Remove Search.socialaddons.top (Removal Instructions)

Search.socialaddons.top redirect might disrupt your web browsing routine

Search.socialaddons.top is a fraudulent search engine that stealthily infiltrates the web browser after installing a potentially unwanted program. It can modify regular browser settings to force using its services on a daily basis. Also, the app can monitor user data and later use it for marketing purposes. Due to these adverse features, experts recommend not keeping it installed on your system.

Name	Search.socialaddons.top
Type	Browser hijacker, PUP
Distribution	Third-party websites, software bundles
Operation	Changes the preferences of a web browser and applies its own search engine; monitors users' online activities; delivers sponsored content within search results or other environments
Uninstall	You can get rid of the PUP easily if you follow our guidelines below; a scan with SpyHunter Combo Cleaner or similar reputable anti-malware is recommended
System fix	After the elimination of adware or malware, we highly recommend running a scan with Fortect Intego repair software

The browser hijack is not the only problem. This search platform displays skewed query results to increase click-generated revenue^[1]. In other terms, it pushes annoying ads among its search results.

Even though you might find it insignificant, note that clicking on those advertisements might lead to highly suspicious pages^[2]. Besides, crooks might program the ads to trigger an automatic installation of malware on your PC. Likewise, you should stay away from redirects if you want to protect your system.

If that is not a good enough reason to remove Search.socialaddons.top, be aware that it places tracking cookies to monitor your browsing habits. Later, it collects various information which might personally identify you.

Therefore, you should never submit the following information in the search bar if you want to protect your privacy:

Email address;
Your name and surname;
Credentials;
Other private data;

The gathered information is typically used to display ads that correlate with your frequently visited pages, clicked advertisements, or IP address. This way, the developers benefit from the clicks by unsuspecting people. We find this marketing tactic unacceptable and suggest starting the PUP removal right away.

You can use Malwarebytes Malwarebytes or SpyHunter Combo Cleaner since they will quickly finish the elimination procedure and clean your computer from other potentially unwanted programs as well. However, you can use any other security software if you are sure that it is reliable and robust enough to get rid of the virus.

If you have found malware on your device, you should also take care of mitigation of system damage – you can use the Fortect Intego repair tool for that.

PUPs: distribution via software-bundles

Many people are not aware of the browser hijacker which is present on their computer. It is because developers employ an intolerable distribution method to spread the potentially unwanted program — they bundle it with regular applications you can download for free.

Therefore, while you think that you are installing only one program, the browser hijacker stealthily infiltrates your system together with it. You can avoid that by following the installation procedure and seeking any suspicious additional software.

Choose Advanced or Custom settings, and if you find a pre-marked box stating “Get Search.socialaddons.top for free now,” immediately un-tick it. Note that Quick or Recommender installer settings will not disclose the information about the potentially unwanted program. Likewise, you should avoid these parameters.

Security software can eliminate Search.socialaddons.top

Experts from BedyNet.ru^[3] exclude two removal methods — manual and automatic. However, remember that potentially unwanted programs do not travel alone, they infiltrate other bogus extensions to support their arbitrary activity on your PC.

Hence, you should download a reputable antivirus system and remove the hijacker at once. This is the safest method to get rid of all its components and make your browser hijacker-free.

However, you can also use the manual termination guide below. Just make sure not to skip steps, or it might lead to computer damage.

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 Search.socialaddons.top

Search.socialaddons.top redirect might disrupt your web browsing routine

PUPs: distribution via software-bundles