Safer Browser virus (Free Guide) - updated Mar 2019
Safer Browser virus Removal Guide
What is Safer Browser virus?
Safer Browser – the browser hijacker that is associated with tons of other Safer Technologies products
Safer Browser is a browser hijacker that affects time online significantly by distributing other browser products.
Safer Browser is the potentially unwanted program that gets installed by users either knowingly or using deceptive techniques. The program gets bundled with freeware or promoted with the help of intrusive advertisements. When this PUP gets on the system, it changes the homepage settings and makes maxwebsearch.com or any similar website the default search engine on every browser you use. Unfortunately, this intruder also can install other hijacking tools, browser extensions, toolbars or add-ons. This is why Safer Browser won't uninstall that easily. You need a thorough system check that indicates all associated programs and disables them all at once.
Name | Safer Browser |
---|---|
Type | Browser hijacker |
Category | Potentially unwanted program |
Symptoms | Changes browser settings, alters default search engine, homepage, and new tab preferences |
Associated products can be indicated by | “Powered by Safer Browser” |
Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive ads or websites |
Elimination | Use anti-malware tools to scan the system thoroughly and remove Safer Browser |
You should remove the Safer Browser ASAP. It is a potentially unwanted program that may enter your computer unnoticed and then hijack each of your web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. This can hardly be unnoticed because once installed it replaces your browser's default page with SaferBrowser Search page or any of these websites:
- Search.myspeedtestxp.com,
- Search.mytelevisionxp.com,
- Search.myclassifiedsxp.com,
- Search.mysportsxp.com.
It also sets one of these websites as your default search engine. If you are one of these people who has already discovered that each of their web browsers was attacked by SaferBrowser virus, you should check your computer with the reputable anti-spyware, such as FortectIntego.
Safer Browser uninstall should help you to prevent redirects to unknown websites, annoying pop-up ads, and other unwanted activities that are usually initiated by browser hijackers.[1] But the process often is complicated due to the additional PUPs that got installed or changes in the startup or registry.
Just like almost each of potentially unwanted programs, Safe Browser may start tracking your browsing on the web for getting more knowledge about your browsing habits. It may collect information about your search terms, most visited websites, data that you enter on each of these sites, location or IP addresses, etc.[2]
SaferBrowser browser hijacker is the potentially unwanted program that distributes using software bundling technique.
Experts[3] don't recommend ignoring this because you can never know who is capable of reaching accumulated data and for what purposes it can be used. Third-party advertisers, other commercial companies or PUP sponsors can use this information for creating the promotional content. This is a reason you should perform Safer Browser removal.
If you don't want to allow unreliable parties to know your email address or your search queries, you should avoid installing Safer Browser on your computer. If it has already hijacked each of your web browsers and now is causing SaferBrowser redirects and similar issues, you should follow a guide below and perform all steps in the right order.
Safer Browser virus is the potentially unwanted program that associated many other browser hijackers like Search1. Any related application can be easily identified by “Powered by Safer Browser” on the main website. You can immediately know that the program is designed to redirect your online traffic and generate money from views.[4]
Safer Browser virus is a product that delivers intrusive commercial content to your screen.
Browser hijackers come prepacked with freeware
If you want to avoid unnoticeable installation of such programs as browser add-ons, extensions, plugins, toolbars, etc. you have to be very careful when installing programs on your computer. In most of the cases, hijackers are spread using freeware and shareware, so make sure you dedicate some time for monitoring installation of the freeware.
What can be done for PUP prevention? You should always do a couple of things:
- Read EULA and Privacy policy of the freeware that you are going to install;
- Please, always select Custom or Advanced installation of the freeware because these two methods will help you to opt out of unwanted attachments;
- In most of the cases, attachments are disclosed as 'optional components,' so you should uncheck all checkboxes that claim that you want to install them on your computer. Otherwise, you will install not only a single program that you need. You will also download a bunch of additional components that may additionally try to initiate such suspicious activities as various system's modifications and similar things.
Get rid of Safer Browser virus and all hijacker symptoms
If Safer Browser virus has appeared on your Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or other web browsers, you can choose between two removal options – manual and automatic. Our security experts have indicated all the removal peculiarities in a comprehensive manner, so you can always try manual termination first.
However, even if it looks to be successful, you are strongly advised to check the system with anti-malware. After reading user complaints, it becomes clear that this PUP seldom spreads on its own. You need a good tool for Safer Browser removal, so all related threats get deleted.
Not only it may be accompanied by other adware or PUPs, but can also install Safer Browser Protector, which can prevent you from removing the adware completely. Thus, be wise and remove Safer Browser with the help of a trustworthy anti-malware program.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Safer Browser virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Clear the system using the antivirus program and get rid of Safer Browser virus once and for all:
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Follow the guide and clean the browser additionally to the automatic virus elimination
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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
You may need to eliminate other similar browser extensions or add-ons related to Safer Browser virus
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Safer Browser registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting browser hijacker
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
- ^ Browser hijacking. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ Simon Hill. How much do inline advertisers really know about you?. Digitaltrends. Technology news, product reviews and deals.
- ^ Zondervirus. Zondervirus. Spyware related news.
- ^ Pay-per-click advertising. Wordstream. Online advertising made easy.