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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Feb 2019

How to remove SecuryBrowse

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

Lucia Danes · Virus researcher

SecuryBrowse is an extension and a browser hijacker that provides fake sense of security for netizens

SecuryBrowse virus

SecuryBrowse is a potentially unwanted program – a browser extension designed for Google Chrome. However, the infiltration technique of this PUP is rather interesting. It first gets installed via software bundling and then redirects users to trafficadvance.net which asks them to implement the extension. Once installed, SecuryBrowse virus will change homepage and the new tab URL to https://search.securybrowser.com and redirect all searches to Yahoo. While it's description sounds flashy – “Contextual Security Advisory based on browsing and search activity” the application is merely a browser hijacker which seeks monetary benefit from targeted advertising. Additionally, SecuryBrowse might provide users with a false sense of security due to its blocking of the allegedly dangerous sites. In reality, the app denies entry to websites based on keywords and not the actual threats.

Name SecuryBrowse
Type Potentially unwanted program
Sub-type Browser hijacker
Related site trafficadvance.net
Homepage change to Search.securybrowse.com
Distribution Software bundles, the official website
main functionality Promises to protect users from malicious websites
REal activity Changes Chrome's settings, redirects to sponsored websites, tracks users' browsing activity to display customized results
Elimination Use our instructions below
Optimiazation Use FortectIntego to make sure the system is running as intended

While SecuryBrowse is not a malicious program, you should remember that it might cause some unwanted actions on your machine. According to researchers[1], the first signal is its warning in the Privacy Policy saying that it travels around together with a related search engine which can be installed in a bundle:[2]

By downloading/installing “SECURYBROWSE”, you will be installing a software application onto your computer which might appear on your desktop or within one or more of your Internet browsers. “SECURYBROWSE” products will allow you to search the Internet, and may provide you with additional features as further described in this EULA. During the download of a “SECURYBROWSE” Product you may also be offered the opportunity to set your browser homepage, start page, new tab page and/or default search setting(s) to our search service.

If your browser is redirecting you to various commercial sites and a default search engine or a start page was set to search.securybrowse.com, it is the first sign that you have a browser hijacker[3] on your computer. While SecuryBrowse may seem useful, beware that it can track information related to your browsing.

Additionally, SecuryBrowse virus starts filling your searches with in-text links, banner ads and similar content used to generate pay-per-click income. While there is nothing bad about it, there is no guarantee that sites promoted thru this service are all safe: 

Remove SecuryBrowse virus if you notice that your homepage and new tab options were changed. At the moment, the PUP is attacking Google Chrome web browser. However, there is no guarantee that other browsers won't be affected as well. The easiest way to fix your computer is to run a full system scan with anti-malware tools like FortectIntego

SecuryBrowse removal is important to do and the sooner you do that, the better. The more time this browser hijacker spends on your system, the more unwanted changes you may find out. This is not the program that can change significant parts of the system, but there is a possibility that the PUP can redirect you to highly questionable sites.

SecuryBrowse

Software bundling provides unwanted programs a perfect opportunity to slip into computers unnoticed

There are two ways used by this PUP to enter the system. First of all, you can get it from its official site as a great addition to your web browser. However, you can also discover it on your system without downloading it. This method is known as bundling as it hides optional components in a software which is completely safe and legitimate. PUP developers typically make arrangements with freeware providers and rely on software bundling technique to spread their PUPs without a warning. 

During the installation of the software, there is always a possibility to choose Advanced or Custom option and opt out of unwanted components. Such a tip is also provided by Secure Browse developers:

If you do not wish to reset your setting(s), you can decline/opt-out of the setting(s) change by unchecking the appropriate checkbox during the download process for the relevant “SECURYBROWSE” Product. 

Skipping through these important steps can lead you to numerous changes in web browsers. Make sure you choose Advanced or Custom installation settings that will help you to see the whole list of additions.

SecuryBrowse elimination steps

To remove SecuryBrowse virus from your computer, you need to use reputable anti-malware tools. It is the easiest way to check the system for unwanted components that may be hiding in the background. However, make sure you use only reputable software and use it only after updating to its latest version. In the future, it will help you to detect all potential threats and before they manage to enter your device.

Proper SecuryBrowse removal also requires resetting your web browser to its previous state. Potentially unwanted programs tend to renew themselves after rebooting the computer, so make sure you fully perform PUP's removal from 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.

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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