Encryptedsearch.org: what it is and how to remove it
Encryptedsearch.org is marked as a browser hijacker that offers to browse the web in a safer way. Even though the app claims to encrypt search results and delete browsing history after 30-minute sessions, you can also successfully employ a legitimate web browser such as Google and search privately via the Incognito mode.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Encryptedsearch.org: summary
| Name | Encryptedsearch.org |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker/potentially unwanted program |
| Danger level | Low. Does not act as dangerous malware but still can cause indirect damage by rerouting the user to a potentially malicious website or swindling some money/personal information through ads that include various questionable offers |
| Feature | The developers of this browser hijacker claim to offer a completely private search engine by encrypting search query results and deleting web browsing experience after 30 minutes of online activity. However, this type of feature is provided as a way to attract a bigger number of users |
| Target(s) | You can receive the Encrypted Search extension and experience search engine, homepage, and new tab URL changes on any type of web browser app such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Microsoft Edge |
| Activities | The suspicious app will perform unwanted changes on your web browser's search engine, homepage, and new tab URL. Additionally, you can start receiving intrusive redirects to affiliate domains and start experiencing intense advertising during browser sessions, get your browsing-related information collected, receive other potentially unwanted programs on your PC |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| Spreading | This questionable product can be downloaded from the Google Chrome web store, however, it is the most possible that you will receive such an app through bundled products that come from secondary websites such as cnet.com, download.com, and softonic.com |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | encryptedsearch.org |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 3 March 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Encryptedsearch.org changes in your browser
When using a browser extension built by Encrypted Search, we collect the extension version, browser user agent, url referrer, extension platform identifier, and a setting for if remote searches should be encrypted. As part of encryption within the extension, the encryption version date, encryption key, and an expiring encryption search token are stored locally
Is Encryptedsearch.org dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Encryptedsearch.org - a privacy-offering engine that can easily be replaced by a legitimate search provider such as Google
Encryptedsearch.org is marked as a browser hijacker that offers to browse the web in a safer way.
Even though the app claims to encrypt search results and delete browsing history after 30-minute sessions, you can also successfully employ a legitimate web browser such as Google and search privately via the Incognito mode. However, some users quickly get attracted to the offered features and install Encrypted Search extension on their web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or Safari.
Encryptedsearch.org is available on the official Google Chrome web store, however, this does not add a better reputation as the product is still mostly bundled with other packages of software from secondary downloading pages such as softonic.com, download.com, and cnet.com.
When the PUP ends up on the targeted web browser, it starts modifying the default search provider, homepage, and new tab URL to its own. Afterward, users are forced to use Encrypted Search services unless they get rid of the browser hijacker as soon as they spot that their search engine has turned to https://www.encryptedsearch.org/.
Encryptedsearch.org virus claims that it does not collect any personally-identifiable information about the user, including the IP address. However, the browser hijacker can still spy on data such as search queries made, hyperlinks and adverts accessed, the most popular offers searched, and so on.
The developers might not admit this fact but they can end up sharing the gathered data with other parties. However, the Privacy Policy claims that some information regarding the Encrypted Search extension is stored by the app:
Encryptedsearch.org can engage in advertising activities also. The app can start loading various sales offers and deals straight on your search page in order to catch your eye.
You might also be provided with suggestions to subscribe to some types of monthly services, win non-existing prizes, and participate in surveys. Whatever you do, do not provide complete strangers with your financial information or personal details, including contacts as you can get yourself in big trouble.
If some hackers decide to abuse Encryptedsearch.org and its functionality, your personally-identifiable information can fall in the hands of complete criminals. This way you can get money swindled straight from your bank account, experience identity theft, etc. If you reveal your email address, mobile phone number, or other contact information, you might start receiving unwanted offers and deals straight in your email box or find rogue numbers dialing you constantly.
Furthermore, Encrypted Search can initiate redirecting activities to affiliate domains. The browser hijacker can start rerouting you to developer-sponsored places that are filled with more annoying ads. However, here comes a big risk of catching a dangerous malware infection if you land on a potentially malicious website. Your computer system can easily get infected with a ransomware virus, Trojan horse, spyware and suffer from severe unrepairable machine damage.
Even though Encryptedsearch.org is not a dangerous malware form such as ransomware or a Trojan virus, it still can bring indirect damage to the computer system and its components and redirecting is only one way how the browser hijacker does it.
Furthermore, some cybercriminals can find PUPs as handy intermediaries when wanting to install a piece of malware to a computer system. This way you can receive a malicious infection completely unexpectedly.
However, browser hijackers can even bring other potentially unwanted programs to the computer system, so you might see more than one suspicious process running in the Windows Task Manager section. If you have been bothered by a lot of intrusive activities lately, you have to remove Encryptedsearch.org together with all of the questionable components that have been causing misunderstandings lately. For compromisation cleaning, try using .
If you want to speed up the Encryptedsearch.org removal and make sure that every suspicious product has been successfully terminated from your computer system, you should get rid of the browser hijacker with the help of antimalware software.
However, if you do not mind spending some time reviewing instructions and cleaning both your OS and web browser, you can check out the manual step-by-step guidelines that have been added to the end of this article.
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Encryptedsearch.org
- If you have been dealing with this browser hijacker lately, you should get rid of it from your computer system and web browsers.
- If you have discovered any compromisation in the computer system after the browser hijacker attack, you can try recovering all of the affected areas with the help of a tool such as
How Encryptedsearch.org got into your browser
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Even though a lot of third-party products have their own downloading sources or can even be received from official e-shopping platforms such as Google Chrome web store, AppStore, and similar places, PUPs are most likely to appear on the user's computer system by employing deceptive techniques and taking advantage of the software bundling technique that includes bringing the suspicious product into the computer system as an additional component.
Most of the time, you can download bundled software from third-party downloading websites such as cnet.com, softonic.com, or download.com. The browser hijacker or another type of PUP usually settles on computer systems that have the Recommended or Quick installation settings opted as default.
If you also have the same configuration, you have to change it to the Custom or Advanced option that allows deselecting all the unwanted objects to prevent them from downloading on the computer.
However, browser hijackers are capable of distributing by employing other methods also. For example, the potentially unwanted program can come injected into an unsecured hyperlink or advertisement, pretend to be a fake software update, etc. According to Virusai.lt specialists, if the user clicks on such content while browsing the Internet, there is a big chance that he will execute the downloading process of the browser-hijacking application.
If you want to keep yourself protected from such cyber threats, you should avoid entering websites that are marked as deceptive or unsafe to proceed with. Furthermore, if you have been provided with a prompt to update your Flash Player or another program, do not upgrade your software before checking the official update releases. Also, you should purchase a strong antimalware product that includes the safe browsing function.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
encryptedsearch.org
How to remove Encryptedsearch.org
How to remove Encryptedsearch.org and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete encryptedsearch.org
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
encryptedsearch.orgfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If encryptedsearch.org is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Encryptedsearch.org rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Encryptedsearch.org that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
To terminate the browser hijacker from your Windows operating system and get rid of all the additional components that were added by the PUP, apply the following guiding steps
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
To bring Google Chrome back to its previous state and eliminate the potentially unwanted program, you should apply the following instructing steps
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.
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.
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)
To diminish all of the suspicious changes that were added to Mozilla Firefox and terminate the browser hijacker itself, try using the below-provided instructions
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.
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.
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
To refresh your Internet Explorer web browser and bring it back to its previous state, you should try the below-provided guidelines
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.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
From our report of Mar 2020 · not reviewed since
Accomplish Encryptedsearch.org removal within a few steps
There are two ways in which you can remove Encryptedsearch.org from your Windows or Mac computer system.
First of all, you have to measure your own skills and capabilities to know if you are able to remove Encryptedsearch.org on your own. If you find yourself an advanced user, you can definitely continue with the manual elimination option that we have provided at the end of this article and is displayed to help you to clean both your operating system and web browser apps.
However, if you think that you will be struggling with the Encryptedsearch.org removal process, you should employ reliable antimalware software that will help you to get rid of the cyber threat within a few clicks.
Download such type of product and save some time by letting it accomplish the task for you. However, do not forget to refresh your web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, Safari, and Edge as they are likely filled with rogue components too.
Questions about Encryptedsearch.org
Why does my search engine keep changing to encryptedsearch.org?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time encryptedsearch.org first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Can encryptedsearch.org see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to encryptedsearch.org first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
What is encryptedsearch.org?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Encryptedsearch.org. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is encryptedsearch.org dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Encryptedsearch.org, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Encryptedsearch.org affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did encryptedsearch.org record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of encryptedsearch.org can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Encryptedsearch.org
- clear cookies and site data for encryptedsearch.org
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. Encryptedsearch.org sends searches to encryptedsearch.org, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Can I just block encryptedsearch.org?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
Will Fortect remove Encryptedsearch.org?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Encryptedsearch.org, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Norton: What are browser hijackers? (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Chrome Web Store (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: SAUGUMO IR VIRUSŲ NAUJIENOS (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)