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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Feb 2018

How to remove Search.searchcl.com

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

Search.searchcl.com is a dubious search engine that might replace your current search provider

Image of Search.searchcl.com virus

Search.searchcl.com by Polarity Technologies Ltd is a potentially unwanted program which hijacks Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Safari browsers and makes undesirable changes to them. This browser hijacker might set a new tab URL, homepage and built-in search engine without asking your permission.

These unpleasant changes might occur if you accidentally install software bundle with Classifieds List extension. However, this search tool might seem legit and useful. The homepage includes links to most popular sites on the internet, such as Amazon, Youtube, and Facebook.

Additionally, users who are looking to buy something might find a link to Craigslist useful. However, do not get fooled by these promises as the only goal of developers is monetizing on unsuspected users’ interaction with the hijacked engine.

Another significant threat Search.searchcl.com virus poses is redirects to unknown domains. It is inevitable that you will encounter a malware-ridden website. This way, you might find your computer affected by ransomware or similar perilous infection.

Furthermore, the browser hijacker might silently install suspicious browser extensions or plugins without asking your permission. These tools might deliver more ads or spy on your browsing activities. Thus, you should hurry up with Search.searchcl.com removal and make sure that any related components were not let on the system too.

Moreover, after Search.searchcl.com hijack occurs, victims' privacy might be put at risk. After irreversibly altering browser settings, the unwanted application might start monitoring non-personally identifiable information, such as:

  • search queries,
  • IP addresses,
  • geo-location,
  • software used,
  • Internet Service Provider,
  • etc.

This data can be shared with third-parties for advertisement purposes. Additionally, personal information that the user provides while browsing through a hijacked engine might be compromised. Email address, name, home address, etc. – this personal data[1] might be exposed to cybercriminals and lead to severe consequences.

Therefore, if you value your internet security, you should remove Classifieds List from your machine swiftly. As we have already mentioned, it’s also important to get rid of all questionable add-ons that might be capable of tracking your steps online too.

You should use FortectIntego or other reputable security software to remove Search.searchcl.com, undesired applications and their components from your computer. However, if you are willing to delete the hijacker manually, you should scroll down to the manual removal instructions.

Picture of Search.searchcl.com browser hijacker

Deceptive marketing campaign helps to spread unwanted applications

The browser hijacker is spread using a questionable (but legit!) software marketing method known as bundling. This strategy allows infiltrating inattentive user’s computers. For this reason, you should follow these guidelines while installing software and browsing the internet:

  • repeatedly use Advanced/Custom instead of Recommended/Quick modes when installing software;
  • opt out all unwanted programs that might be offered during the installation process (such as toolbars,[2] search engines and similar);
  • read through installation instructions discreetly;
  • do not install illegal software or use keygens/cracks;
  • obtain reputable security software that will protect you from malware attacks.

The security team from losvirus.es[3] also remind to read EULA, Privacy Policy and other provided documents by the developers. What is more, it’s important to choose reliable software developers and download software from their official websites.

Remove Classifieds List from your machine and secure your browser

You can remove Search.searchcl.com virus by using the automatic or manual method – both are viable. The manual process will not protect you from future threats, but you will not have to install additional software for it.

If you choose to eliminate Search.searchcl.com manually, you should possess basic computer knowledge as the incorrect procedure will not exterminate the virus. We have written a guide for you to use – you will find it below.

However, if you are not that experienced when it comes to computer usage, you should pick automatic Search.searchcl.com removal. This method allows you to perform a full computer scan and eliminate all the infected files within just a few minutes. All you have to do is to pick one of the robust security tools mentioned below.

Also, do not forget that browser hijacker might have installed additional components – check your task manager for any suspicious programs you do not recognize.

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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