Search.search-settings.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Search.search-settings.com redirect virus silently collects your search queries and serves ads
Search.search-settings.com is an untrustworthy search manager that can be installed on your computer without your knowledge. After infiltrating the computer system, it will replace the homepage in Chrome browser and set http://Search.search-settings.com/ as default search provider. Cyber security experts suggest avoiding this suspicious search tool as it can serve dangerous ads in a form of search results.
Search.search-settings.com virus arrives in the form of Search Settings extension that installs itself on Google Chrome browser. This browser extension[1] requires user’s permission to:
- Change privacy related settings;
- Read/Change data on sites user visits;
- Change search settings to Search.search-settings.com.
Please pay attention that this highly questionable browser add-on intrusively asks to modify your privacy-related settings, which is never a good idea. It is one of the primary reasons why we recommend you to remove Search.search-settings.com.
Also, this sneaky browser hijacker collects data that reveals user’s interests. For instance, it tracks one’s search queries, browsing history, IP address, impressions, and other data. As a consequence, the collected data reaches a special database, and from there it can be shared with third-parties such as ad networks.
Expect to see many sponsored links in search results you receive. In fact, this browser hijacker first sends your search queries to SafestSearches.com search engine before landing you on the final results’ page. Such redirects should not be tolerated.
Finally, the worst part is that clicking on search results provided by this search engine can trigger redirects to external websites that might be dangerous. It is highly likely since this hijacker is developed by a company that has also developed such potentially unwanted programs such as Search-select.co or search-selector.co(which is extremely prevalent in Germany[2]).
Similar browser hijackers are meant to generate pay-per-click revenue for their developers for serving paid links; however, they hardly check the security of those sites before adding them to search results.
We strongly recommend you to initiate Search.search-settings.com removal. It can be completed with the help of an anti-spyware tool (for instance, Reimage) or instructions provided below the article.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
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'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Avoid installing unwanted ad-supported programs
The easiest way to keep your PC spyware-free is to monitor the installation of free software carefully. It is an absolute must to check what settings you select for the installation, too. It is the only way to avoid installing bundled software unknowingly[3].
Many people tend to rely on Standard, Express, Recommended or Default installation options that almost always hide statements granting user’s permission to install and try “recommended” software such as browser toolbars or suspicious search tools.
To reject unwanted programs, one must choose Custom or Advanced settings for software installation. It can be done via software installation wizard. After choosing the right settings, the user might see a couple of check boxes next to suggestions to perform specific changes on the system or install extra programs.
These check boxes must be deselected in order to avoid installing potentially unwanted programs.
Remove Search.search-settings.com hijacker for good
The main reason to remove Search.search-settings.com virus is that it tends to sneak into computers unnoticed and that it attempts to change privacy related settings on victim’s computer.
Such activity cannot be tolerated. Therefore, 2-spyware security experts strongly advise choosing a reliable anti-spyware software for the elimination of the browser hijacker.
However, there is an alternative Search.search-settings.com removal method available. You can also remove the described computer threat by using the instructions we prepared.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Search.search-settings.com virus, follow these steps:
Get rid of Search.search-settings.com from Windows systems
Check your PC for software called similarly to Search Settings. Using the guide we provided, remove all questionable programs ASAP.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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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.
- Uninstall Search.search-settings.com and related programs
Here, look for Search.search-settings.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Search.search-settings.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariDelete Search.search-settings.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Search.search-settings.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove Search.search-settings.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Search.search-settings.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Search.search-settings.com removal.
Eliminate Search.search-settings.com virus from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Search.search-settings.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariUninstall Search.search-settings.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.search-settings.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Search.search-settings.com removal.
Erase Search.search-settings.com from Google Chrome
Delete Search Settings extension from Chrome to put an end to unwanted redirects to Search.search-settings.com.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.search-settings.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Search.search-settings.com removal.
Get rid of Search.search-settings.com from Safari
- 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. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Search.search-settings.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Search.search-settings.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
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.search-settings.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Chris Hoffman. Browser Extensions Are a Privacy Nightmare: Stop Using So Many of Them. How-To Geek. For Geeks, By Geeks.
- ^ DieViren. DieViren. Malware Removal Tutorials.
- ^ Sabrina Berkenkopf. "Potentially Unwanted Programs": much more than just annoying. G Data Software Blog. Security News.