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Search Encrypt - safe or malware? (2021 update)

by Ugnius Kiguolis - www - | Type: Browser hijacker

Search Encrypt Removal Guide

What is Search Encrypt?

Search Encrypt is an app that promises to protect your privacy but uses affiliate marketing to obtain revenue instead

Search Encrypt potentially unwanted programThis suspicious application that was created by a well-known browser hijacker creator Polarity Technologies Ltd.

Search Encrypt is a browser extension[1] for various commonly used web browsers. However, if you visit the official website, you might see that users are mostly offered to install this plug-in on their Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser apps. Developers claim that they do not track their users and focus on protecting their privacy while they surf the world wide web.

Unfortunately, most of this is a lie, as all promises disappear as soon as you take a look at the Privacy Policy – various data is collected about you and is used for marketing purposes by app developers. Such behavior is typical to browser hijackers. What is more, this app usually spreads as an optional install in software bundles and changes your homepage, default search provider, and new tab address to hxxps://www.searchencrypt.com.

SUMMARY
Name Search Encrypt
Type Browser hijacker, PUP
Assigned homepage Searchencrypt.com
Developer Polarity Technologies Ltd.
Mostly targeted browsers Chrome, Safari, etc.
Distribution Software bundling, the official website
Symptoms Altered homepage, search engine, and new tab URL
Elimination Download and install anti-malware software; otherwise, use manual instructions below
Optimization If you want to make sure your computer is in the best shape after any type of infection, use FortectIntego

If you are asking if this site is safe to use, maybe the following article will shed some light on that. Firstly, it is interesting how developers of the hijacker try to convince users that they are completely safe while using this “privacy tool”:

Stop big companies from tracking your data by using Search Encrypt. With our advanced encryption technology you can safely browse the internet.

Ironically, if you click on “Privacy Policy” on Google web store,[2] you are lead to the infamous Polarity website, which indicates, that “Polarity may collect information about you when you visit our Sites or use our Services.” So initially, the developer goes with the agenda “Stop others from tracking you and provide this data to us instead!” Sadly, many users do not pay attention to such details and merely trust false promises.

Search Encrypt extensionThe engine promises to protect your privacy. Instead, the information about your web browsing activities are collected and stored on Polarity's servers

Changes that are typically initiated by the unwanted application might impact your browsing experience in a negative way. For example, you can be interrupted by continuous pop-up ads and also redirected to websites that you didn't expect to visit. Developers of this extension do not provide any guarantee related to “the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness” of the content, so there is a great risk of getting infected.

If that is not enough, people are unable to simply get rid of this unreliable application from Mac and Windows OS. That's why we highly recommend using automatic tools to delete the app from the system. You can also use FortectIntego to recover from virus damage and make sure the system is running smoothly.

Many people cannot figure out how to remove the intruder from Google Chrome since it is programmed to reassign the settings mentioned above once the user tries to change them to the previous state. Note that there are other versions of this browser hijacker like Searchencrypt.navigateto.net and Searchencrypt.com virus which might also infect your system.

Search encrypt fake search engineUsers might find potentially unwanted programs on their computers after installing freeware from third-party websites

As we have already mentioned, search results delivered by this tool and its variants are distorted by sponsored ads. Usually, they promote affiliate websites or products which help the developers to generate revenue by pay-per-click marketing scheme[3]. Note that intrusive ads might not only be annoying, but malicious as well.

According to the Terms of Service page, the app does not take responsibility for the content of the promoted advertisements:

Search Encrypt has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, practices or availability of any third party sites or resources or the products, services or other materials on or available from such sites or resources.

This means that it might also display potentially dangerous ads which can lead you to either a shady website or trigger an automatic installation of malware once clicked[4]. Therefore, we suggest you disable Search Encrypt without wasting any time. For that, you can use the manual elimination guide below or run a full system scan with your antivirus. Search Encrypt browser-hijacking applicationThe app is offered as a privacy-focused search engine, while in reality it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program

Distribution techniques used to spread suspicious extensions

As mentioned above, this browser hijacker can be willingly downloaded from the Chrome Web Store. However, users report that this potentially unwanted program also manages to sneak into the system without permission. This happens when people install free software inattentively.

Usually, users choose Quick or Recommended settings in the installation wizard and skip many steps. This is the reason why users are unable to notice the browser hijacker which is bundled with freeware. Likewise, NoVirus.uk[5] team says that you should always opt for Advanced/Custom mode, which will display optional installs and give a chance to eliminate them before the installation is finished.

Other security measures include:

  • Updating software the operating system as soon as patches are out;
  • Using a reliable anti-malware software with real-time protection feature;
  • Avoiding visiting dubious websites, such as file-sharing, free online gaming, pornographic, etc.;
  • Not clicking on various pop-ups or suspicious ads.

Get rid of Search Encrypt malware on Mac and Windows

While this potentially unwanted application is unable to pose harm to your computer itself, it can expose your system vulnerabilities and content that is not secure. Note that there are additional components that may support its activity and hide under different names. Uninstalling them can be challenging. Thus, we recommend an automatic elimination procedure.

Search Encrypt browser hijackerThe suspicious application could produce several pop-up ads and display alternative search results

You will not need to worry about how to remove the PUP from Mac or Windows, merely download an antivirus tool from the list below and run a full system scan. Note that you can use another security software of your choice as long as it is reputable and powerful enough to deal with potentially unwanted programs.

We have prepared manual Search Encrypt removal guidelines for those who seek a challenge. They are presented at the end of this article together with the guide to reset your browser to the primary state. If you follow the instructions attentively, your computer will be hijacker-free after the termination procedure.

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.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
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Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Download SpyHunter 5 Review »
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Malwarebytes
Download | Review | Privacy policy | Terms of Use | Product Refund Policy | Uninstall Instructions
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.
Download Combo Cleaner Review »
Privacy policy | Terms of Use | Product Refund Policy | Uninstall Instructions

Getting rid of Search Encrypt. Follow these steps

Uninstall from Windows

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[GI=mac-os-x]

  1. Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs). Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
  2. If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program. If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'.
  3. Uninstall Search Encrypt and related programs
    Here, look for Search Encrypt or any other recently installed suspicious programs.
  4. Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes. Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'

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

Remove from Google Chrome

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 suspicious extensions 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

Delete from Safari

  1. Remove dangerous extensions
    Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
  2. Here, select Extensions and look for Search Encrypt or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them. Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
  3. Reset Safari
    Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
  4. Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Search Encrypt removal process. Select all options and click on 'Reset' button

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 Search Encrypt 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

Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are

There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.

Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.

Data backups are important – recover your lost files

Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.

While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.

About the author
Ugnius Kiguolis
Ugnius Kiguolis - The mastermind

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References
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