Remove Searchtnup.com virus (Improved Guide) - Free Guide
Staying away from Searchtnup.com search tool will help you to bypass various Internet hazards
Searchtnup.com is a deceptive search engine created by the infamous browser hijacker developer Polarity Technologies, Ltd. This particular browser hijacker sneaks into the target systems by leveraging software bundling and then sets the main web browsers to start causing redirects to hxxp://Search.searchtnup.com/ page.
Search.Searchtnup.com redirect virus primarily targets users of Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and possibly other web browsers such as Safari. Once installed, it alters homepage, new tab, and default search values in these browsers and assigns a new value to these parameters. Usually, this questionable program adds particular browser extensions[1] such as Search Tuneup to prevent the user from changing the new preferences. We believe that stealthy installation and arbitrary changes on the computer system should not be tolerated, so we suggest you remove Searchtnup.com ASAP. Reimage Reimage Cleaner software can complete this task in a couple of minutes.
There are some reasons why using search tool provided by the questionable website can pose a threat to user’s privacy and computer’s security. The browser hijacker tends to enlace victim’s browsers with tracking technologies[2] such as cookies and then silently gather information such as:
- Operating system type;
- IP address;
- User’s search queries;
- Browsing history;
- Ads clicked;
- Time spent when visiting particular websites and even more.
Access to such information allows the developers of this hijacker to provide targeted ads and convince the victim to click on them. Ads might appear in the form of search results or pop-up ads, but do not let them tempt you! Clicking on them can immediately trigger redirects to shady third-party sites filled with untrustworthy content. Remember that failure to identify a deceptive site can lead to problems such as data or financial loss, or even identity theft. Besides, data that this hijacker collects might be stored using insecure methods and might eventually fall into bad hands. Due to these reasons, we suggest using a more trustworthy search tool. Before you attempt to start using a different search tool, perform Searchtnup.com removal first.
Searchtnup.com hijacker sneakily installs itself on victim's computer at the same time the user installs some popular free programs. Then the hijacker alters settings in all web browsers to start causing redirects to Search Tuneup search engine which serves a lot of ads along with search results.
Distribution of shady search tools
Searchtnup redirect virus is mainly distributed via software bundles, and that means that you should start paying more attention to software installation details from now on. Remember that almost every free program available on the Internet today promotes a particular third-party product, and if you do not want to end up installing them, you should remove checkmarks placed next to statements that you agree to install them. To perform such modification, select Custom/Advanced software installation settings first. After removing all bundled programs, proceed with the installation.
Remove Searchtnup.com browser hijacker
It won’t be possible to change browser settings until you remove Searchtnup.com virus completely. Therefore, we suggest reading tips and tricks we provided below for successful Searchtnup.com removal. If you want to be extra sure that your computer system is clean, perform a system scan using one of anti-spyware or anti-malware software programs (see a list of them below).
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner . SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Searchtnup.com virus, follow these steps:
Get rid of Searchtnup.com from Windows systems
The program associated with this browser hijacker is likely to be called Search Tuneup. Remove it, and delete all other programs developed by Polarity Technologies, Ltd.
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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 Searchtnup.com and related programs
Here, look for Searchtnup.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Searchtnup.com 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.
Uninstall Searchtnup.com 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 Searchtnup.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Remove Searchtnup.com 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 Searchtnup.com 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 Searchtnup.com removal.
Eliminate Searchtnup.com virus 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, Searchtnup.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Delete Searchtnup.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Firefox should contain a couple of highly suspicious add-ons. Removing them will prevent the browser hijacker from causing URL redirections.
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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 Searchtnup.com 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 Searchtnup.com removal.
Erase Searchtnup.com from Google Chrome
Delete Search Tuneup extension from Chrome to block annoying web redirects for good.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Searchtnup.com 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 Searchtnup.com removal.
Get rid of Searchtnup.com 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 Searchtnup.com 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 Searchtnup.com, 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 Searchtnup.com removal process.
About the author
References
- ^ Eric Limer. Reminder: Your Browser Extensions Have Absurd Access To Everything You Do Online. Popular Mechanics. How Your World Works.
- ^ Joanna Geary. Tracking the trackers: What are cookies? An introduction to web tracking. The Guardian. Latest Technology News, Comment and Analysis.
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