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

How to remove Searchiincognito.com virus

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

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

Searchiincognito.com – a search engine that is created to generate advertising-based revenue

Searchiincognito.com is a suspicious search engine that works as a browser hijacker.[1] The research has shown that this tool is closely related to another dubious search engine HotSearchResults.com. In the About section developers represent themselves as a “global leaders in search engine marketing and web traffic generation.” They do not hide the fact that they are online advertising company that helps webmasters to increase traffic to their sites and boosts sales. Thus, this search tool is used as an online advertising tool that allows including third-party links into search results, display intrusive ads on each visited site and initiating redirects to promotional sites. In order to do that, Searchiincognito.com virus alters affected browser’s settings. It may replace current homepage, search engine and new tab URL address with its domain. Besides, it might alter settings and shortcuts to prevent users from deleting this domain from their browsers easily. However, if this search engine became your default one, you should immediately scan the computer with a reputable anti-malware program and remove Searchiincognito.com with all its components. We recommend dedicating this task for FortectIntego.

The image of Searchiincognito.com virus

Searchiincognito.com is promoted in software bundles and might enter the system unnoticed. It does not ask direct permission to enter. Thus, a suspicious distribution and infiltration method is one of the reasons why this program should not be kept on the computer. As we have already mentioned, it might take control over the browser and prevent users from customizing it. After the Searchiincognito.com hijack, people are forced to use this search tool that might be capable of modifying search results. It uses its own search algorithm and does not redirect searches to popular search providers, such as Google or Yahoo. Displaying sponsored links in the results page allows the company to generate advertising-based income. Meanwhile, users have to browse through unknown and possibly irrelevant commercial content. Finding necessary information becomes not only time-consuming but also potentially dangerous activity. One of the main threats are related to Searchiincognito.com redirect tendencies. This program is capable of delivering third-party ads and include sponsored content in the search results page. Apart from them, it may also trigger sudden redirects to promotional sites. The problem is that some of the commercial content might lead to potentially dangerous websites[2] where users can suffer from cyber criminals.

The name of Searchi Incognito suggests that search engine provides secure and private browsing sessions. Indeed, in the Privacy Policy, the company states that they are using cookies, but only wants to know user’s IP address in order to improve their services by using demographic data. In the document stated that personally identifiable information is not being collected, and other aggregated data is not shared with third-parties. Nevertheless, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) seems to treat user’s data fairly and neatly; you should still perform Searchiincognito.com removal. We have told that it works as an advertising tool. Thus, it may flood your browser with commercial content that disturbs browsing sessions and might hide cyber threats.

The illustration of Searchiincognito.com virus

Distribution of the search engine relies on bundling

Bundling is a questionable software marketing strategy that allows adding PUP as an optional component in the software package. Freeware and shareware usually are software packages that carry dozens of additional components. If users install such programs under Quick or Recommended settings, they give indirect permission to all these third-party apps to enter the system. In order to “unpack” software and reject installation of suspicious programs, you always have to rely on Advanced or Custom installation and carefully follow each of the steps. You may see the list of suggested programs that includes Searchi Incognito or you might find a pre-selected agreement to make Searchiincognito.com your default search engine. It goes without saying that such entries have to be unchecked and stopped from entering the system.

Removal of the Searchiincognito.com

There are two Searchiincognito.com removal methods – manual and automatic. The manual option suggests following our prepared instructions below and terminate all hijacker-related entries. They might be installed to the computer and each of the web browser. Thus, you have to investigate the system and get rid of these entries. Meanwhile, to remove Searchiincognito.com automatically is easier. All you have to do is to scan the device with updated anti-malware program.

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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