Remove Ad-Aware Secure Search

Tips for removal of Ad-Aware Secure Search

Ad-Aware Secure Search is a browser hijacker infection that might gets installed into your computer along with freeware or shareware. It illegally makes changes in browser settings with its own malicious domain and redirect users to other harmful sites. However, this app is categorized as potentially unwanted program. Further, it has data tracking capabilities and hence it can spy on user’s activities and can steal highly sensitive details. However, most of the victims download such type of apps accidentally and don’t even realize how this happened.

Ad-Aware Secure Search can take control over any of the popular browsers including Google chrome, IE, Edge, Safari and so on. As mentioned earlier, it changes search engine provider, new tab URL and so on. Whenever you use any search engine the webpage gets rerouted to Ad-Aware Secure Search. This is so called search engine does not have its own database to show the results of users queries. Rather it shows and altered result from serach.yahoo.com. If you try to restore the previous settings then it is not possible unless you remove the PUAs.

As mentioned above, Ad-Aware Secure Search tracks user’s data. It uses browser plug-ins or add-ons in order to record users browsing habits and collect their information. After that these data are sold to third parties for personal financial benefits and monetary gains. Thus, users will face lots of problems such as huge financial losses and identity theft. Due to all these reasons, you are highly recommended to remove all dubious applications from browser or system.

Intrusion tactics of Ad-Aware Secure Search:

Potentially unwanted programs are mostly distributed through bundling method. In this technique, stealth installation of unwanted apps takes place along with regular software. Developers conceal this information. It is usually hidden behind custom or advance options of download/installation setups. When users rush these setups and skip through most of the installation steps they often lead the inadvertent installation of unwanted applications. On the other hand, intrusive advertisements also spread PUAs as well. Further, pay close attention during installation moment.

How to avoid installation of PUAs?

It is highly suggested to research about content or products before downloading or installing it. For any software download, use only official and trustworthy websites. Tools like third party downloader, free file hosting sites, p2p sharing networks and other similar channels should be avoided as they are considered to be untrustworthy. Intrusive ads redirect users to other unreliable websites as they are mainly delivered by adware type programs. So, you must avoid clicking on it. If you encounter these redirects uninstall all dubious programs and browser plug-ins immediately.

Remove Ad-Aware Secure Search

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble while performing malware removal process. Instead this, you can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove Ad-Aware Secure Search from the system.

Threat summary

Name: Ad-Aware Secure Search

Threat Type: Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar

Affected Browser Settings: Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine

Symptoms: changes your homepage and search engine, show lots of ads and redirect your searches.

Description: It is a suspicious domain that is specifically designed to redirect users to questionable and other suspicious sites such as Ad-Aware Secure Search.

Distribution methods: Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads, porn or torrent sites and so on.

Damage: Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. 

Removal: In order to remove Ad-Aware Secure Search, we recommend you to use reliable antivirus removal tool such as Spyhunter.

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 Ad-Aware Secure Search:

Remove the related items of Ad-Aware Secure Search 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 Ad-Aware Secure Search 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 (Ad-Aware Secure Search) 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 Ad-Aware Secure Search 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 Ad-Aware Secure Search 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 Ad-Aware Secure Search 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 Ad-Aware Secure Search 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 Ad-Aware Secure Search (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.