Search-world.info ads: what it is and how to remove it
Search-world.info is an adware virus that urges to click "Allow" in order to continue. By selecting this option, you are very likely to be flooded with a big number of ads and your web browser sessions might get interrupted with numerous redirects.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Search-world.info ads: summary
| Name | Search-world.info |
|---|---|
| Category | Adware virus/potentially unwanted program |
| Activities | This suspicious product might be responsible for monitoring browser settings such as the homepage, new tab URL. Also, the adware is likely to get you involved in various advertising schemes, force redirects to sponsored domains, record data that is related to your online activities, bring other PUPs to the system |
| Appearance | The adware usually appears by using a deceptive strategy known as "bundling". The infection hits web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 9 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware extension |
| Symptoms | Redirects to an unknown domain |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | search-world.info |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 2 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Search-world.info ads dangerous?
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Search-world.info - a push notifications virus that convinces users to subscribe to its domain
Search-world.info is an adware virus that urges to click "Allow" in order to continue.
By selecting this option, you are very likely to be flooded with a big number of ads and your web browser sessions might get interrupted with numerous redirects. Clicking on the "Block" button would be a wiser option as you will have the possibility to avoid incoming notifications if the adware program has not made changes on your web browsers yet.
Search-world.info virus can appear on the most popular web browser apps such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and on others less popular but still used Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. The program is likely to apply changes to the homepage and new tab URL bar of the browsers.
Search-world.info is capable of many intrusive activities starting with an endless flow of ads and finishing with the ability to inject other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). The app aims to push various bogus offers and deals but makes them attractive-looking in order to get a bigger number of clicks and collect revenue from the cost-per-click strategy.
Continuously, Search-world.info can get you involved in various scamming such as providing rogue computer software and other services for an inadequate price and convincing you to buy them. Also, the adware might load various surveys that ask for personal or credential information, push fake prize claims, and even technical support scams.
You should be very careful with Search-world.info pop-up ads as they are not likely to bring you anything beneficial. DO NOT provide any personally identifiable information to third-parties as your data might easily get lost. Also, avoid revealing any banking and credential details as you might not notice how you will subscribe to questionable services for a monthly fee.
Another annoying feature of Search-world.info is redirecting during online activities. The adware aims to take the user to sponsored websites where the pages are also filled with beneficial-looking deals.
Additionally, Search-world.info redirects can take you to not only odd pages but also malware-laden domains. This type of activity might cause you and your computer system a lot of trouble if some type of malicious app tries to invade your computer system through a hyperlink or ad that you might intentionally or accidentally click on.
Search-world.info can also start recording your browsing activities such as recently visited websites, hyperlinks clicked on, bookmarks saved, adverts entered, search queries performed, and other types of data such as your IP address, browser and OS type, geolocation. These details are valuable for the developers as they can share them with other parties for income.
Also, Search-world.info might get you involved in targeted advertising by providing deals and offers that look the same or very similar to the ones that you have searched online. This way the developers decrease the chances that their advertisements will get clicked frequently and they will receive much more revenue.
However, that is not all about Search-world.info. This adware might not come alone during its infiltration process. The PUP can bring additional products such as other adware, browser hijackers, scareware to your computer system. This way the number of unwanted activities will double and your computer will also become more vulnerable to malware infections.
Reduce the risk of getting caught in various suspicious and malicious schemes by performing Search-world.info removal. The process can be handled by the user himself or by employing reliable antimalware software. If you are looking for manual instructions, travel to the end of the page where you will find all needed step-by-step guidelines.
In case the adware has brought additional PUPs or even malware to your computer system, it would be better to remove Search-world.info by using antimalware products as they can complete the process in a safer way. Also, if you have spotted some damage on your computer, you can try fixing the corrupted components with software such as .
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Search-world.info
- You can get rid of the adware app by using automatical tools or by carrying out the manual instructions that have been added to the end of this web page
- If you have found some corrupted entries or other objects on your computer system, you can try fixing them with a tool such as
How Search-world.info ads got into your browser
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Cybersecurity experts from LosVirus.es claim that adware applications are very likely to enter the targeted computer system by using software bundling.
The PUP comes injected into a free software package from third-party websites such as download.com, softonic.com, and cnet.com. Afterward, the adware lands on those computer systems that have week protection and the selected downloading mode is the "Recommended" one.
Some good news is that you can protect yourself and your computer system from secret infiltration. What you can do is properly secure your machine with antivirus software. Do not be afraid to invest in your own security.
Then, you should change the "Recommended" downloading settings to the "Custom" option. Here the user is allowed to take full control of all the incoming downloads and opt-out the products that look questionable.
Continuously, adware programs can be distributed through other sources such as fake flash player updates, infectious advertisements, and hyperlinks. You should be aware of such content while browsing through the Internet sphere. Do not click on every advertisement that you see, and even better - get AdBlock to prevent the advertising. Also, check all pending updates on the program's official page to find all the official releases.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
search-world.info
How to remove Search-world.info ads
How to remove the Search-world.info extension
Do the browser steps in every browser and profile on the PC, then check Windows for the program that installed the extension.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Search-world.info often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Search-world.info. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 3: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 4: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
To remove the bogus app from Windows, apply the following instructing steps:
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
To clean Google Chrome from bogus components and reverse all changes, use these instructions:
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.
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.
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)
To restore Firefox back to its previous state, perform the following guidelines:
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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. 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.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
The removal process of Search-world.info adware
If you have been looking for ways to remove Search-world.info from your Windows or Mac computer system, you have come to the right place.
Here we will provide you with both manual and automatical elimination guidelines that will guide you throughout the entire elimination process.
Keep in mind that if you are currently running into a lack of time or do not have enough experience in the virus removal field, you should get rid of Search-world.info virus by using automatical software as this type of option is much safer and can be much more effective.
However, if you think that everything will be fine and you are willing to be patient during the entire Search-world.info removal process, you can definitely go for the manual step-by-step instructions.
Take a look down below and there you will learn how to clean both your operating system and web browser applications such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. Note that you have to clean all the directories that were touched or infected by the adware program if you expect to succeed in the removal properly.
Questions about Search-world.info ads
How do I stop search-world.info from opening?
Find and remove whatever opens it. Start with the browser's extensions page and remove anything you do not remember adding. Next, open the notification settings and take away permission from sites you do not recognise.
Then check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for programs added around the day the redirects began, and uninstall those. Restart the browser and test a few links after each step.
If search-world.info still appears, reset the browser, which restores the default search engine, start page and permissions without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords. Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program in Windows, and a full scan is the next step.
Did search-world.info install a virus on my PC?
Very unlikely, unless you downloaded and opened something from the pages it led to. Redirect domains such as search-world.info sell your visit to advertisers; they do not need to install anything to make money.
What can be installed is the thing that causes the redirects in the first place, such as an extension or an ad-supported program that came with free software. That is why the checks in this guide look at extensions, notification permissions and Installed apps.
A full scan with Microsoft Defender afterwards gives you a clear answer about the rest of the PC. If the scan is clean and the redirects stop after removing the cause, you are done.
What is Search-world.info?
Search-world.info is an adware extension, a kind of adware. It earns money by showing redirects through ad pages, and each view, click or redirect pays whoever runs it. It is not something people usually choose; it arrives through a free download, a fake button or a misleading prompt.
Search-world.info does not encrypt files or take control of Windows, but its ads are sold to anyone, including scam operators, so they can lead to fake virus warnings and unwanted downloads. The steps in this guide remove it from Windows and from each browser.
Which browsers does Search-world.info affect?
In the cases we checked, Search-world.info showed up in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not rule out others on your PC, since adware installers often target every browser they find, and permissions and extensions sync across computers signed in to the same browser account.
Open each browser you have, go to its extensions page and its notification settings, and remove anything you do not recognise. Profiles count separately: Chrome and Edge can each hold several, and each one needs checking on its own.
Are the pop-ups I see really from Search-world.info?
Compare them with the details in the table above. Search-world.info produces redirects through ad pages, and the clearest sign of it is redirects to search-world.info. Other adware looks similar, so check the name of the sending site at the bottom of a notification, the address in the tab that opened, or the newest entries on the extensions page.
If those match, this guide fits. If you see a different name, the same kind of steps apply, but remove the item you actually find rather than guessing.
Did Search-world.info collect my data?
Adware typically collects what it needs to choose ads:
- the sites you visit
- search terms
- approximate location
- browser and system details
Extensions with permission to read and change data on all websites can technically see everything on those pages, including forms. That is a privacy problem rather than proof of theft.
If you typed card details or passwords while it was active, changing the most important passwords is a reasonable precaution. Clearing cookies after removal ends the tracking sessions it may have started.
My scan found nothing, but the ads continue. Why?
Because the source may not be a file a scanner looks for. Browser notifications are a permission stored in the browser, and many adware extensions are not flagged because they come from an official store.
Some ad-supported programs are only reported if you enable detection of potentially unwanted apps. So a clean scan does not mean the job is done. Check each browser's notification permissions and extension list by hand, and turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security before scanning again.
Why is my browser so slow since the ads started?
Each page now does extra work. An adware extension reads the page, decides where to put ads, loads them from ad servers and reports your visit, and that happens on every tab. Ad-supported programs add their own background activity.
Removing the extension or program usually makes the browser fast again at once. If it stays slow, open the browser's own task manager with Shift+Esc in Chrome or Edge and look for extensions using a lot of memory or processor time.
I let a "support technician" from an ad connect to my PC. What should I do?
Act quickly but calmly. Disconnect the PC from the internet first, so the connection ends. Uninstall the remote access tool they asked you to install and check Installed apps for anything else added during the call.
Run a Microsoft Defender full scan and offline scan. From another device, change your e-mail and banking passwords and sign out of all sessions.
If you paid by card, bank transfer or gift card, contact your bank or the card issuer immediately, and report the scam to the police. Do not answer if they call back.
Will Fortect remove Search-world.info?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Search-world.info, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- AVG: What are PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) and how to detect them (read October 6, 2026)
- LosVirus: LosVirus.es (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: AdBlock (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)