker itself.

However, the second method may take more time than you think, so we recommend going for a full SideCubes removal with anti-malware tools. Such programs can check your machine and delete all indicated programs, files, and even useless applications.

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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