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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Dec 2017

How to remove Search.securysearch.com virus

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

Lucia Danes · Virus researcher

SecurySearch is a browser hijacker that has nothing to do with security

Search.securysearch.com redirect virus

Securysearch is a potentially malicious URL that can appear on your browser without your approval. In this case, you should realize that your browser is infected with a browser-hijacking virus.[1] This extension claims to be compatible with Google Chrome browser. However, it might affect other web browsers in the future as the developers of such programs keep updating them. While Secury Search doesn’t replace current homepage settings, but it changes default search settings instantly.

As a consequence, Securysearch virus takes all victim’s search queries and sends them to search.securysearch.com/?ds&q=[query] and then to arp.eanswers.com. Finally, it redirects the victim to a page that serves modified Yahoo search results.[2] Links found there should not be trusted as they often lead to insecure web pages and are provided to generate pay-per-click revenue.

Securysearch advertises itself as an excellent tool that helps to make user’s online life safer. It says that the extension can protect one from phishing to exploits or just plain scams that lurk or various Internet sites. It must be noted that this application is NOT related to secury-search.com virus, which we described previously. Although they are both potentially unwanted programs, they differ from each other a lot.

However, these features seem shady as the extension works as a typical browser hijacker. Cyber security experts claim that it functions as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and that there is no reason to believe that it can be beneficial in some kind of way. So, make sure you don't waste your time with it thinking that it can show you reliable search results. It would be better that you took care of SecurySearch removal.

While the virus claims that it does not track its users and information related to their search terms, beware that it sends them directly to arp.eanswers.com. This page clearly reveals its tracking activities in its Privacy Policy, so you can accidentally reveal your computer's IP address, location, email address and similar details.

Finally, when having SecurySearch on your computer, you might come across dubious surveys, offers to update software or install a new one on your computer, and suggestions to sign up for suspicious memberships on dubious web pages. If you started interacting with such sites while browsing, make sure you do not provide your personally identifiable data to scammers.

Search.securysearch.com virus

To protect your online life, we recommend installing a decent anti-malware software and following secure browsing rules. Besides, you can get rid of this threat manually. Currently, our Securysearch removal instructions are provided in English as the hijacker has mostly showed up in US and UK. However, according to Lesvirus.fr.[3], French computer users should stay careful as well. Experts are strongly recommending using anti-malware programs like FortectIntego to kill the potentially unwanted program with ease.

Put an end to browser hijacking with a simple trick

The majority of browser hijackers claim to have official websites while their distribution tactics rely on an entirely different philosophy. The vast majority of these suspicious programs travel with the help of software bundling which allows them to hide next to popular free programs such as games, media players, downloaders and similar freeware.

Sadly, many users miss the opportunity to decompose these bundles by relying on auto-selected installation options (Standard, Default, sometimes Basic or Express). To keep your computer protected, you should choose Custom or Advanced option instead. These options give you a chance to deselect unwanted extras and install your desired software piece alone.

Removing SecurySearch from the system is just a matter of time

Although the majority of security experts will tell you that it is hard to remove SecurySearch virus, we cannot agree with that. Speaking of sophistication and level of danger, this browser-hijacking application is nowhere near ransomware or other malware-type viruses. Therefore, we suggest you uninstall the potentially unwanted program using instructions provided below the article.

SecurySearch removal can become an even easier task with the help of anti-spyware or anti-malware software. If you have never tried to use such program before, you can try one of the programs 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

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