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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jan 2021

How to remove SearchTerms

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

Alice Woods · Likes to teach users about virus prevention

SearchTerms is a potentially unwanted program that may track your activity on the internet

SearchTerms virus

SearchTerms is a browser hijacker that spreads around by adding itself to free software and starts to show numerous ads after entering the system. Typically, it infiltrates computers by presenting itself as an optional component of download managers, PDF creators, video streaming software, and similar programs. If you don't like to follow every installation step of the freeware carefully, you may let this potentially unwanted program infiltrate your PC unnoticed.

After doing so, the SearchTerms virus can start monitoring your activity on the Internet behind your back for getting more information about your browsing habits. It may record search terms you enter, your favorite and most visited websites, time that you spend on each of these websites, and data that you enter here.

Beware that, by tracking such information, the developers of SearchTerms may also know your PC's IP address, its location, and even your email address. Besides, according to several security experts, this hijacker may also track people's personal information. Once it collects this and similar data, this PUP transfers it to its developers that will use it according to their needs.

In most cases, they use this information for generating attractive-looking SearchTerms ads and sponsored links in your search results.

If you have just noticed this browser hijacker on your computer, you should know that it won't stop tracking you until you won't remove it from your computer. You can remove SearchTerms with the help of SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes, or another reliable antivirus program. However, if you do not want to get rid of the browser hijacker automatically, you can try to remove it manually. We provide easy-to-understand instructions at the bottom of this article.

We should also add that this potentially unwanted program is also capable of hijacking each of popular web browsers, including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. After doing so, it alters the start page, the default search engine, new tab page, and similar system settings to the needed ones. The result of SearchTerms hijack is corrupted search results that you may start receiving as soon as you begin your searches on the Internet.

If you want to prevent these results and redirections to unknown websites, you should think about SearchTerms removal from your computer. This is the only way to start using your computer as previously.

Do not rush to install new programs if you want to avoid browser hijackers

This particular browser hijacker spread using various techniques. It may show up on your computer after clicking on a fake pop-up ad that offers you to update your Java or similar software. Also, you may start seeing it redirects on your browsers after downloading a free program that belongs to a suspicious developer.

To prevent infiltration of such and similar programs, you should be very careful with programs that you download from the Internet for free. Make sure you always double-check their developers, End User's License Agreement, and other people's comments.

Also, select Custom or Advanced installation of the freeware and follow every installation step. By saying that, we are thinking about reading every sentence that is displayed during the program's installation and unchecking all checkmarks that agree with the installation of optional components. Optional downloads are various browser add-ons, plugins, toolbars, and extensions that may easily initiate various system changes after being installed on the system behind the user's back.

Also, avoid clicking ads that appear during your browsing and offer you to install various updates. You may be offered to install Java, Flash Player, or another program that may lead you to the infiltration of adware. Please, be careful with such ads. If you want to make sure that your PC is totally safe and protected from such suspicious programs, you should make sure that a reputable security program installed on it.

Easily remove SearchTerms virus from your computer by using our tips

To prevent the adware redirect issue, the appearance of unwanted pop-up ads, and tracking behind your back, you should remove SearchTerms from your computer. For that, you can use either the manual removal option or dedicate this task to a security program.

If you can't call yourself an experienced PC user, we recommend you to select the automatic SearchTerms removal option. In this case, make sure you select one of the anti-spyware tools that are given below, update it to its latest version, and then scan your PC system fully. After receiving a needed scan report, make sure you remove unsafe files and dangerous system components from your computer.

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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