Remove Search.searchfefc3.com (Free Instructions)

Search.searchfefc3.com – a fake search engine that shows search results riddled with ads

Search.searchfefc3.com by Polarity Technologies is a questionable application that deems to help users to convert files directly from their Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another browser. However, it falls into the browser hijacker^[1] category due to its questionable distribution methods, browser setting modification, and excessive advertisement techniques.

Just as many other hijackers (search.searchmpctpop.com, search.searchfefc.com, etc.) created by the same company, users are promised an improved functionality, mainly by adding quick access buttons to the main page. The links range from multiple file converters to leading retailer stores and local weather.

However, you should not get tricked by this functionality. It is merely an attempt by developers to disguise the real objective, which is monetizing on users who are continuously exposed to sponsored content. Thus, do not waste your time and remove the hijacker from your computer.

SUMMARY
Name	Search.searchfefc3.com
Type	Browser hijacker, PUP
Created by	Polarity Technologies
Symptoms	Modified browser settings, ads delivered via pop-ups and redirects, slow browser, etc.
Distribution	Deceptive ads, software bundling
Removal recommendation	Eliminate all suspicious and malicious entries from your device by using a reliable anti-malware tool
System health	Download, install and perform a full system scan with the Fortect Intego app to repair virus damage

East File Converter is a browser extension that attaches itself to each of the browsers as soon as the article's culprit's hijack occurs. To further establish its presence, the unwanted application modifies the homepage and search engine address, setting it to search.searchfefc3.com.

This action denies users of any further modifications to be done to their browser settings unless the PUP is uninstalled. Thus, victims are forced to browse through a hijacked engine. The negative effects of a hijacked search engine are:

Excessive advertising via ads, pop-ups, and redirects;
Altered results;
Collection of non-personally identifiable information;^[2]
Installation of additional browser extensions;
A slowdown of the browser, etc.

The advertisement delivered via ads and redirects typically lead to sponsor sites. This allows less-popular affiliates to boost traffic to their domains. For each click on the link, Polarity acquires revenue. Users, however, are left with compromised browsers and gain nothing in return. Instead, their browsing sessions are ruined by a layer of ads each time they open their browsers.

Even if the ads can be annoying to deal with, it is not the primary danger of the East File Converter virus. Users should be cautious if they get redirected to infected, phishing, or fake software/updates websites. Thus, obtaining malware or revealing personal data after clicking on random links is just a question of time.

Therefore, do not click on any links, ads, or content on the redirected domains. Instead, close down your browser and carry out Search.searchfefc3.com removal. To achieve that, you can download and install powerful security software such as Malwarebytes Malwarebytes or SpyHunter Combo Cleaner.

Of course, you can pick another program of your choice, too. If you're an experienced PC user, you could try removing the intruder with our guides posted at the bottom of the article. When the threat is eliminated, perform system diagnostics with the Fortect Intego to repair virus-caused alterations to system files and settings.

How PUPs enter a PC?

It has been a while since advertising bloomed on the internet, so users typically know that excessive ads cannot bring anything positive to them. Hence, users usually only install trusted add-ons that they find necessary to have. No wonder that PUP authors need a way to boost the popularity of their products. So they rely on software bundling – a deceptive marketing technique used by PUP creators and freeware developers.

Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with this campaign, so you know how to avoid unnecessary programs next time you install free software. Please follow these simple tips:

When installing free software, read through EULA and Privacy Policy attentively. Quite often, a lot of useful information can be provided there. Sometimes, you might even change your mind and decline the installation altogether;
Once prompted, pick Advanced/Optional installation mode. Despite developers’ advice, never pick Recommended/Quick settings;
Remove any tick marks you see by add-ons, toolbars, system optimizers, media players, and other unwanted programs. If you find them useful, find a legitimate counterpart somewhere else (the promoted content is typically useless);
Invest in robust security software and keep it up to date. This allows you to protect yourself from not only PUPs but also dangerous malware.

Simple guidelines to remove Search.searchfefc3.com browser hijacker

Security experts^[3] concluded that keeping a browser hijacker on your system cannot bring any benefits, but just the opposite. Therefore, if you want quick access buttons, you can simply add them to your favorites/bookmarks bar. Before that, however, remove East File Converter browser extension from your computer.

You can remove Search.searchfefc3.com virus by employing a reputable security tool. We suggest picking one of the programs mentioned below. Simply perform a full system scan and reset the settings of each of the browsers. Another removal method is also effective, although not that convenient and might even be too complicated. If you are familiar with computers and their processes, you can check our illustrated guide beneath.

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.searchfefc3.com

Search.searchfefc3.com – a fake search engine that shows search results riddled with ads

How PUPs enter a PC?