How To Remove Search Button Hijacker

Search Button: Complete Uninstall Process

Search Button is a potentially unwanted program, categorized as a browser hijacker due to its way intrusion into the Windows computers and its actions inside. As soon as this nasty PUP infiltrates the Windows devices, it makes alterations to default browser’s settings to redirect all searches through keysearchs.com. It’s a fake search engine that is not even capable of providing results, so it often redirects to Yahoo, Google, Bing and other genuine engines. However, the search results people get are filled with ads and sponsored links which take them to affiliated sites.

Search Button Ads Come In Multiple Formats:

Search Button bombards your system screen with thousands of annoying ads all over the day and makes it very difficult for you to surf the web efficiently. These ads are in various forms such as banners, deals, coupons, discounts, pop-ups, offers etc. that look very attractive and can easily gain users’ attention. They work on pay-per-click scheme and earn revenues for the developers with each click users make on them. We highly advise to avoid interacting with these adverts as they might include perilous links and redirect you to several phishing, scam and even malware-laden sites.

Search Button ads are very eye-catching because they are based on your online habits. This notorious hijacker inserts spying cookies on the affected browser and constantly monitors your activities whatever you do online. It collects browsing-related information such as entered search queries, URLs of visited sites, IP addresses, geolocations etc. These details are then sold to third-parties and advertisers who then generate customized advertisements according to your preferences. Additionally, this nasty PUP can also steal your personal information like credit card and banking details and share them with cyber crooks for evil purposes. Scammers can misuse your sensitive data for making deceptive transactions or purchases that may result in huge financial losses.

Search Button also changes the settings of windows registries by making spiteful entries in it which allows the hijacker to get automatically activated with each PC startup. It messes with important system files that are essential for smooth computer functioning and prevents many running apps as well as drivers from working normally. It eats up huge amount of memory resources and slows down the overall PC performance drastically. Due to this malware, you may have to deal with many other hazardous issues like application malfunctioning, boot errors, hard drive crash, software failure and so on. And thus, an instant Search Button removal is strongly required.

PUPs Spread Via Software Bundling:

Browser hijackers, adware and other PUPs are often distributed via bundling tactic together with regular software. They are added to single software installer as an additional download and while downloading a freeware from third-party site and then installing it using the ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended’ mode sets, people often end up with installing these unwanted programs without even realizing. Moreover, they can also infect their computers with PUPs if they tend to click on malicious ads as they often redirect to malware-laden sites which may result in hijacker or adware intrusion.

Tips To Prevent Hijacker Intrusion:

To prevent such unwanted situations, you should download software or products from official sites only and avoid using the unreliable channels, peer-to-peer networks, and other third-party downloaders. Furthermore, always select the Custom or Advanced configuration settings to install apps as they allow you to opt-out the components that look suspicious. Also, stay away from suspicious ads and hyperlinks that you usually see while web surfing as they may lead you to harmful pages. But at the moment, you must remove Search Button from the computer without wasting any time.

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 Button:

Remove the related items of Search Button 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 Button 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 Button) 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button 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 Button (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.