Search.pensirot.com – a browser hijacker that forces to use a shady search engine

Search.pensirot.com is just one of many other fake Internet search engines,[1] such as search.worthut.com, search.mogobiggy.com, and search.pikatika.com. Originally, it claims to improve user’s Internet browsing proficiency, and at first glance, it may seem convenient.
Yet, the users should be aware that this site is using mischief download and installation setups that change the browser’s options without permission. Moreover, it collects browsing-related data. These negative features put so-called Search.pensirot.com virus to the browser hijackers’ category.
Most commonly Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers are chosen as targets. Shortly after hijacking any of these browsers, setups work to modify the base options of the browser by assigning to search.pensirot.com: homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL. Even though these changes are not very significant, the problem is that there is no possibility to revert them.
Researchers spotted that setups also install third-party unwanted programs and/or plug-ins without permission as well. These third-party programs and plug-ins are designed to rearrange above-mentioned options again when the user tries to change them. This is the reason why restarting browsers to their original state is almost impossible, and users continue to browse through search.pensirot.com.
Moreover, users should be aware that Search.pensirot.com collects browsing-related data, that can be personally identifiable and lead to security and privacy issues. Valuable data gathered such as geolocations, IP addresses, pages visited are sold to third-party companies, and user’s privacy is put at risk.
Another significant disadvantage is the exhausted system’s resources. Computers performance can rapidly decrease due to the various processes run by unwanted programs and/or plug-ins. One of the most common processes is mining of cryptocurrency in the system’s background.[2] Thus, to protect your device from overheating or prevent system slowdowns, you should hurry up with search.pensirot.com removal.
The internet contains various fake search engines, which judging on the first appearance might look the same and offer handy functions including weather forecast, currency exchange rates, etc., while in real life are completely useless. The main aim of search.pensirot.com and similar browser hijackers is to increase revenue for their developers.
The research has shown that instead of providing functionality fake search engines might cause redirects to other websites, display malware-laden ads, pop-ups or even contain malevolent material that could infect user’s computer and etc. Hence, we encourage users to be aware of the Search.pensirot.com redirect dangers they to face while using this fake search engine.
However, you should not tolerate these changes on your browser and risk to encounter serious cyber threats. As soon as you notice unknown website on your browser, obtain FortectIntego or another security program. Scanning the system with updated too will help to remove Search.pensirot.com as well as other potentially unwanted programs from the device.

Browser hijacker might be installed together with free programs
While many might ask how did Search.pensirot.com hijack occur, the answer is simple. The developers use deceptive marketing method — bunlding, which allows the installation of additional programs, while installing the regular apps or software.
Experts from Bedynet[3] remind that users should carefully follow the steps when downloading and installing programs, yet many get easily annoyed by the process and skip many of them. Developers intentionally hide such information about the modifications behind “Custom/Advanced” settings and users in a rush suffer from the consequences.
Many of other unwanted programs are installed using the same method. Hence, in order to protect themselves, users must carefully analyze each step of the installation.
Removal of the Search.pensirot.com
There are two ways how you can remove search.pensirot.com from your web browser – automatic and manual. The latter option might be complicated due to hijacker’s ability to install “helper objects” and other entries that protect this PUP from elimination. However, the instructions below will help you to complete this task properly.
However, you can always speed up search.pensirot.com removal with anti-malware software. All you have to do is to choose a reputable tool, update it and run a full system scan.
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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