Search.epolife.com: yet another shady search engine targeting Jewish users

Search.epolife.com virus is another sample of browser hijackers. Usually, they are perceived as the tools which:
- redirect users to specific sponsored domains
- annoy netizens with frequent pop-up ads
- offer them to install shady browser extensions[1]
Epolife hijacker may not trigger all these symptoms, however, it is still not recommended to use it. Even though it contains the privacy policy, you may dislike the fact that not collects specific non-personal information:
We may share non-personally identifiable information with third parties, when this is required in order to provide, maintain or improve the Epolife operation and services. We may NOT share personally identifiable information with any third party, except in an aggregated and/or statistical form.
Speaking of this hijacker’s ability to operate as sufficient search tool, it highly underperforms. Thus, you may want to remove search.epolife.com. FortectIntego or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes lets you do that much faster.
“International” hijackers
While the majority of search tools are oriented at English speaking users, there are more “international” browsing tools appearing. Likewise, this tool happens to be one of them as well. What is more, lately, several identical ones have been released.
All they share the same front page design and the same privacy policy with an alternative background picture. While the hijacker is less shady than the ones which present no such document, the presence of privacy policy does not change the fact that it is a hijacker. It does not deliver full credential but just delivers answers@Epolife.com.
Furthermore, it seems to promote third party SaveFront services. As a result, while using this hijacker as the main search tool, you might be bothered by the excessive amount of ads[2]. Note that clicking on them might lead you to shady domains. The latter might contain more much more menacing malware. Thus, you should not disregard Epolife redirect tendency, as it may, later on, lead to more troublesome browser outcomes.
Ways to detect PUP-like programs
Browser hijackers are often lumped together with potentially unwanted programs. They often spread as:
- attachments to freeware
- web scripts in sponsored domains
- browser add-ons
Speaking of this tool, Search.epolife.com hijack is unlikely to occur as you can find it on its official web site. On the other hand, it is possible that the site might be promoted as optional add-on along with a media player or audio manager.
Thus, you need pay attention not only while you are performing the installation of a free app but while browsing the web and clicking on links. Developers of such apps and sites often try to appeal to users’ curiosity with celebrity gossip or fantasy content.
Beware of the sites crammed with fake download buttons and flickering ads. If you get redirected to this hijacker’s often frequent, it is time to perform Epolife removal.
Eliminate the hijacker right away
You can remove Epolife virus web scripts by scanning the browser with malware elimination tool. It will also come into the assistance while battling more elaborate viruses. If you have installed software promoted by the hijacker, it is highly recommended to uninstall it.
Furthermore, below Search.epolife.com removal guidelines will show you how to delete the cookies and web objects. Full browser reset is a faster option. Note that the browser infection does not only target Jewish users but may deviate to Chech[3] and other netizens.
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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