How to remove SuperMovieSearch browser hijacker

Complete tips for SuperMovieSearch removal

SuperMovieSearch is a potentially unwanted application categorized as browser hijacker. The app is designed to force open a specific address all the time when users open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL search bar. The PUA promotes an URL address of SuperMovieSearch.com, which is a fake search engine that seldom displays its own search results. SuperMovieSearch is considered as PUA because users often download/ install it intentionally.

The browser hijacker application promotes the fake search engine by changing the address of the default browsers’ homepage, new tab pages and search engine options and assigning SuperMovieSearch.com in these places. As the promoted URL can’t generate its own search results, it redirects all queries entered and every opened tab to Yahoo (Search.yahoo.com), searchlee.com or other search engine –depends on visitors’ geo-location.

It is worthwhile to mention that the fake search engine SuperMovieSearch.com can be designed to generate misleading results- it could include links to untrustworthy, potentially dangerous pages in its search results. Thus, using this URL address is highly not recommended. Another detail about the SuperMovieSearch app is that it can undo any changes made to the browsers’ settings. Thus, users have to uninstall it to restore the browsers’ settings.

Most PUAs have common data tracking feature. Usually, they collect IP addresses, geo-locations, visited addresses, entered search queries and similar browsing based data. The gathered data could be shared with and/or sold to third parties/ cybercriminals that misuse them illicit purposes to generate revenue. Thus, the presence of the PUAs can cause severe privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and much more. To avoid any such things from happening in future, we recommend you remove all suspicious apps right upon their detection.

How did SuperMovieSearch enter my system?

More often than not, users download/ install PUAs through downloaders/ installers for other programs –when these apps are found bundled together with them. Usually, the offers to download/ install the PUAs can be declined within Custom/Advanced and similar setups. When users do not check and change these settings, they agree to download/ install additionally included apps. Sometimes, users cause unwanted downloads by clicking deceptive ads designed to run certain scripts.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is advised to download programs, files from 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. Also, it is recommended to avoid clicking on any ads appear on any questionable pages. These ads are often designed to run certain malicious scripts to cause unwanted downloads/ installations.

Additionally, it is required to check downloaders/ installers for available settings and see if those settings mention any unwanted offers. Usually, such offers are found within Custom/Advanced and similar setups or within the checkboxes. De-select them during the download/ installation before finalization the installation process so as to ensure that the software you want to only that gets installed at the end.

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 SuperMovieSearch:

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