Remove SearchGames4U Browser Hijacker

Proper Guide To Delete SearchGames4U

SearchGames4U is a pernicious computer infection that has been categorized by malware experts as a browser hijacker. Once this potentially unwanted program successfully infiltrates your PC, it makes unexpected changes to your default browser’s settings and promotes a fake search engine- searchgames4u.com. While having this perilous hijacker in your Windows device, you will notice your homepage, new tab page and search engine have been replaced with this nasty domain without your approval. In order, such kinds of browser hijackers are also capable of gathering information about users’ browsing habits. And thus, it is necessary to get rid of this infection as early as possible.

Know More About SearchGames4U:

The real objective of the cyber crooks behind developing SearchGames4U is to generate quick online revenues. And to accomplish its purpose, it conducts a series of malicious activities in the background. This notorious PUP bombards your system screen with thousands of annoying ads and pop-ups all over the day and interrupts your web sessions badly. These ads can be in multiple forms such as coupons, deals, banners, offers, discounts etc. that look very attractive and can easily gain anyone’s attention.

Ads by SearchGames4U work on pay-per-click mechanism and earn revenues for the developers with each users make on them. However, you should be very careful while interacting with these adverts as many of them include links to dubious sites or cause direct download of some PUPs. While using searchgames4u.com as the default search provider, you only get inorganic results that are mixed with sponsored links and commercial contents. Links that are promoted by this hijacker might redirect you to scamming, phishing or even malware-laden sites and cause more hazards to your work-station.

As we have already mentioned, browser hijackers like SearchGames4U can monitor people’s online activities and collect various data regarding their preferences. The gathered information is then utilized by the advertisers for advertisement campaign to get maximum hits on them and earn as much profits as possible. However, they may also steal your personal data relating to banking and other financial details and expose them to cyber actors for bad purposes. Scammers can misused your sensitive information for fraudulent transaction and cause you to suffer a big financial loss. And thus, you must perform a quick SearchGames4U removal from the computer.

Threat Summary

Name: SearchGames4U

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect virus, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Redirects people to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Modifications in default browser’s settings, default Internet search engine, Tons of intrusive adverts, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool.

How Does This PUP Enter Your System?

Potentially unwanted programs such as browser hijackers, adware, and others are typically spread in the disguise of freeware. Apps that you often download from untrustworthy sources include other components which also manage to get installed along with the main software. This generally happens when you choose ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended’ configuration settings to install the program as this mode doesn’t reveal the contents that are added in the bundle along with the carrier program.

Tips To Avoid Hijacker Intrusion:

Select “Custom” or “Advanced” method while performing software installation process and then carefully go through each step to see what elements come along with the primary program. This is the only way to avoid unwanted installations. Besides, avoid clicking on suspicious ads or hyperlinks, visiting unsafe domains etc. as they may also lead to malware penetration. But at the moment, you are strongly recommended to remove SearchGames4U from the device 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 SearchGames4U:

Remove the related items of SearchGames4U 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 SearchGames4U 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 (SearchGames4U) 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 SearchGames4U 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 SearchGames4U 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 SearchGames4U 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 SearchGames4U 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 SearchGames4U (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.