How To Remove Searchmini.com Hijacker

Complete Guide To Eliminate Unwanted App

This article is about a recently detected browser hijacker named Searchmini.com. It can take over your main browser and force it to display annoying ads while users are surfing the internet. You are on this page right now most likely because this hijacker has secretly taken over your Firefox, Edge, Chrome, Explorer or any other web platform that you’re employing. So, stay with us, we will tell you exactly how to remove Searchmini.com from the computer and uninstall all the pesky modifications that it might have imposed on your browser.

Quick Glance

Name: Searchmini.com

Type: Browser Hijacker, Redirect virus

Characteristics: Alters default browser’s settings, shows annoying commercial contents, redirects people to unfamiliar domains

Danger level: Medium

Signs: Browser changes, frequent ads stream, page-redirects, etc.

Intrusion: Usually gets distributed via bundled freeware

Searchmini.com: Depth Analysis

Changes made by the hijacker in your web browser could be associated to replacement in your homepage and search engine, injection of new toolbars, buttons and new-tab links, etc. Besides, you will also notice unstoppable display of numerous ads, pop-ups, banners, and other advertising contents. You may experience trouble to surf the internet while this unwanted software piece is operating in the background of your computer. That’s because Searchmini.com tends to cause automatic redirects to pre-defined websites and to spam the screen with affiliated ads that regularly prompt you to click on multiple offers. You see, with each click made on these adverts, a small sort of income is paid to the app developers.

Generating pay-per-click and pay-per-view income for its creators is the ultimate goal of this hijacker. Therefore, it makes sure to expose its victims as many advertisements as possible. The more the ads, the greater the chance of getting them clicked. Bear in mind that behind these adverts may lurk dangerous viruses or malware, which may automatically get installed into your work-station as soon as you click on them. Furthermore, some of the Searchmini.com ads could take you to potentially dangerous websites with all sorts of hateful contents. And therefore, stay away from them and try to eliminate the intruder from the machine ASAP.

How Does The Hijacker Infiltrate Systems?

The most widespread browser hijacker distribution tactic has been software bundling where these apps are complied within a single installer along with the main software. When you try to install a freeware downloaded off the internet using the Quick or Recommended configuration setting, you risk installing the entire bundle, including the unwanted programs. With this in mind, you should always choose the Custom or Advanced mode set where you will have option to untick the checkboxes next to the names of any unnecessary or suspicious programs, as they could be PUPs in disguise.

FAQs

How can Searchmini.com affect me?

Once you system gets intruded by this hijacking software, it will severely interrupt your online sessions with regular ads stream and page redirects to suspicious websites. Due to its presence, you will experience occasional browser crashes or freezes, slowdowns, unresponsiveness, and other unkind issues.

Can the program steal my data?

Potentially unwanted programs do have ability to record users’ online activities. This is done to estimate their browsing preferences and interests, which is then employed to customize the ads accordingly. Besides, the gathered information can also be shared with cyber crooks who can then utilize it for evil purposes.

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 Searchmini.com:

Remove the related items of Searchmini.com 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 Searchmini.com 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 (Searchmini.com) 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 Searchmini.com 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 Searchmini.com 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 Searchmini.com 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 Searchmini.com 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 Searchmini.com (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.