Srch_s.thesearchguard.com – a highly suspicious search engine

Srch_s.thesearchguard.com is a browser hijacker which pretends to be a legit search engine. This potentially unwanted program (PUP)[1] spread bundled with freeware and shareware in the form of TheSearchGuard New Tab extension. Hence, it can sneak into the device unnoticed and take control over the affected web browser.
| Summary | |
| Name | Srch_s.thesearchguard.com |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Danger level | Medium. Can take full control over the browser and redirect to risky websites |
| Symptoms | Altered browser's homepage and default search engine, browser redirects and increased amount of advertisements |
| Distribution method | Software bundling |
| To uninstall Srch_s.thesearchguard.com, install FortectIntego and run a full system scan | |
Srch_s.thesearchguard.com virus can hijack Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or any other browser. The hijacker immediately sets one of the following addresses as default search engine and homepage:
- http://srch_s.thesearchguard.com/query/to?query=
- chrome-extension://heilgkanmlbfbdbmojcnnjipimenjagb/newtab.html
TheSearchGuard replaces user’s preferred search provider with an unknown Yahoo-based tool. Nevertheless, Yahoo is one of the most popular and legit search engines; users are forced to use it via a hijacked browser. It means that hijacker might control what information user access or sees.
It means that TheSearchGuard virus might trigger redirects to third-party websites once you click on a desired need in the Yahoo search results page. Additionally, you might find an increased amount of ads, pop-ups or banners showing up when you browse through favorite websites.
However, the biggest issues are related to Srch_s.thesearchguard.com redirect capabilities. The PUP might suddenly open new browser’s tab and redirect you to a questionable website, or it might trigger when you click on particular content, for instance, a link or an ad.
The main TheSearchGuard redirect problems appear when users are forced to visit phishing websites or end up on a technical support website that might trick people into calling fake technicians and reveal their personal information. Additionally, the hijacker might redirect to a malware-laden site where your computer can get infected with ransomware[2] or other cyber threat.
It goes without saying that you have to remove Srch_s.thesearchguard.com as soon as its appearance surprises you after opening a web browser. We highly recommend dedicating this task for anti-malware software, for instance, FortectIntego.
However, if you are more interested in manual Srch_s.thesearchguard.com instead of automatic, you can follow our prepared instructions at the end of the article.

A suspicious search engine spreads in software bundles
TheSearchGuard New Tab browser extension is being spread in freeware or shareware bundles. This distribution method allows installing this app without user’s permission if he or she relies on Recommended/Standard installation settings. These settings do not openly disclose what might be hidden in freeware package.
A security team from bedynet.ru[3] reminds that any freeware can include additional components that are offered to install along with the program you need. It might be browser extensions, security software, and many other different apps that are most likely to cause unwanted features.
Therefore, users are advised to use Advanced/Custom installation settings to avoid browser hijackers, adware or other PUPs. This setup allows “unpacking” the program and rejecting installation of “additional downloads.”
Uninstall TheSearchGuard New Tab and set reliable search engine as the default one
In order to remove Srch_s.thesearchguard.com entirely, you have to investigate the system and get rid of all questionable programs, files, browser extensions, etc. The guidelines below will help you to do it manually. However, if you fail or want to speed up the procedure, there’s a quicker option.
You can opt for automatic Srch_s.thesearchguard.com removal and terminate hijacker-related entries within a few clicks. All you need to do is to obtain a reputable anti-malware and scanning the system with an updated tool.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- 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.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

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

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

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

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- 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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from 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 suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and web data from 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.

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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