SearchFor: what it is and how to remove it
Without a doubt, many of us like to use Google for searching the web at any time when it is needed. There are plenty of alternatives that exist - SearchFor is one of them.
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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SearchFor: summary
| Name | SearchFor |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker, search hijacker |
| Assigned homepage URL | searchfor.cc |
| Operation | Appends a customized search engine and diverts results to Bing Includes sponsored links and promos at the top of the results Collects personal information and shares it with third-parties |
| Uninstall | To get rid of the extension, you would have to access the settings of your web browser; a scan with anti-malware software is also recommended |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 8 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | searchfor.cc |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 25 May 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What SearchFor changes in your browser
The extension will update your search settings and will change your New Tab and default search services provided by Bing.
Is SearchFor dangerous? What it collects
From our report of May 2021 · not reviewed since
SearchFor is an alternative search engine that tracks your personal info
Without a doubt, many of us like to use Google for searching the web at any time when it is needed.
There are plenty of alternatives that exist - SearchFor is one of them. However, it is also important to note that the extension is also categorized as a browser hijacker.
The main reason it is usually put in this category is due to its modifications to the homepage, and new tab address - searchfor.cc is something you would see in the address bar of your web browser straight away.
Note: the extension we about to discuss should not be confused with a search provider of the same name, which uses 50% of its advertising revenue to support various charities.
Changes to web browser settings are not considered to be malicious. In fact, Google Chrome now always warns users about the implemented alterations, and they can decline them at any time. However, it is important to note that many users might not understand the full implications of such changes and accept them without thinking twice.
First of all, it is important to note that, once the extension is installed, you can forget your default search sessions, as they will change drastically.
Browser hijackers often disguise the ads they promote as "enhanced" or "improved" search results. Let's call things for what they are - these are ads, and the links have been paid for. They are not organic and are there to influence the websites that you browse and shops you go to when trying to buy a service or an item online.
Each time such a click is made, the developers of the app receive a commission - it's like a way of monetization. While there is nothing wrong with it, you should look at it from your own perspective since you do not receive "improved" search results but ads.
In other words, the hijacker does not provide any benefit for you in the long run - you simply add another third party that is able to collect your data and monetize your clicks.
In order to remove the extension, you should access the settings of your Chrome browser and perform the following steps:
The instructions for other web browsers can be found at the bottom of this post.
- Click on three vertical dots at the top-right corner of your web browser
- Go to More Tools > Extensions
- Here, click Remove next to the unwanted add-on
- Now go to Menu > Settings and select Clear browsing data
- Under time range, pick All time and select all three options (you can leave browsing history if you want) and click Clear data.
From our report of May 2021 · not reviewed since
The "personal information" problem
Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and many other tech giants collect a variety of personal data about you when you use your service.
Additionally, any website that your visit is likely to capture your IP address, device data, and other technical details. This information is used for various purposes, such as maintaining the service, providing the best user experience, etc. And of course, it is also often used for marketing purposes.
Thanks to regulations such as GDPR, users are now more protected from inadequate data gathering and have the right to withdraw the gathered information at any time. However, these restrictions go a long way, and there are many "buts." GDPR regulation is only valid in the EU territory, meaning users from outside of this area are not protected in the same way.
Additionally, you should consider data breaches. Cybercriminals are hard at work to breach companies (high-profile ones even) and steal various customer data relatively easily. This means that the more parties you share your information with, the more is the chance of it being stolen by malicious actors.
That being said, SearchFor.cc gathers a lot of information if such is provided by the user via the website, for example:
The developer, Australian Clearing Pty Ltd, also discloses that it uses third-party tools to manage the website, which is capable of tracking data in the following way:
It is probably very clear that this search site is not the one to choose if you care about your privacy, and we strongly recommend you get rid of the hijacker to stop these practices.
Keep in mind that simply by deleting the app, you might leave the mentioned tracking technologies on your web browsers intact - these might be able to continue monitoring your data.
- Email address
- Device fingerprints
- Location (including Zip code, address)
- Payment information, etc.
From our report of May 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on SearchFor
- Keep in mind that there could be other PUPs on your computer, so make sure you delete them all; to ensure your privacy, you should also delete the web data and cookies from your web browsers - can do that for you quickly
- We also use third-party tools to facilitate, operate and manage our website.
- These tools use cookies and other tracking technologies.
- Such tools are created and managed by parties outside our control.
- As such, Australian Clearing Pty Ltd is not responsible for what information is actually captured by such third parties or how such third parties use and protect that information.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
searchfor.cc
How to remove SearchFor
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 searchfor.cc
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
searchfor.ccfrom 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 searchfor.cc 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
SearchFor 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 SearchFor 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.
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.
Uninstall from Android
Uninstall unwanted programs from Android device:
- Go to Settings -> Apps/Applications.
- Expand the full list of the installed apps.
- Scroll through the list and tap on a suspicious application once.
- Tap on it and select Uninstall.
- If the Uninstall option is unavailable, the app may require additional permissions to be revoked first.
- Reboot the device.
Clear storage and cache for Google Chrome or other apps::
- Go to Settings > Apps/Applications.
- Expand the full list of the installed apps.
- Tap on Chrome and select Storage & cache.
- Clear storage and clear cache of the app.
If you are seeing ads on top of other apps but are not sure what is causing it, perform the following steps:
- Go to Apps/Applications.
- Select Special App access.
- Tap on Display over other apps.
- Eliminate apps with these access rights enabled.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about SearchFor
Why does my search engine keep changing to searchfor.cc?
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 searchfor.cc 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.
Can searchfor.cc see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to searchfor.cc first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
What is searchfor.cc?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker SearchFor. 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 searchfor.cc 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 SearchFor, 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, SearchFor 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 searchfor.cc 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 searchfor.cc 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 SearchFor
- clear cookies and site data for searchfor.cc
- 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.
Why can't I change my search engine back?
Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.
Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.
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 SearchFor?
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 SearchFor, 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
- 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)