SearchNet. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
What is SearchNet?
SearchNet is a browser hijacker, which can easily change your computer’s settings and then start initiating annoying redirects to unfamiliar websites. No matter that such program is not considered malicious, we think that you should avoid it. We say so because redirects is not the only issue that is caused by SearchNet hijacker. Beware that while this program is installed on your PC, it may start tracking you and may collect various information. It may collect your search terms, mostly visited websites, data that is entered when visiting them and similar non-personally identifiable information. In addition, it may initiate changes in your start page and default search engine without any permission asked. Beware that people have also reported about annoying pop-up ads, slow downs and even altered search results that may be filled with commercial content and links. NO matter how interesting these ads look, you should ignore them because they may redirect you to unsafe websites. All this activity is initiated for a very simple reason – SearchNet virus seeks to make people enter specific websites that are related to it. After helping them to earn some easy money, it also earns the money for its creators. Please, be very careful with that because you can never be sure that you won’t be redirected to unsafe places that are infected with seriously dangerous cyber infections. If you want to stop this annoying activity, you should change your browsers’ settings back to normal and then remove SearchNet from your computer. For that we highly recommend using Reimage or other reputable anti-spywares.
How can SearchNet hijack my computer?
SearchNet is one of those hijackers that enter computers unnoticed. In order to avoid such cyber infections, you should always make sure that your computer is protected by reputable anti-spyware. In addition to that, you should stay away from corrupted websites and start paying more attention to the installation process of free applications. When downloading such free programs as download managers, PDF creators and games, you should choose only Custom or Advanced installation process. Once you choose, you should carefully follow each installation step and uncheck all check boxes that agree to change the start page/default search engine or install third-party programs from unknown sources. If you leave the check box, which says that you agree to make SearchNet, www-search.net or other search site your default search engine, be prepared for annoying SearchNet redirects and similar issues.
How to remove SearchNet virus?
Technically, this search site is not a virus or malware. However, it is used for totally annoying activities, such as redirects, slow downs and similar issues. If you want to avoid them, you should remove SearchNet from your computer. You can do that with a help of automatic removers that are given below or with a help of manual removal guide, which is given below. If you are sure that you can find every related component yourself, then you can follow manual removal steps. Nevertheless, you should be very careful and follow every step in right order:
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

To remove SearchNet, follow these steps:
Remove SearchNet from Windows systems
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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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 SearchNet and related programs
Here, look for SearchNet or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove SearchNet 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 SearchNet from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for SearchNet or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Uninstall SearchNet from Internet Explorer (IE)
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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 SearchNet and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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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.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete SearchNet removal.
Get rid of SearchNet 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.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, SearchNet should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariEliminate SearchNet from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select SearchNet and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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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.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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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 SearchNet removal.
Delete SearchNet from Google Chrome
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select SearchNet and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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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.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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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.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete SearchNet removal.
Remove SearchNet 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 SearchNet or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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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 SearchNet, 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.
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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 SearchNet removal process.