How to remove Search.softsurf.xyz redirect virus

Easy tips to delete Search.softsurf.xyz virus

Search.softsurf.xyz is another fake web search engine that supposedly enhances the internet browsing speed by generating improved search results. Judging on its appearance, the users might seem it a legit and useful, however, this is a site promoted using deceptive browser hijacker application called Smart Search.

Immediately after the successful installation, Smart Search hijacks the installed web browsers and stealthily assigns the new tab URLs, homepage, and default search engine options to Search.softsurf.xyz. Such changes may seem to be insignificant, however, returning to the previous states become impossible.

The hijacker virus reassigns any browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, the users are unable to revert those changes performed by the hijacker application and are forced to visit the promoted URL all the time when they open a new browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search bar.

The Search.softsurf.xyz is a fake search engine. This means, it can’t generate its own search results and manages to display results generated by some legit web searchers. It is not only useless but also harmful as well because the results displayed are always manipulated by the scammers behind it and various sponsored ads and links are included with them.

Furthermore, Search.softsurf.xyz and the hijacker virus behind it can continually record the user-system information relating to web browsing activity. The collected data is likely to contain personal details that developers sell to third parties, potentially cyber-criminals.

These people misuse these private data to generate revenue. Thus, the data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For all such reasons, we strongly recommend you remove Search.softsurf.xyz and all its components from the system right away upon detection.

For this, use some reputable antivirus tool and run a full system scan using it. The software will do the rest of the work for you. Alternatively, you can follow our manual instructions provided below the post, if you don’t want to use any security tool.

How did Search.softsurf.xyz enter my system?

As said, Search.softsurf.xyz is promoted by dubious application categorized as browser hijacker .Although browser hijackers can have official promotional/ download pages, they typically infiltrate systems without permission asked.

Developers promote such apps using deceptive bundling methods and intrusive ads. They hide their products within Custom/Advanced and similar download/ installation processes. Users rush the download/ installation procedure and click on intrusive ads lead to their inadvertent installation.

How to avoid PUAs installation?

The main reason for computer infections is poor knowledge and careless behavior. The key to safety is caution. Thus, pay attention when downloading/ installing software and when browsing the internet in general.

Carefully analyze each download/ installation step to opt-out all additionally included apps. Note that crooks invest many resources into intrusive ad design and thus most look legit. But they always redirect to gambling, adult dating and pornography pages.

This is you can recognize such ads. if you encounter these redirects, immediately remove all suspicious apps/ browser plug-ins. If the infection is already caused, we recommend you run a full system scan and remove Search.softsurf.xyz right away automatically.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Search.softsurf.xyz :

Remove the related items of Search.softsurf.xyz using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Search.softsurf.xyz issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Search.softsurf.xyz ) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Search.softsurf.xyz removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Search.softsurf.xyz still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Search.softsurf.xyz plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Search.softsurf.xyz removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Search.softsurf.xyz (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.