Searchoverus.com browser hijacker (virus) - Free Guide

What is Searchoverus.com browser hijacker?

Searchoverus.com is an URL that may be a sign of browser hijacker infection

Searchoverus.com is a website that indicates browser hijacker infection

Searchoverus.com is a fake search engine that shows inaccurate search results to users in order to profit from promotion links. Most commonly, users find that the homepage of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or another web browser has been unexpectedly altered to this address because they are unaware they have a browser hijacker installed on their systems.

The potentially unwanted application^[1] is likely to be installed as a browser extension, which would immediately change the way users browse the web. By replacing the search provider with its own, the app authors put as many ads at the top for users to click and receive revenue for each of these clicks.

Unfortunately, Searchoverus.com hijack is not good news for regular users because they may be exposed to advertisements pushing other potentially unwanted programs, having their information being tracked, and experiencing more suspicious material while browsing the web. If you have found that your homepage has suddenly changed, we recommend you follow the instructions below to remove the PUP and check your device thoroughly for other infections.

How browser hijackers spread and how to avoid them

The most common way to become infected with potentially unwanted applications is through software bundling.^[2] This technique is employed by almost all third-party websites that distribute freeware or shareware, as well as embedded advertising. As a result, whenever you visit such a site, keep in mind that if you don't pay attention when installing new apps, you might end up installing additional software you never asked for.

In order to avoid this scenario, you should always pay close attention to the installation process of freeware and other software you download online. For example, if you choose Advanced or Custom settings instead of Recommended ones, you would be provided with much more control over what is actually being installed on your system.

Do not forget to untick checkmarks from pre-selected checkboxes, read the fine print, and watch out for misplaced buttons – do not rush. Keep in mind that employing official stores and sites removes the chance of software being bundled, so try to stick to these. Visiting pirated software distributors is asking for trouble, as these are known to get people infected with Trojans, ransomware,^[3] and other dangerous malware.

Searchoverus.com tracks user data via cookies

Searchoverus.com hijacker removal

Unexpected browser changes can occur after you install new software on your device, primarily from unofficial websites or suspicious ads. Regardless of whether you were expecting these changes or not, you should not tolerate them, as, despite the promises of PUP developers of “seed boost” or “better search results,” the only thing you are actually getting with them is the annoying advertisements and changes to your search provider, which is usually unwelcomed at all.

When it comes to the so-called Searchoverus.com virus, you should check your browser from suspicious extensions and remove them at once. If you haven't previously done this, we provide all the details below, just make sure you follow the instructions for the browser you are using.

Google Chrome

• Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
• In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

• 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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.

MS Edge

• Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
• Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Safari

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

Internet Explorer

• Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
• Pick Manage Add-ons.
• You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Take care of your privacy and security

As browser hijackers spread using software bundling, there may be a chance that there are other potentially unwanted or malicious applications installed on your device, so ads and other suspicious activity will not stop until you remove them. Keep in mind that Trojans and other malware may not show up under the installed program list and never run any active windows – malware is nowadays very stealthy and does not emit any symptoms.

Therefore, scanning the system with reputable anti-malware is strongly advised. Make sure you install all the relevant updates before you proceed with the scan, as the virus definitions used should be the newest version. Security software is also very effective when it comes to defending users from incoming virus attacks, so never ignore these warnings.

Searchoverus.com may also continue tracking various information about you (cookies, visited websites, links clicked, search queries, and more) unless you remove trackers from your local cache folders. If you are looking for an automatic solution, we highly recommend FortectIntego maintenance utility. For manual steps, check out the guide below:

Google Chrome

• Click on Menu and pick Settings.
• Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
• Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
• Click Clear data.

Mozilla Firefox

• Click Menu and pick Options.
• Go to Privacy & Security section.
• Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
• Click on Clear Data…
• Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content, and press Clear.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Click on Menu and go to Settings.
• Select Privacy and services.
• Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
• Under Time range, pick All time.
• Select Clear now.

Safari

• Click Safari > Clear History…
• From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
• Confirm with Clear History.

Internet Explorer

• Click on the Gear icon > Internet options and select the Advanced tab.
• Select Reset.
• In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.