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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jan 2020

How to remove Search.safesidetabsearch.com virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

Search.safesidetabsearch.com is a browser hijacker that claims to protect you while browsing online

Search.safesidetabsearch.com

Search.safesidetabsearch.com is a web address that users can see on their Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, Safari, or is a browser after they install a potentially unwanted program[1] called FunSafeTab extension by Imali Media. Nevertheless, the URL might also be related to other browser hijackers, so sometimes getting rid of the extension is not enough to regain control of your search engine, new tab, and the homepage.

Potentially unwanted programs like Search.safesidetabsearch.com are usually attached to freeware or shareware apps that you download from third-party websites. Due to the deceptive software bundling distribution technique, users may not even notice the entry of a browser hijacker or another PUP. Luckily, most of the modern browsers nowadays warn users about homepage and new tab address change, so users can opt to remove Search.safesidetabsearch.com before it can even apply any changes.

Name Search.safesidetabsearch.com
Type Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program
Related extension  FunSafeTab 
Developer Imali Media
Infiltration  In most cases, users install potentially unwanted programs unintentionally – via software bundle packages, a deceptive ad, or a fake update prompt. Nevertheless, the extension can also be installed voluntarily via official sources like Google Web store
Symptoms  A browser extension FunSafeTab installed on the web browser; search results are redirected to Yahoo and are filled with sponsored links; overall increased amount of advertising 
Risks  Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, data disclosure to unknown parties 
Removal You can terminate the PUP by following our instructions below or scanning a machine with anti-malware software
Recovery In case your computer is experiencing lag, crashes, BSODs, errors, and other issues, you can scan it with FortectIntego to repair the Windows OS

Just as many other browser hijackers, FunSafeTab Search tries to attract users with its allegedly useful functionality – it includes a few customization features like the change of the background picture and embedded links that lead users to sites like Facebook, Gmail, Instagram, YouTube, etc. Just to be clear – there is nothing wrong with these links, as they would bring to official websites of well-known companies.

Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that Search.safesidetabsearch.com functionality is not something unique, and most of the web browsers, such as the new MS Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and other browsers, provide it as well. The difference is that you could actually customize your front page the way you like and apply links that you visit the most – convenient and risk-free.

Additionally, FunSafeTab also offers the capability of uploading documents and other files, which can be locked with a password. The same feature is provided for notes, although the developer claims that these files are protected with the AES encryption.[2]

On the other side, if you decide to keep Search.safesidetabsearch.com hijacker installed, all your searches will be redirected to Yahoo, although they won't be organic. In other words, the displayed results will be those that were paid for by the developer's partners and affiliates and not the ones you would see by searching via a regular search engine.

Search.safesidetabsearch.com hijack

Another reason for Search.safesidetabsearch.com removal should be the fact that it collects a variety of information about your web browsing habits with the help of such tracking technologies as cookies, web beacons,[3] pixels, etc. The data may include:

  • IP address
  • Web browser type
  • Language
  • Timestamp
  • Search queries
  • Clicks, and other usage information.

Additionally, FunSafeTab may also gather some personal information that you provide during the registration or operation process of the app.

The second type of information is individually identifiable information, namely information that identifies an individual or may with reasonable effort identify an individual (“Personal Information”). The Personal information includes information which was either voluntarily submitted by you when and if you contact us (name, email address, etc.).  

Search.safesidetabsearch.com uses the same design and characteristics for the whole bunch of fake search engines, including Cooliosearch.com, Search.mysearchengine.info, Search.wondrousmoviessearch.com, Search.safesidesearch.com, and many others. All of these tools pretend to help users find what they are looking for, but the truth is, they seek the ad revenue through the pay-per-click installs. In the meantime, users might be forced to visit sponsored sites that they otherwise never would. This is especially common for less experienced users who don't see the difference between a hijacked and a genuine search engine.

To conclude, FunSafeTab (Search.safesidetabsearch.com) is not a virus or something very malicious, but it is a tool that will expose you to ads and will show you sponsored links, all while gathering information about you in the background. Thus, we recommend sticking to well-known search providers like Google or Yahoo (which is used by the hijacker anyways).

In case Search.safesidetabsearch.com removal proves to be difficult, you can always scan your machine with anti-malware software that can get the work done for you. Additionally, we recommend scanning the device with FortectIntego and resetting the installed browsers for the best results.

Search.safesidetabsearch.com hijack operation principles

The main symptom of Search.safesidetabsearch.com hijack is the web browser’s (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, etc.) modifications. This misleading search engine is typically spread via freeware in the form of an extension. Thus, once it is installed, it changes the web browser’s homepage, search engine, new tab window, and other less important parameters.

Consequently, instead of Google, Bing, or Yahoo, you may encounter with Search.safesidetabsearch.com web page all the time. The homepage of this page offers a security scan of a certain domain and provides some quick links to security-related software, allows checking the Internet speed, access social networks directly, and so on. Besides, it also provides Yahoo-based search results that may not look suspicious at all.

Search.safesidetabsearch.com sponsored links

However, as we have already pointed out, search results developed by the Search.safesidetabsearch.com virus may include a bunch of sponsored links and advertisements linked to irrelevant or even unsafe third party web pages. It’s crucial to highlight the fact that IMALI – N.I. MEDIA LTD does not take any responsibility for the content that is displayed via this search engine, which means that the data may be false, and after clicking on the, you will be able to blame yourself only. Therefore, do not take that risk!

Ways to remove and avoid hijackers like Search.safesidetabsearch.com

The 2-spyware team highly recommends you remove Search.safesidetabsearch.com virus as soon as possible as it may deliver unsafe search results and present with tons of pop-up ads linked to third-party pages. In most of the cases, this fake search infects random web browsers with the help of other freeware/shareware. In other words, it may be hidden under software packages and disclosed on the list of 'optional downloads, which is not necessarily checked.

To prevent your PC from being hijacked by Search.safesidetabsearch.com, you have to opt for an advanced or custom installation mode and monitor the installation carefully. If, however, you did the installation of the desired freeware incorrectly and allowed Search.safesidetabsearch.com PUP to land on your web browser accidentally, perform its removal right away. For that, you can use the guide provided below.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

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

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

Did this guide help?

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4 comments

  1. Atlas Primeidium

    Search.safesidetabsearch.com homepage is driving me insane. It not only been set without my permission, but now even cant be reset

  2. Wayne9

    What can I say, thanks guys for the removal guide. I though that Search.safesidetabsearch.com hijacker will cause me troubles

  3. Epic122

    Hi guys. I am sorry for those who has or had this Search.safesidetabsearch.com virus on the system. Its sooo irritating. The homepage seems quite ok, but the search results are obviously not normal.

  4. Jonathan

    Totally agree with you. Be careful with free programs as they carry this hijacker along

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