What is SafeSearch.net?
SafeSearch.net is a browser hijacker that has been terrorizing users for quite a long time and hasn’t losе steam even a little. If this malware has already infected your computer, you need to know what activities it can try to bring. First of all, as the name of the threat implies, this threat aims for all of your web browsers, whether it is Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or Internet Explorer. After crawling into a browser the hijacker will block popular search engines and sets its own domain as the main page and the default search engine. This search allows to redirect the users to predetermined websites, which lack auditory and require promotion. In order to avoid landing on these pages, you need to remove SafeSearch.net hijacker, as it is the only method to stop its activities.
How SafeSearch.net got installed on your computer?
One of the approaches of SafeSearch.net distribution is known by the term of bundling. That means that you can get uncontrolled system changes because of installing freeware without altering its installation process. To secure the system from SafeSearch.net you need to closely check the steps of every installation, paying special attention to the details of EULA and Privacy Policy. Another step to stay safe is to run setups in Advanced or Custom mode, so that you would have more possible options. One of which includes selecting the elements of installation.
Symptoms of SafeSearch.net infection
- First and the most striking proof of having a browser hijacker is change of the main page. Usually it is a search engine page that is designed so that user would believe in its legitimacy.
- Generally, hijackers cause redirections when user makes a search query on its page or tries to reach a blocked site (usually another search engine or anti-malware sites)
- Another indicator of hijacker infection is appearance of new programs, toolbars and browser extensions that you don’t remember installing and processes in start-up queue.
- Also, you may notice the significant slowdown in the system operating, since running of the applications required for malware activity may consume a lot of CPU.
- Besides, hijacker infection may as well negatively affect the speed of Internet connection.
How to remove SafeSearch.net?
To make sure that the hijacker won’t appear again, you need to delete SafeSearch.net completely. For this you need to remove the application from the Control Panel and then check the drives for such leftovers as SafeSearch.net files and registry entries.
We should warn you that performing some of the steps may require above-average skills, so if you don’t feel experienced enough, you may apply to automatic removal tool.
Performing an antimalware scan with Norton would automatically search out and delete all elements related to SafeSearch.net. It is not only the easiest way to eliminate SafeSearch.net, but also the safest and most assuring one.
Steps of SafeSearch.net manual removal
Uninstall SafeSearch.net from Control Panel
As it was stated before, more likely that the hijacker appeared on your system brought by other software. So, to get rid of SafeSearch.net you need to call to memory what you have installed recently.
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Windows XP
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Add or Remove Programs
- Find the application related to SafeSearch.net and click Uninstall
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Windows 7/Vista
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Uninstall Program
- Find the application related to SafeSearch.net and click Uninstall
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Windows 8/8.1
- Right-click the menu icon in left bottom corner
- Choose Control Panel
- Select the Uninstall Program line
- Uninstall the application related to SafeSearch.net
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Windows 10
- Press Win+X to open Windows Power menu
- Click Control Panel
- Choose Uninstall a Program
- Select the application related to SafeSearch.net and remove it
If you experience problems with removing SafeSearch.net from Control Panel: there is no such title on the list, or you receive an error preventing you from deleting the application, see the article dedicated to this issue.
Read what to do if program won’t uninstall from Control Panel
Remove SafeSearch.net from browsers
Since some of hijacker threats use a disguise of a browser add-on, you will need to check the list of extensions/add-ons in your browser.
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Google Chrome
- Start Google Chrome
- Click on Tools, then go to the Extensions
- Delete SafeSearch.net or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Internet Explorer
- Launch Internet Explorer
- Click on the Tools/Gear icon, then select Manage Add-ons
- Delete SafeSearch.net or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Mozilla Firefox
- Start Mozilla Firefox
- Click on the right-upper corner button
- Click Add-ons, then go to Extensions
- Delete SafeSearch.net or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove SafeSearch.net from Microsoft Edge
- Start Microsoft Edge
- Click the three-dot button in the upper right corner
- Choose Extensions
- Click the gear icon near SafeSearch.net or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
- Choose Remove
Reset your browsers
How to reset settings in Google Chrome
- Click on the icon in the right-upper corner
- Choose Settings
- Click Show advanced settings
- Click the Reset Settings button
How to reset settings in Mozilla Firefox
- Click the icon in the upper right corner
- Choose Help
- Select Troubleshooting Information
- Click the Reset Firefox… button
How to reset settings in Internet Explorer
- Click on the Tools button
- Go to Internet options
- Go to the Advanced tab
- Click Reset
How to reset settings in Microsoft Edge
- Start Microsoft Edge
- Click the three-dot button in the upper right corner
- Choose Settings
- Under the Clear browsing data category select Choose what to clear
- Select everything and click Clear
If the above-mentioned methods didn’t help in eliminating the threat, then it’s better to rely on an automatic way of deleting SafeSearch.net.
We also recommend to download and use Norton to scan the system after SafeSearch.net removal to make sure that it is completely gone. The antimalware application will detect any vicious components left among system files and registry entries that can recover SafeSearch.net.
