Search.search4ppl2.com (Removal Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Search.search4ppl2.com Removal Guide
What is Search.search4ppl2.com?
Search.search4ppl2.com is a browser hijacker that acts like a legit search tool
Search.search4ppl2.com is a Yahoo-based search engine created by Polarity Technologies. Despite its quite legit look, it is categorized as a browser hijacker[1] because it can get into the system unnoticed and alter browser’s settings without asking user’s permission.
Summary | |
Name | Search.search4ppl2.com |
Developer | Polarity Technologies Ltd. |
Type | Browser hijacker |
Danger level | Medium. Cannot damage the system but takes control over a web browser |
Symptoms | Changed browser's homepage, search engine, and new tab URL address, an increased amount of ads, inability to set preferred homepage/search engine. |
Distribution methods | Software bundling |
To remove Search.search4ppl2.com, install FortectIntego and run a full system scan |
So-called Search.search4ppl2.com virus spreads as People Search extension in freeware or shareware bundles. Hence, users who do not pay attention to installation process are the ones who get their browsers hijacked.
After the Search.search4ppl2.com hijack, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and other web browsers might face these changes:
- homepage, search engine, and new tab URL address changed to http://search.search4ppl2.com/ or http://query.search4ppl2.com;
- search redirects to Yahoo;
- redirects to third-party sites after clicking a search link or other content;
- aggressive pop-ups disturbing browsing sessions;
- more banners and ads appearing on visited websites;
- inability to remove Search.search4ppl2.com and replace it with another search tool.
The latter issue is the most annoying. Search.search4ppl2.com removal might be troublesome due to hijacker’s ability to alter Windows Registry and browser’s shortcuts. Hence, in order to get rid of this browser virus, you should use anti-malware[2] software, like FortectIntego. This tool can not only clean this cyber threat but fix damage to the system.
Of course, you can delete Search.search4ppl2.com manually too. However, it might be a complicated task. However, if you are willing to do it, you should not hesitate and scroll down to the end of the article where you can find our prepared uninstall guide.
We want to urge you to get rid of this cyber threat as soon as possible because the hijacker might trick you into visiting high-risk websites and track information about you. While Search.search4ppl2.com redirect tendencies might lead to computer infection, data collection might put your privacy at risk.
The Privacy Policy of Search.search4ppl2.com reveals that this tool can collect various information about with the help of cookies and other tracking technologies. Additionally, they allow third-party data tracking as well. What is worse, information about your location, operating system and browser, browsing history and other behavioral information might be shared with third-parties, which are typically advertising networks.
Therefore, the longer you keep the hijacker installed, the more ads you will see. Keep in mind that they might be misleading and redirect to phishing, scam or other fraudulent sites. We highly recommend staying away from pop-ups and banners after the hijack. Though, the best idea is to get rid of search.search4ppl2.com immediately.
Software bundling helps to spread browser hijacker
You won’t be able to find People Search extension on any legit app store. The application is spread bundled with free programs that you can download from the internet. If you choose Quick/Recommended settings for freeware installation, you might unintentionally install even worse programs than a browser hijacker, security specialists from utanvirus.se[3] says.
These settings do not openly disclose about third-party apps that are included in the same software package. Thus, if you use this setup, you give indirect permission to install the whole package. However, you should use Advanced/Custom settings which allow “unpacking” freeware download and opt out “additional” apps.
Get rid of Search.search4ppl2.com virus
One of the ways to remove Search.search4ppl2.com from your browser is to uninstall questionable programs and browser extensions and resetting affected browser. The guide below will help you to complete this task. However, if you leave some malicious components or you want to speed up this procedure, you should take advantage of the anti-malware software.
Automatic Search.search4ppl2.com removal requires scanning the system with an up-to-date program. After the scan, you will be offered to clean detected cyber threats. Then, you should reset affected browsers to get rid of tracking cookies.
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.
Getting rid of Search.search4ppl2.com. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
First step to eliminate Search.search4ppl2.com is to locate and uninstall questionable programs from the computer.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Uninstall extensions that might be related to Search.search4ppl2.com and reset Firefox:
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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
Reset Google Chrome to get rid of tracking cookies:
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
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.search4ppl2.com 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 stealing programs
Protect your privacy – employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private – you can access an incognito tab. However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of Private Internet Access VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise. Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and Private Internet Access VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers – human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence. In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. Data Recovery Pro is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market – it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
- ^ Browser hijacking. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ Margaret Rouse. Aantimalware (anti-malware). Techtarget. technology focused web sites.
- ^ Utanvirus. Utanvirus. Security and spyware news.