How to remove Safe2Search browser hijacker

Easy tips to delete Safe2Search virus

Safe2Search is a browser hijacker application that operates by making alterations to the installed web browsers’ settings to promote an address of a fake search engine named Safe2Search.com. Additionally, this app spies on users’ browsing session. Since most users download/ install browser hijackers inadvertently, they are also called PUAs or potentially unwanted applications.

Browser hijackers assign addresses of fake web searchers as browsers’ homepage, new tab page and search engine options. This affects the web browsing as with Safe2Search installed: each opened tab and enter search queries redirects to search.Safe2Search.com. Being an illegitimate web search engine, it can’t generate its own search results. It simply redirects to the legit Yahoo search engine.

Furthermore, browser hijackers can restrict or deny users’ access to the browsers’ settings. Alternatively, they can undo any changes made to the web browsers. Due to this, users can’t restore the browsers’ settings until they remove the software which is responsible for such changes. What’s more, the PUAs have dangerous data tracking feature that allows it to collect following browsing based data about users:

• IP addresses,
• Search queries,
• Viewed pages,
• URLs visited,
• Geo-locations and etc.

These data could be shared with and/or sold to third parties/ potent crooks. Thus, the presence of the potentially unwanted apps on system can result into severe privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and even more severe consequences. To ensure the device integrity and personal safety, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/ plug-ins immediately upon detection.

How did Safe2Search enter my system?

Some PUAs have official promotional sites from which they can be downloaded and/or purchased. Intrusive ads can also be used to proliferate in PUAs as well. Once clicked on, these ads can execute certain malicious scripts designed to make downloads/ installations of the PUAs without users’ consent and knowledge.

PUAs are however commonly distributed via download/ installation setups of other programs. This false marketing method of packing one app with unwanted and malicious addition is termed as software bundling. Rushed the download/ installation increase the risk of inadvertent installation of unwanted apps on system.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is recommended to research software well before their download/ install and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads should have to be done using official websites and direct links. Untrustworthy downloading channels such as p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/installers often offer dubious and/or bundled content.

When downloading/ installing, it is advised to read all terms, explore possible option, use Custom/Advanced settings and opt out all additionally attached apps, tools and functions. Intrusive ads can appear ordinary, however, they often redirect to various dubious websites such as gambling, adult dating and pornography and so forth.

In case you encounter any such ads/ redirects, you should investigate your system for suspicious applications and browser extensions/ plug-ins for their removal. If Safe2Search is already running inside, we recommend you employ some reputable antivirus and perform full system scan to perform its automatic removal.

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 Safe2Search:

Remove the related items of Safe2Search 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 Safe2Search 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 (Safe2Search) 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 Safe2Search 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 Safe2Search 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 Safe2Search 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 Safe2Search 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 Safe2Search (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.