Searchlee.com virus – a potentially unwanted program that displays deceptive advertisements

Searchlee.com is a browser hijacker that modifies specific browser preferences, including homepage, new tab, and the default search engine, to redirect traffic to its promoted search engine and show tons of deceptive ads either as pop-ups or search results. This intruder is developed by Linkury Ltd, which produced similar potentially unwanted programs[1] (PUPs), like Safe Finder virus.
Searchlee browser hijacker can affect both Mac and Windows devices. As soon as it's installed, it changes the aforementioned browser settings. Thus when you open your browser, the first thing you'll see is the searchlee.com fake search engine window. The same happens when you open a new tab or type anything in the URL search bar.
This software is considered a PUP because it can gather non-personal browser-related data and due to the way it's distributed. If you have no idea how this browser intruder got on your device or you installed it willingly, we recommend uninstalling it with our free instructions below.
| name | Searchlee.com |
|---|---|
| type | Mac virus, redirect virus, PUP |
| Belongs to | Adload virus family |
| Developer | Linkury Ltd |
| IP address | 172.67.199.243 |
| Altered browser settings | A new tab, default search engine, and the homepage preferences |
| Symptoms | Apart from modified browser preferences, user devices become slower, an extensive amount of ads is shown, redirects to suspicious websites |
| Risks | Deceptive ads and redirects might lead to hazardous sites where additional PUPs or malware can be downloaded. Collected browsing data might be shared with third-parties with ill intensions |
| removal | Use our free guides below to remove Searchlee with reliable anti-malware software completely |
| System fix | To restore registry values, maintain settings, and clean up your device, use the powerful FortectIntego tool |
Browser hijackers can endanger user privacy and security by causing redirects to shady websites, showing misleading ads, and collecting their browsing habits. The sudden redirects, as well as Searchlee.com ads, may lead to affiliated, promotional portals, which may include:
- gambling,
- gaming,
- porn,
- fake updaters/installers,
- fake surveys, etc.
These sites might push users to install additional PUPs, try to draw out personal information by using various social-engineering techniques, and so on. The data that Searchlee.com virus is gathering (IP addresses, geolocations, device/browser info, search inquiries, etc.) can be shared with advertisers to show ads tailored especially for you.
Although browser hijackers and similar PUPs are advertised as software that will increase your privacy and security while browsing the internet, they can actually do the exact opposite. Therefore, we recommend our readers remove Searchlee.com virus from their Mac and Windows devices ASAP.

The best way to get rid of any PUPs or malware is by scanning your device with professional anti-malware software. It would be best to consider using either SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes for this task. Although note that the Searchlee.com virus can be installed as a browser extension too.
In that case, please scroll down to the bottom of this article, where we display free manual Searchlee.com virus removal instructions for Safari, Chrome, Firefox, IE, and Edge users. Once the browser intruder is completely eliminated, it's time to take care of your device's overall health.
PUPs usually alter various system settings and files, which, if unattended, might lead to abnormal system behavior, such as freezing, crashing, severe lag, and so on. Cybersecurity experts[2] highly advise using the FortectIntego tool to fix system-related issues and clean up your browsing data automatically to avoid any repetition of PUP infections.
Software bundles – the most common way PUPs get installed on user devices
Less and less people are tricked into installing PUPs, such as adware or browser hijackers, from deceptive ads stating that it will increase certain aspects of their devices. Thus developers of such software started offering it through software or freeware bundles,[3] i.e., packs that include more than one program installers.
When such bundle is downloaded, usually from third-party vendors, and users select the Quick, Recommended, Standard or installation method alike, all programs from the pack are installed. The trick is very simple, as all apps are pre-selected for installation.
There are two ways to avoid PUPs that are distributed this way:
- Download all software directly from the developers.
- Choose the Custom or Advanced installation and deselect all software that you don't want to have.

Remove Searchlee virus from your Mac or Windows devices with anti-malware tools
PUPs can impede your browsing experience immensely. Constant redirects, altered search results, and Searchlee ads can cause a massive headache. Furthermore, using such software can endanger your privacy and security. Thus it should be eliminated swiftly.
The most effective way to remove Searchlee.com virus is by performing a full system scan with trustworthy anti-malware software. It will detect all the threats automatically, isolate, and terminate them. If the redirects or ads still continue, use our guides below to reset your browsers.
When Searchlee.com virus removal is done, we highly advise taking care of your device's system files and settings. Users could do that manually, but it's only recommended for highly experienced, tech-savvy people. Others should entrust this task to powerful system repair tools.
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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