How To Remove Unwanted Search Engines From Google Chrome
What is search.search-settings.com?
Developers present search.search-settings.com as a "top-notch" Internet search engine that supposedly enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results. On initial inspection, this site may seem similar to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other legitimate search engines. Therefore, many users believe that search.search-settings.com is also legitimate and useful.
This site is promoted using a deceptive application chosen Search Settings, which claims to allow users to switch between search engines. In fact, Search Settings is designed to stealthily infiltrate systems, change web browser options, and tape various user-system data. Therefore, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted plan (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
Research shows that Search Settings targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, this PUP assigns the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to search.search-settings.com.
These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to render browsers to their previous states - Search Settings reassigns browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, reverting the same changes becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit search.search-settings.com when they search via the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience.
Furthermore, Search Settings and search.search-settings.com records diverse data relating to browsing activity including IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, and search queries.
The information might contain private details that developers use to increase their revenue - they sell it to tertiary parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who also aim to generate revenue by misusing private information. This situation might crusade serious privacy problems or fifty-fifty identity theft.
If y'all encounter redirects to search.search-settings.com, uninstall the Search Settings browser hijacker and never visit this rogue site once again.
Name | Search Settings browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Cyberspace search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Cyberspace using their search engines. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive popular-up ads, costless software installers (bundling), fake flash thespian installers. |
Damage | Net browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Search Settings is identical to Selected Search and also shares many similarities with Fast Email Access, Search Complimentary Horoscope, Shield Defense force, and dozens of other browser-hijacking applications. Although most offer dissimilar functionality, they take identical behavior. Claims to provide 'useful features' are just attempts to give the impression of legitimacy.
In fact, browser hijackers are designed only to generate acquirement for the developers and evangelize no value for regular users. Search Settings, and other similar programs, are designed to promote other websites (by causing unwanted redirects) and record information (which is generally sold to third parties).
Near of the promoted websites are fake search engines filled with dozens of advertisements irrelevant to the user. Furthermore, these sites generate fake search results.
Intrusive advertisements and false results tin can lead to malicious websites. In add-on, the ads often activate scripts designed to download and install malware. Therefore, fake search engines pose a direct threat to users' Net browsing safety.
How did search.search-settings.com install on my computer?
Search Settings has an official promotion website, however, it is as well proliferated using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" (stealth installation of 3rd party applications with regular software/apps). Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps.
Therefore, bundled apps are curtained within the "Custom/Advanced" options of these procedures. Every bit mentioned to a higher place, malware (such equally PUPs) is often distributed using intrusive advertisements. Therefore, rushing the download/installation processes and clicking ads exposes systems to risk of various infections and compromises users' privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for calculator infections are poor knowledge and devil-may-care behavior. PUPs are proliferated using the same bundling method, and intrusive ads. Therefore, never rush the download or installation processes. Carefully clarify all processes using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and abolish all additionally-included programs.
Where possible, select the direct download link, rather than using third party download tools. In addition, be cautious and avoid clicking on ads. Well-nigh intrusive ads appear genuine and it is very difficult to decide if they originate from the visited website. Practice not take the risk by clicking them. The fundamental to calculator safety is caution.
Website promoting Search Settings browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires avant-garde computer skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automated malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it past clicking the button beneath:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.search-settings.com?
- STEP one. Uninstall Search Settings application using Control Panel.
- Stride 2. Remove search.search-settings.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- Pace 3. Remove Search Settings browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- Pace 4. Remove search.search-settings.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- Step v. Remove search.search-settings.com redirect from Safari.
- Step half dozen. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search Settings browser hijacker removal:
Windows eleven users:
Right-click on the Showtime icon, select Apps and Features . In the opened window search for the awarding y'all want to uninstall, afterward locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall .
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Admission Card select Control Panel . In the opened window choose Programs and Features .
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel . Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program .
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder , in the opened screen select Applications . Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash .
In the uninstall programs window: expect for whatsoever recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "Search Settings"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.search-settings.com website, browse your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your reckoner, use recommended malware removal software.
Search Settings browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add together-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the summit right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.search-settings.com and enter your preferred domain, which volition open each time yous launch Internet Explorer. You tin can also enter well-nigh: blank to open a blank folio when you start Net Explorer.
Alter your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine equally your default and and then remove "search-settings".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search settings browser hijacker, reset your Net Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start , click Run , in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset .
Windows Vista and Windows vii users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset .
Windows 8 users: Open Cyberspace Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options .
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that y'all wish to reset Cyberspace Explorer settings to default past clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome bill of fare icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Search Settings" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome carte du jour icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, await for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.search-settings.com) below the "Open a specific or set up of pages" option. If present click on the iii vertical dots icon and select "Remove".
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the acme right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list await for "Search Settings" when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you go along to have problems with removal of the search settings browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome carte icon (at the pinnacle right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings . Whorl down to the lesser of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
Afterward scrolling to the lesser of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) push.
In the opened window, confirm that yous wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default past clicking the Reset push.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox carte (at the top correct corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "Search Settings", and all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox bill of fare (at the top right corner of the master window), and so select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.search-settings.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open up each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Modify your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be conscientious, I promise!".
In the search filter at the height, blazon: "search.search-settings.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have bug with search settings browser hijacker removal tin can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open up Mozilla Firefox, at the acme right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu , in the opened menu, click Assist.
Select Troubleshooting Information .
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that yous wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make certain your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for whatsoever recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set up to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and brand sure that your preferred Net search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Brand sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari bill of fare. From the driblet downwardly bill of fare select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History push.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Border carte icon (at the elevation correct corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge carte du jour icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section await for the proper noun of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Modify your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Border card icon (at the superlative right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button well-nigh information technology. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Cyberspace search engine. Click on the puzzle icon about it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you go along to have problems with removal of the search settings browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top correct corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings .
In the opened settings bill of fare select Reset settings .
Select Restore settings to their default values . In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset push button.
- If this did non aid, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Border browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings past assigning the homepage and default Net search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Unremarkably, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download customer, ensure that you reject offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Net search engine settings.
Mail service a comment:
If y'all have additional information on search settings browser hijacker or information technology's removal please share your knowledge in the comments department below.
About the author:
Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional person malware analyst.
I am passionate near calculator security and engineering science. I take an feel of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical outcome solving and Internet security. I have been working every bit an writer and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed near the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.
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How To Remove Unwanted Search Engines From Google Chrome,
Source: https://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/11656-search-search-settings-com-redirect
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