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  • Active
  • Severity: Low
  • Browser addons
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Feb 2022

How to remove Encrypted-Search browser hijacker

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Ugnius Kiguolis · The mastermind

Encrypted-Search browser hijacker is the search engine application that controls online traffic without your permission

Encrypted-Search browser hijacker

Encrypted-Search is the application that redirects online searches through the additional engines to expose the user to other unwanted material online and even leads to downloads of add-ons, unwanted browser extensions. This is the browser hijacker that is mainly controlled by the PUA that runs in the background. This browser-based application is causing various issues with the time online because of particular browser manipulation.

These intruders spread around using bundling methods that allow to incorporate unwanted apps into packages with freeware downloaded from the web. These applications affect Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and other browsers. Those changed settings can keep the user from accessing wanted and common material online.

Encrypted-Search hijacker appears, triggering redirects and commercial content delivery after the shady installation of other programs. This might be the first symptom, but there are many additional issues related to the PUP installation. The infection is not considered malicious, but users complain about the persistent and annoying threat.

Details about the browser-based application that frustrated users

Name Encrypted-Search browser extension
Type Browser hijacker, redirect
Category Potentially unwanted program
Issues The program creates speed problems and manipulates browsers, alters settings like homepage, new tab, search engine preferences
URL Encrypted-Search.com
Distribution Freeware installations result in PUA downloads without your knowledge
Damage These applications continuously redirects and controls the online traffic, so people do not access the content that they want
Danger Exposure to questionable online content leads to installation of other malicious programs
Removal Try to run the anti-malware tool to get rid of the application properly
System fix Running FortectIntego can help with virus damage

Encrypted-Search browser hijacker is the extension that penetrates the computer system and affects the behavior of the machine. The slowness might occur before those alterations on the browser, so you should immediately react when the machine is not acting normal. These are common indicators that PUP is running on the system:

  • altered homepage, new tab, search engine preferences;
  • added programs or browser-based apps;
  • speed issues;
  • redirects to other sites;
  • pop-up ads;
  • banners and links appearing in random places.

You need to pay attention to any changes because a slight issue with the speed and browsers' settings can be an early sign of a serious infection. Even though the program is not malicious, you cannot be sure that content that you get exposed to is not related to threat actors or dangerous activities.[1] The Encrypted-Search browser extension can trigger redirects to dangerous pages, so you need to get rid of it.

Encrypted-Search hijack

Eliminating the unwanted app and stopping the issues

You might experience problems with the machine and with additional processes besides the online traffic. The program runs in the background and silently alters preferences, even damaging files like DLLs.[2] The program is causing these changes to be persistent. The sooner you get rid of it the sooner those redirects stop.

Running the antivirus application or security tool like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes can significantly help and improve the process of clearing out the machine. Trigger the removal process and make sure to delete any indicated programs from the list. But then you also need to take care of the issues created by the threat. Alter those preferences that the Encrypted-Search PUP managed to affect manually. The threat mainly affects Chrome, but you cal find tips for other applications below the article.

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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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

Encrypted-Search browser plugin that is not installed by yourself can be hidden and act up in the background. If you recently downloaded a program from the internet, torrent site, pirating platform or you often stream tv shows, movies online – this activity might be the cause of PUP infection.

These problems with silent infections are often addressed by experts[3] because PUPs can cause major issues with privacy, data tracking, exposure to dangerous sites and commercial pages. These programs also can come from promotional ads, and users might install the toolbar or extension by falling for the claims about the useful features of the Encrypted-Search hijacker.

Try to stay away from these insecure tools and make sure to use only reliable sources for the downloads of freeware. Choosing the official site, the developers' page can help. A huge difference is in the installation method too. Go for Advanced or Custom options to keep the machine free of viruses. Default or Quick installations lead to the direct download and installation of these unwanted apps like Encrypted-Search browser hijacker.

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.

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

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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