Searchaize: what it is and how to remove it
Searchaize is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that belongs to the group of browser hijackers. The classification has been reasoned out by cybersecurity experts on several grounds, i.e.
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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Searchaize: summary
| Name | Searchaize |
|---|---|
| Type of malware | Browser hijacker / Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) |
| Danger | Low. It does not affect the system or security directly, though it may display potentially dangerous third-party content and record personally non-identifiable information |
| Symptoms | -Altered start page -Changed search engine and new tab window -Sponsored content among search results -Loads of ads and popups on random websites -Sluggish browser's performance |
| Related | The hijacker sets portal.searchaize.com or feed.searchize.com as a start page and new tab window. Search.yahoo.com appears as a default search engine instead of a default search |
| Removal possibilities | Browser hijackers, in general, can be eliminated manually. For that, you can follow the step-by-step tutorial provided below. Nevertheless, malware should better be removed automatically using professional security software due to multiplicity of unwanted programs possibly hiding in the system |
| 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
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | portal.searchaize.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 2 June 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Searchaize changes in your browser
Any use by you of Third Party Content is subject to the terms and conditions of the Service Provider or the applicable third party. You acknowledge that we have no control over and assume no responsibility for Third Party Content. You assume all responsibility and risk in connection with your use of Third Party Content and we hereby disclaim any and all liability to you or any third party in connection thereto. We have no obligation to examine, review or monitor Third Party Content and are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, appropriateness or legality of Third Party Content.
Is Searchaize dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Shady third-party download websites promote freeware bundled with PUPs
In many cases, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) are promoted on official websites or legitimate sources like Chome Web Store or Google Play Store.
However, direct downloads of unwanted programs are very rare. Usually, browser-based programs are distributed bundled with freeware.
When people discover a useful application to download for free, they tend to rush with the installation and opts for Express or Quick installation option. These installation options skip setup windows that inform about the optional pre-selected components (plug-ins, extensions, browsers, etc). Consequently, finishing the installation ends up with a browser's hijack, intrusive advertising, or similar browsing issues.
Unfortunately, having security software installed is not a solution for preventing PUP infiltration. To protect your machine from unwanted installers, people have to be cautious when web browsing on third-party websites, avoid clicking on click-bait ads, or other content. However, according to losvirus.es experts claim that they should follow secure freeware installation steps:
In case you have accidentally installed a potentially unwanted program that is disrupting your web browsing activities, see the PUP removal guide provided below.
- Carefully select the source for freeware downloads;
- Make a research on the free program that you are about to install;
- If there's no reference about the malware bundled with it, download the freeware and opt for Advanced installation;
- Read the terms and deselect pre-selected components (add-ons, plug-ins, toolbars. etc.)
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Searchaize
- Malware does not affect the system directly.
- Though it may compromise registries and some system files.
- Thus, system repair with or similar tool is recommended
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Searchaize is a free tool that is internationally classified as a browser hijacker due to potentially dangerous browser-based activities
Searchaize is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that belongs to the group of browser hijackers.
The classification has been reasoned out by cybersecurity experts on several grounds, i.e. this questionable search site is actively promoted via free software as an extension for Google, Mozilla Firefox, Edge, etc. Its distribution is stealthy - it spreads disguised under Express installation as a pre-default component and, once installed, portal.searchaize.com page is set as a default start page.
Besides, while sponsored Yahoo search replaces the default engine and provides itself permission to display push notifications and other sponsored content.
Searchaize browser hijacker looks like a regular search provider similar to Sealoid, and SearchYA, with several quick access links (inbuilt PDF converter , currency converter, crypto converter, and calculator). However, experts from novirus.uk do not recommend people using it for web searchers due to sponsored content that it generates and tracking cookies that may leak personally non-identifiable information about people's browsing habits continuously.
Searchaize virus - that's a term used to describe this search engine. Nevertheless, it does not exhibit the typical traits of a virus. i.e. it does not infiltrate PCs via exploits, vulnerabilities, or spam. It does not hide in the system's background and does not initiate malicious activities.
Nevertheless, having a browser hijacker like Searchaize on the machine poses a risk of getting infected with malware or a dangerous virus. One may ask how if this search is non-dangerous. The answer is simple - this domain is affiliated with third-parties and no one really knows what content they intend to promote.
In other words, while web browsing via Searchaize hijacker, people may be presented with sponsored content. Usually, this content is presented as pop-ups, banners, hyperlinks, or new tab pages.
Unfortunately, these pages may disguise infected software updates, promote malware, use software tools for spying on people, and so on. The developers of the search are quick to get rid of any responsibility for exposing people to dangerous content. As stated in the Terms page:
Searchaize redirects can also trick people into visiting rogue surveys or prize giveaways on pages like Wyciwyg, Kfx7-67, Liberar.permitir.site, and similar. In this case, it's important to remain conscious and not fall for believing that you've become the lucky annual visitor that is on the verge of winning an iPhone or iPad.
The symptoms of the browser's hijack are very straightforward, so there's no doubt that you'll be aware of when Searchaize removal is needed. Although the machine may be working properly, the browser exhibits usual behavior. As soon as you open Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or another browser of your preference, you will immediately notice these changes:
Keep in mind that browser hijackers like Searchaize virus seek to increase visitor's rate to affiliate parties, as well as promote sponsored content (adware, rogue system tools, malware, etc.) as their developers gain commissions for that. Besides, they harvest browsing data with the help of browser-based cookies, which is subsequently transmitted to third parties for investigation and preparation of ads.
Therefore, if you found your browser hijacked right after installing freeware or clicking on online ads, we strongly recommend you to remove Searchaize for good. You can do that with a program like by running a full scan and then reset your web browser's settings. Alternatively, manual removal is possible, though you should check the system carefully to get rid of all intrusive elements.
Last, but not least, take advantage of the utility to reset your machine's settings and performance. This utility is a powerful optimization tool that can recover Windows registries and other settings compromised by malware.
- Browser's start page is replaced by portal.searchaize.com or feed.searchaize.com
- The search engine is reset without your permission and generates sponsored Yahoo results
- New tab window displays unusual content of the affiliate parties
- Intrusive pop-ups emerge on ransom websites
- Regular push notification pop-ups boxes require for your permission to display content
- More and more ads based on your recent searches emerge on the screen, etc.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
portal.searchaize.com
How to remove Searchaize
How to remove Searchaize and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete portal.searchaize.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
portal.searchaize.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If portal.searchaize.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Searchaize rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Searchaize that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
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 Searchaize malware from your machine, you should initiate these steps in the right sequence:
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
If Searchaize hijacked your browser, remove malware from the machine and then reset Chrome's settings to delete unwanted search engine, search provider, and other browser's settings.
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)
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
Web browser's on Mac OS can also be affected. To restore the settings, get rid of the malware and then restore web browser's settings as explained below.
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.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Searchaize removal options: manual and automatic
Searchaize virus belongs to the group of potentially unwanted programs, so its removal process is possible both manually and automatically.
If your machine is running in a sluggish manner and the web browser goes wild in terms of advertising and promotion of sponsored links, do not wait until this hijacker exposes you to dangerous domains.
In case you prefer fixing your machine by yourself, remove Searchaize hijacker from the apps list in the first place. Note that it's not very likely that it will be named this way.
It's more likely to be hidden under diverse names, so try to analyze the installed apps according to the date of the installation. If you see an unknown app installed on the same day when the browser has been hijacked, do not hesitate to eliminate each of them.
Alternatively, you can scan your machine with a professional anti-malware program. This way, you will save your time looking for malware entire and ensure a smooth elimination of each unwanted entry.
Nevertheless, regardless of whether you remove Searchaize manually or automatically, you will have to reset the browser's settings by yourself and fix malware damage with utility afterward. If you don't know how to do that, refer to the guidance positioned below.
Questions about Searchaize
Why does my search engine keep changing to portal.searchaize.com?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time portal.searchaize.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Did portal.searchaize.com come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as portal.searchaize.com usually arrive with free software, where an extra offer is pre-ticked in the installer, or as an extension that promises something useful, such as file conversion, maps, recipes or streaming.
Look at Settings, Apps, Installed apps sorted by install date: whatever was installed just before the search engine changed is the main suspect. Uninstall it, then remove any extension you do not recognise. In future, choose the custom or advanced option in installers and untick extra offers, and install extensions only from the official store pages of publishers you know.
What is portal.searchaize.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Searchaize. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is portal.searchaize.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Searchaize, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Searchaize affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did portal.searchaize.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of portal.searchaize.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Searchaize
- clear cookies and site data for portal.searchaize.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
Can I just block portal.searchaize.com?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?
Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.
Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.
Will Fortect remove Searchaize?
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 Searchaize, 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
- Heimdal Security: Push Notifications 101: Security Risks and How to Disable Them Across Devices (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)