Remove Searchkey APP Browser Hijacker

Easy Steps To Delete Searchkey APP

Searchkey APP has been identified as a browser hijacker program that silently infiltrates the Windows computers and then contributes several malicious acts inside. It changes the default browser ‘s settings to promote a fake search engine- keysearchs.com. By assigning this perilous URL as the new home page, search engine and new tab page, this notorious hijacker acquires complete control over the entire browser. The real objective of the cyber criminals behind developing this PUP is to promote third-party products, services and websites and make quick online revenues from rookie users.

Know More About Searchkey APP:

Searchkey APP claims to enhance users’ online activities by providing most relevant, authentic and fast search results. However, in reality, it redirects web searches to genuine ones like Google, Yahoo or Bing. But, the results are still not organic as they often include sponsored links at the top. When this potentially unwanted program is in your web browser, you are flooded with thousands of intrusive ads and pop-ups all over the day that makes your web surfing very complex and problematic.

Ads by Searchkey APP are in multiple forms such as banners, deals, coupons, discounts, offers etc. which look very eye-catching and you can easily get attracted towards them. They are based on pay-per-click scheme and earn profits for the creators upon being clicked. We strongly advise to stay away from these as they might include vicious links and redirect you to potentially infectious sites that are filled with malevolent contents. Visiting on such pernicious domains might result in more malware threats. Searchkey APP can be responsible for the intrusion of other malware parasites such as trojan, ransomware etc. that will turn your device into a malware-hub.

In order to get automatically activated with each Windows startup, this perilous hijacker makes vicious entries in Windows registries and alters its default settings. It ruins important system files which assure efficient computer functioning and prevents many installed apps as well as drivers from working normally. This hazardous threat can track your online activities, steal all your personal and confidential information relating to banking and credit card details and expose them to cyber hackers for bad intentions. And thus, an instant Searchkey APP removal is what you need to perform as soon as you detect its presence.

Threat Summary

Name: Searchkey APP

Type: Adware, Redirect virus, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Redirects users to third-party sites, Makes alterations in default browser’s settings, exhibits annoying ads and pop-ups, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators.

Symptoms: Home page, search engine, new tab settings, numerous intrusive adverts, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft,. 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.

Penetration of Searchkey APP:

Most of the times, potentially unwanted applications are spread through software bundling technique along with other free components. This method is highly popular as here, the unwanted tools are included in a software package and manage to settle down on the system when people install the main software using the ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended’ options.

It can be avoided by choosing the right configuration settings to install program. The Custom or Advanced options give you full control over the incoming objects and allow you to opt-out all the elements that you don’t want to have in your computer. Moreover, malicious ads and hyperlinks that you often see while web surfing might take you to malware-laden sites and thus, avoid interacting with them as much as you can. But at the moment, you must remove Searchkey APP from the device as early as possible.

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 Searchkey APP:

Remove the related items of Searchkey APP 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 Searchkey APP 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 (Searchkey APP) 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 Searchkey APP 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 Searchkey APP 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 Searchkey APP 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 Searchkey APP 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 Searchkey APP (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.