Search.searchwamtv.com – another bogus search engine that might appear on the browser out of nowhere

Search.searchwamtv.com is a search engine created by Polarity Technologies. It spreads like a “Watch More TV Now” extension[1] packed in software bundles. This application is associated with other suspicious programs created by SaferBrowser, such as Online TV Access and Local Weather Forecast.
This search tool is known as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker. After the Search.searchwamtv.com hijack, you might have to deal with these issues:
- changed browser’s startup page, default search engine or/and new tab URL address;
- increased amount of online ads;
- redirects to suspicious websites;
- inability to set preferred search provider;
- data tracking.
Search.searchwamtv.com virus looks like a movie-themed search engine that allows quickly accessing film watching sites, such as Netflix or Hulu. The main page also has quick access to Gmail, Yahoo, and Amazon. However, it might be the only useful feature of this search tool.
Nevertheless, Search.searchwamtv.com redirects search to Yahoo results page; this tool is still not worth relying on. Authors are profiting from Yahoo’s affiliate program and might display other third-party ads. Due to the hijacker infection, your browser might start crashing or freezing, and you won’t be able to browse the Internet without interruptions.
However, you should also be aware of Search.searchwamtv.com redirect tendencies. Ads and sudden redirects may lead to potentially dangerous or even scan websites. The research revealed that the hijacker might redirect to technical support scam or phishing sites.
Apart from that, the hijacker monitors your browsing activities. The Privacy Policy informs that this tool might collect personally and non-personally identifiable information. It’s necessary for maintaining and improving their services. However, aggregated details might also be shared with unknown third-parties. So, we recommend Search.searchwamtv.com removal for those who value their online privacy.[2]
In order to remove Search.searchwamtv.com from Internet Explorer, Goole Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari or other web browsers, you may need to work a little bit harder than you expect. You have to uninstall suspicious programs, browser extensions and reset the browsers. However, you can speed up the process with FortectIntego.

Bundling is the most important strategy of the hijacker’s distribution
This PUP spread in software bundles. It means that it is included as an optional application near the primary program and hidden under Quick/Recommended installation mode. Unfortunately, this setup is the most popular among computer users in the U.S., the U.K., Spain[3] and other countries all over the world.
When users install freeware or shareware using these settings, they give indirect permission for PUPs to enter the system without even knowing it. It happens because these settings are not designed to directly inform about additional components. Thus, they are installed by default.
However, opting for the Advanced/Custom settings allows monitoring the installation and rejecting the entrance of the undesired apps. The installation wizard will reveal the checkbox with third-party entries, and you will have to unmark these entries.
Wipe out Search.searchwamtv.com virus and other hijacker-related components
In order to remove Search.searchwamtv.com entirely, you have to eliminate all components that are related to the hijacker. They may have arrived in the system as a program, browser extension or browser helper object. So, you have to uninstall them all.
For that, you have to paths – manual and automatic. Manual Search.searchwamtv.com removal instructions you can find below. Meanwhile, you can simplify this procedure with anti-malware/anti-spyware program. All you have to do is to scan the system with an updated tool.
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.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

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

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.

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