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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jul 2021

How to remove SearchMyFile

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

SearchMyFile is a questionable program that is considered to be a PUP

SearchMyFile virus is known to cause various ads

SearchMyFile virus is rather a potentially unwanted program than a serious virus posing hazardous damage to the computer system. However, keep in mind that security experts have already added it to the adware[1] category. As a result, you can notice various ads, coupons, and in-text links right after installing this app on your PC.

The official website of the service promises the “ultimate online search experience”. Also, it presents this program as a free tool for searching files on a user's computer. However, we really doubt that you will be satisfied after installing it because the adware has also been found modifying all Internet browsers and then filling third-party websites with sponsored ads, coupons, and similar content. Most of the ads are displayed as boxes and underlined words.

Name SearchMyFile
Type Adware, PUP
Issues The program trigger redirects and pop-ups that expose the user to unwanted or even dangerous content online
Distribution Freeware program installations lead to infiltrations of PUAs because of the software bundling method used
Elimination Proper anti-malware tools can find and remove the infection fully from the system
Repair The system recovery procedure is possible with a tool like FortectIntego that finds and repair affected files

Thus, Search My File is nothing more than a marketing tool used to help a company’s clients reach a wider audience and potential customers. However, there is no guarantee that you won't start noticing redirects to malicious or possibly dangerous websites.[2]

After hearing all these facts, we believe that you would hardly decide to download this tool from its official website consciously. However, beware that it might still sneak inside your device unnoticed. One of the main reasons why this app has been added to the list of PUPs is its questionable distribution method called bundling.

It has been clearly disclosed on the official program's website:

SearchMyFile has partnered with some of the most popular software packages in world, giving you the option to install our search settings during setup and giving them the opportunity to offer you their products for free.

In other words, you can end up with the system hijack after installing any other application, especially if you do not pay enough attention to its installation process. In this case, make sure you remove SearchMyFile ads from your computer before they trick you into clicking them. You can do that with the help of anti-malware tools or manually.

A researcher shows SearchMyFile message windows

Distribution of the adware

Sometimes intruder has an official website that offers a download link for this tool. However, we have already revealed another method used to spread this adware without appropriate permission. This method is called “bundling” because it allows mixing two different programs by hiding one inside the other.

Typically, this technique is beneficial for both – developers of the primary program and authors of the PUP. Creators of the primary program make revenue from the promotion and developers of the PUP have easy entrance to the computer. When installing new programs, you are asked to choose between two installation options – Standard or Advanced.

If you rely on the first option, you might end up installing this adware on the system. These settings do not reveal additional downloads and install them by default.

In order to avoid additional software, you need to choose Advanced settings and follow each step carefully in order to deselect all agreements to replace your current search provider and third-party apps.

Instructions for SearchMyFile virus removal

This browser extension is not a real virus. However, due to its ability to scramble websites and fill them with coupon ads, this adware might become quite dangerous. One click on a wrong link or ad might lead to the infiltration of a virus or a phishing attack.

To remove the intruder, you should immediately choose between manual and automatic elimination methods. If you prefer the first option, you can uninstall this tool with the help of the guide given below. If you follow them carefully, you should not encounter any obstacles and get rid of this suspicious program successfully.

However, we also recommend looking for other applications that could be installed on your computer behind your back. For that, think about an automatic SearchMyFile removal option that allows simplifying this entire procedure. This method requires installing or updating the current anti-malware program and scanning the system. 

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.

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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