Remove Softsearches.com virus (Improved Instructions) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Softsearches.com virus fails its mission as a search engine
Softsearches.com virus is presented as a browser engine. However, you do not need any extra knowledge or skills to notice its fishy behavior. Once you type any search inquiry, it redirects you to a sub page with another search bar. When you repeat entering your search inquiry, no search results are presented.
Since it fails to presents no search results, there is no point in employing it. It is commendable that the tool presents EULA, privacy policy and even “About us” section. However, these factors do not change the fact that the search engine in facts serves as a browser hijacker. You might consider Softsearches.com removal. You can perform it faster with the assistance of Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego or Malwarebytes.
Unknown purpose
While there is plenty of hijackers which are relatively harmless, unfortunately, there are numerous samples which function on the same principle as this one. It does not display its search results[1]. Thus, it sparks questions what is the primary purpose this tool.
According to the privacy policy, the developer who remains anonymous disclaims of collecting and using personal information. However, as is the case with the majority of browser hijackers, the tool spies on your activities by compiling aggregate information about search queries[2]. Soft Searches hijacker may then share the information in an aggregate form with its business partners:
SoftSearches may share aggregated demographic information about users with third party advertising and content companies. This information does not identify individual users and SoftSearches does not store any Personal Information regarding its users.
As a result, this search tool may benefit advertising companies devising relevant commercial offers. Excessive advertising is certainly an annoying feature of browsing. Needless to say that it spam messages might contain a real virtual threat. Though the tool fails as an efficient search tool, it may also bother you with Softsearches.com redirect phenomenon. Additionally, the web page might function as a temporary shelter for malicious web scripts.
Ways to promote the hijacker
Fortunately, it does not employ any specific infiltration techniques. Thus, softsearches.com hijack simply does not exist. You can access this website directly.
It is possible that the search tool is promoted on partner websites. Thus clicking on a link which promotes a free scanner or another questionable utility, you might get redirected to this domain.
Though the hijacker does not require installing it, there is no need to uninstall it either. Nonetheless, we recommend performing so-called Softsearches.com removal. In short, run a cyber security tool to get rid of its web scripts and cookies. 
Softsearches.com presents privacy policy but no search results.
Eliminate the PUP
Luckily, you should not run into Softsearches.com removal problems. Simply exit the web page. You can check whether you did not accidentally append any related extensions.
Remove softsearches.com virus and its scripts and web objects manually or automatically. You can perform a full browser reset to get rid of the infection faster. Below you will find suggestions how to eliminate the hijacker on Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Mozilla Firefox. Czech users[3] are likely to be targeted more, so they should be especially vigilant.
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. 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 Softsearches.com virus, follow these steps:
Uninstall Softsearches.com 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 Softsearches.com and related programs
Here, look for Softsearches.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Softsearches.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties.
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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.
Delete Softsearches.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 Softsearches.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate Softsearches.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.
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You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Softsearches.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 Softsearches.com removal.
Erase Softsearches.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. -
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, Softsearches.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
Get rid of Softsearches.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
You can get rid of Softsearches.com faster simply be reverting to default browser settings.
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions.
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Here, select Softsearches.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.
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Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Softsearches.com removal.
Remove Softsearches.com 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.
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Here, select Softsearches.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 Softsearches.com removal.
Uninstall Softsearches.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.
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Here, select Extensions and look for Softsearches.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 Softsearches.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....
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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 Softsearches.com removal process.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. It is a hassle when your website is protected from suspicious connections and unauthorized IP addresses.
The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address. If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for server or network manager that need to monitor connections and activities. This is how you bypass some of the authentications factors and can remotely use your banking accounts without triggering suspicious with each login.
VPN software providers like Private Internet Access can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world. It is better to clock the access to your website from different IP addresses. So you can keep the project safe and secure when you have the dedicated IP address VPN and protected access to the content management system.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer various losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Software issues created by malware or direct data loss due to encryption can lead to problems with your device or permanent damage. When you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work.
It is crucial to create updates to your backups after any changes on the device, so you can get back to the point you were working on when malware changes anything or issues with the device causes data or performance corruption. Rely on such behavior and make file backup your daily or weekly habit.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware occurs out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the system restoring purpose.
About the author
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References
- ^ Jon Fingas. Google Play protects your Android phone against rogue apps. Engadget. IT News and Comments.
- ^ Rachel Connolly. Data and the digital advertising dilemma. The New Economy. Business and Financial News and Insights.
- ^ Eliminate virtual threats. Odstranitvirus. IT News, Reviews and Malware Removal Guides.
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