Remove Pwr-search.com virus (Virus Removal Instructions)

Pwr-search.com – a search engine that might spy on you

Pwr-search.com is a questionable search engine created by Traffisco LLC which is a digital advertising and monetization company launched in 2015. To the security researchers this program is known as a browser hijacker^[1] which is actively being spread along the freeware and shareware apps on third-party websites.

Once installed on the system, the app fundamentally changes the browser operation routine, appending a customize search engine and the homepage to it. In the background, it actively tracks users' online activities to profit from more targeted advertising.

Name	Pwr-search.com
Type	Browser hijacker
Distribution	Comes as an optional component in a software bundle from a third-party website
Operation	Applies its own homepage and new tab address; uses a customized search engine to deliver sponsored links at the top of search results; tracks user activity
Uninstall	You can easily uninstall a browsers hijacker – follow the instructions below
System fix	After the elimination of adware or malware, we highly recommend running a scan with Fortect Intego repair software

There are several ways how you can approach a browser hijacker. Initially, it is not a malicious application, as it simply does not have malicious qualities within it. However, such programs are rarely beneficial for users, as they are only used to monetize ad clicks.

This PUP might engage in the following behavior:

get installed on the computer with freeware or shareware,
alter browser’s settings,
set Pwr-search.com as default browser’s homepage or/and search engine,
modify new tab page,
make changes in Windows Registry,
include sponsored links into search results,
collect information about the users.

The main sign of the infiltration is the new search engine set as the default homepage. At first glance, it might look like an ordinary search tool that includes quick links to social networks, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube, shopping sites, such as eBay, Amazon or Aliexpress, and Wikipedia. It seems that everything that you may need is placed on the startup page.

However, these links might be the only user-friendly feature. The search engine itself might alter search results and trick you into clicking a sponsored link. The provided results page looks similar to Google’s, although the resemblance is misleading.

Some links may lead to potentially dangerous or useless websites where you won’t find needed information. Moreover, you might be redirected to tech support scams, phishing, or another suspicious Internet site that has been created for spreading malicious programs.

As you can see, this search tool may not complete the primary function completely. Therefore, you should not keep it on your Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, or whatever search engine you are using. You should remove Pwr-search.com immediately using reputable security software – you can try SpyHunter Combo Cleaner for the job.

Also, we always recommend a complementary tool Fortect Intego that could clean your web browsers automatically and fix the damage that could have been caused by various computer infections.

Traffisco collects information about users with the help of a suspicious search tool

Reading the Privacy Policy is one of the most important tasks before starting using or installing a new program. However, security researchers from the United States, Finland,^[2], and other European countries noticed that users rarely read this document carefully. As a result, they risk having privacy-related issues.

On the official site, you might also find the Privacy Policy that discloses what information the hijacker collects. It tracks personal and anonymous information with the help of cookies and other tracking technologies. What is more, the company allows the installation of third-party tracking technologies. Thus, developers, advertising networks, and unknown third parties might get this information about you:

name,
address,
email address,
telephone number,
IP address,
browser type and language,
the number of page views,
link clicks,
login times, etc.

Aggregated details are used for providing the best service possible and managing their business. Thus, the information might be shared with business partners and authorized service providers. Probably, you understand that you cannot control who might get access to your sensitive data. It might be cyber criminals, so you should protect your privacy by completing Pwr-search.com removal.

Every browser can be hijacked after the installation of freeware

A browser hijack might seem unexpected; the reasons why it happened are clear. The PUP spreads in software packages and enters the system when a user installs freeware under Quick/Recommended setup.

In order to protect your browser from the hijack^[3] or installation from suspicious browser extensions, you have to install new programs under Advanced/Custom setup. These settings allow “unpacking” the software package and seeing what hides inside.

If you download freeware or shareware, you are most likely to see the list of pre-selected entries. Undoubtedly, they are presented as useful “optional downloads.” No matter how convenient these tools might look, unmark these entries because they might cause lots of problems.

Kill the Pwr-search.com virus

You can choose a PUP removal method based on your skills. If you are an experienced user and have already dealt with similar threats in the past, you should opt for the manual elimination option. If it’s your first meeting with PUP, you should choose an automatic method.

In order to remove it manually, you have to find all suspicious entries that might be installed on the computer or web browsers. Once you uninstall them, you can either reset or clean your browsers as explained below.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

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

Remove the unwanted program:

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

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

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

Delete leftover files and folders:

Select Go > Go to Folder.
Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

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

Clear cookies and other browser data:

Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
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.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

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

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
Select Details tab.
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.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:

Click on Menu and go to Settings.
Select Privacy, search and services.
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Under Time range, pick All time.
Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

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

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Reset the homepage:

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

Clear cookies and site data:

Click Menu and pick Settings.
Go to Privacy & Security section.
Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
Click on Clear Data...
Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

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

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

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

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

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

Click on Menu and pick Settings.
Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:

Click menu and choose Settings.
Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
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:

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

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Clear history and website data:

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

Reset Safari:

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

How to remove Pwr-search.com virus

Pwr-search.com – a search engine that might spy on you

Traffisco collects information about users with the help of a suspicious search tool

Every browser can be hijacked after the installation of freeware