Search.searchptrack.com is not a credible search engine

Search.searchptrack.com by Polarity Technologies is a bogus search tool that might replace your current search provider after installation of freeware.[1] This search engine is advertised in software bundles and might infiltrate the system unnoticed. It’s one of the reasons why it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
The main page of the search engine seems legitimate. It includes quick access to popular email services, Amazon, and gaming sites, such as Minecraft. What is more, Search.searchptrack.com redirects search queries to Yahoo. Thus, many users cannot suspect anything shady apart from sudden appearance.
However, you should be aware of concerning Search.searchptrack.com redirect issues. The hijacker might trigger redirects to third-party sites when you click on the search result or visit any other website. This activity diminishes browsing experience and might put you at risk; however, in this way developers generate revenue.
Therefore, the Search.searchptrack.com virus is mostly used for driving traffic to commercial websites and displaying ads. In order to achieve this goal, the program might also collect a bunch of personal and non-personal information.[2] What is worse, aggregated details might not only be used for marketing purposes but shared with unknown third-parties as well.
It goes without saying that these tracking activities should not be tolerated. Thus, you have to remove Search.searchptrack.com as soon as it steps on your browser. However, it may not be easy to terminate the hijacker because it might:
- alter or create new Windows registry entries;
- modify Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and other web browsers’ settings;
- install additional components, programs or extensions that protects the hijacker.
Therefore, Search.searchptrack.com removal requires locating and deleting all hijacker-related entries. You can do it either manually or automatically. Manual removal guide is given below; however, it might be a challenging activity. Thus, you should use FortectIntego or similar anti-malware to wipe out the hijacker automatically.

Browser hijacker might be installed without your knowledge
The appearance of unknown startup page, search engine or new tab URL address is surprising. However, these changes come out of nowhere. Such search engines are being spread in software bundles, and users who do not pay attention to freeware installation agree to install them without realizing it.
The Search.searchptrack.com hijack might occur when users install freeware or shareware under Standard/Recommended settings that do not openly disclose about third-party software. Thus, to avoid installation of PUPs, users have to use Advanced/Custom settings and monitor the process.
If you see the list of pre-selected additional program or agreements to change your default search provider, remove those ticks without any hesitation.
Eliminate Search.searchptrack.com and set your preferred homepage
Our team has prepared manual Search.searchptrack.com removal guide that explains where to look up for hijacker-related entries. However, security experts from viruset.no[3] point out that computer users often rush and overlook some components. As a result, this questionable search tool reappears.
To avoid re-hijack, you should remove Search.searchptrack.com is automatically. All you have to do is to install anti-malware 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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