SearchGenius. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Malware analysts are initiating researchers every day to detect such newly crafted threats as SearchGenius. The sooner people will be warned about web browser infections, the lower will be the risk that they will experience any damage.
According to the recent reports, SearchGenius is a search engine that has been started spreading at the beginning of October 2015. The URL that this search exhibits is SearchGenius.com. Due to suspicious activities that it is set to perform, it has been decided to classify it as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) as well as ‘browser hijacker.’ Thus, if your web browser, no matter whether you use Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer (Microsoft Edge), presents SearchGenius to be your default search engine and start page, our advice would be to check your computer with Reimage. That’s because your browser has been hijacked, and you are at the risk of being exposed to various cyber threats.
The most important facts about SearchGenius PUP:
Questions about SearchGenius
Several forums on the Internet are flashing from the user’s comments, for example:
I recently downloaded a freeware, and now my default search engine is SearchGenius. I heard that this is a dangerous virus. I searched for it, but it seems to be unpopular since there aren’t much information about it. Could you please tell me is there a free virus scanning/removing software I can use for removal of SearchGenius virus? I am freaking out right now.
In a nutshell, people consider this SearchGenius search to be a virus and apparently can’t deal with it without the help. In fact, this application is NOT a virus since it doesn’t feature malicious traits. Nevertheless, it is commonly spread in a bundle with other freewares, so it may appear as if it spreads via Trojans, exploit kits or other means used for virus distribution.
If the user agrees to install it along with the freeware, SearchGenius can easily take control over web browsers that are installed on a target computer. That may be Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. According to the recent reports, it seems that this search engine may affect computers running Mac OS, what means that it may also settle down on Safari web browser as well. If it has already appeared as your default start page and search provider, you should be careful with the links that it presents you with. According to computer security experts, SearchGenius redirects can make you visit unreliable third-party websites or, in the worst-case scenario, you may even be rerouted to phishing websites.
Also, you should beware of the tracking cookies that SearchGenius plug-in uses. Even though you don’t mind disclosing your search queries, PC’s IP address, download/upload details, pages viewed, and similar information, you should be careful with the recipient of such information. SearchGenius redirect virus is set to transmit browsing-related information to unknown parties. Thus, to prevent email spamming or other unfair activities, you should not allow this browser hijacker to spy on you.
What precautionary measures can be taken to prevent installation of browser hijackers like this?
Since browser hijackers (at least the majority of them) don’t have direct download sources, the only way for them to infiltrate computers is to carry on freewares. In other words, usually browser hijackers spread via software packages. Therefore, the only way to protect your computer from infiltration of SearchGenius hijacker is a thorough installation of each freeware. To be more precise, it’s vital to select Advanced or Custom installation option and check what additional downloads your selected freeware is set to promote.
Browser hijacker removal. Explicit instructions:
To help you remove SearchGenius browser hijacker, our security experts have submitted a step-by-step removal guide. It is provided at the end of this article. Make sure that you stick to the right sequence because otherwise the process may not succeed. Finally, it’s recommended to perform a full system scan with anti-malware to detect and remove all suspicious applications.
You can remove SearchGenius automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus, Malwarebytes Anti Malware. We recommend these applications because they can easily delete potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Manual SearchGenius Removal Guide:
Uninstall SearchGenius from Windows systems
-
Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
-
If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall SearchGenius and related programs
Here, look for SearchGenius or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove SearchGenius from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase SearchGenius from Mac OS X system
-
If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for SearchGenius or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Get rid of SearchGenius from Internet Explorer (IE)
-
Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for SearchGenius and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete SearchGenius removal.
Delete SearchGenius from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
-
Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
-
Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
-
Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
-
When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
-
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
-
Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, SearchGenius should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariEliminate SearchGenius from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
-
Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select SearchGenius and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
-
Click OK to save these changes.
-
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete SearchGenius removal.
Remove SearchGenius from Google Chrome
-
Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select SearchGenius and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
-
Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
-
Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
-
When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
-
Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
-
Click Reset to confirm this action and complete SearchGenius removal.
Uninstall SearchGenius from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for SearchGenius or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by SearchGenius, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
-
Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete SearchGenius removal process.