SuperSearch adware — a PUP which has been bothering its victims with intrusive ads

SuperSearch adware is a highly questionable app presented as a tool for browsing and receiving the most relevant search results. However, once installed, the program modifies different web browsers at once and then starts filling them with misleading content. You may mix it with an infamous browser hijacker called super-search.org but these two apps are coming from different developers. This PUP[1] is designed to fill your web browser with pop-up ads, in-text links, banner ads and similar content to gan income via the “pay-per-click”[2] scheme. Yet another worrying fact related to this adware is that SuperSearch virus has mostly been spreading around with the help of the bundling technique, so don't surprise after discovering it on your system out of nowhere.
| Name | SuperSearch |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware |
| Sub-type | Potentially unwanted program (PUP) |
| Danger level | Low. Affects web browser, modifies its settings and fills it with ads |
| Distribution | Enters the system together with other third-party applications |
| Purpose | To provide ads which generate pay-per-click revenue to program's owners |
| Deletion | Use FortectIntego to eliminate an adware from your PC |
As we have already mentioned, clicking on SuperSearch ads is not recommended because you can find yourself on a malicious site. Websites that are typically promoted using this strategy include:
- Sites filled with fake updates;
- Gambling domains;
- Dating sites;
- Sites filled with adult content;
- Sites offering various prizes;
- Etc.
Besides the risk of getting tricked by installing software that you don't need, you can also notice continuous slowdowns or even crashes while surfing the web. Additionally, you can find yourself on a malware-filled domain because your security is not the main aim of such apps' developers. Because of that, we recommend you to remove SuperSearch adware from the system. You can do that by using an anti-malware tool (our suggestion is FortectIntego) or using the guide provided at the end of this post.
SuperSearch ads, redirects, and slowdowns are not the only problem this PUP might cause. According to IT professionals[3], this adware can also start gathering various details about its victim. Typically, they are related to people's browsing activity and include search queries, pages viewed, various bookmarks, computer's IP address, etc. However, we cannot assure you that this data won't be transferred to cybercriminals' databases and used to gain revenue.
To su up, you shouldn't get tricked by adware's appearance and promises to help you improve your searches online. It still is considered as a harmful program and requires to be eliminated from your PC and web browser. Perform SuperSearch removal straight away in order to avoid more harmful consequences of this PUP. Notice, that these changes are irreversible and can be undone only if you get rid of the adware itself.
If you are wondering how to prevent SuperSearch hijack, continue reading to get more information about bundling and similar techniques used by virus developers to spreads their PUPs around. If you have already become a victim, uninstall SuperSearch adware immediately. You can find manual elimination instructions provided at the end of this article. Although, automatic removal is not only a faster but also safer option to clean your system from various cyber threats and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).

Browser hijackers can be avoided if you pay attention while browsing the Web
We all know, how important it is to surf the Internet carefully, but not every one of us does that with proper cautiousness. However, this is usually the main reason why people get their browsers infected by browser hijackers in this way making surfing harder for them to maintain.
You have to know that such PUP can hide in various dubious-looking pages. Do not enter any site that is unrecognizable to you as it might contain links which can redirect you to harmful content. If you have already entered such suspicious page – close it immediately and do an antivirus scan to check if any harmful components managed to get in.
Furthermore, better use original downloaders, not third-party ones. Download only trustworthy programs, as freeware provided by secondary sources can contain improper content and not fit in the security requirements.
All in all, highly increase your computer safety by always keeping your anti-malware program up-to-date. If looked after neatly, it will help you in a very difficult situation and display instructions, how to solve various infections' problems.
Use manual or automatic removal to uninstall SuperSearch adware
To remove SuperSearch virus manually, you have to eliminate all harmful components which might be inserted by the cyber threat. This kind of content might contain various browser extensions, apps, and dubious browser plug-ins. Read the following instructions step by step in order to succeed in the elimination.
If you want to opt for a quick SuperSearch adware removal and perform it within a couple of minutes, chose one of an anti-malware programs given below. This will help you to get rid of the threat from each of web browsers, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer. We advise refreshing all browsers that were infected by this adware after you finish with the cleaning.
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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