Need2find.net is a browser hijacker redirect. The developer of its website also owns MyAllSearch.com. The redirect might switch browser settings like the homepage, search engine, and new tab. When making a search query, the page redirect will filter that search, and every piece of information from it would be sent to servers connected to the hijacker. To remove the browser hijacker and all files tied to it, you should read the full article.
Threat Summary
| Name | Need2find.net |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | Browser applications on your computer could get affected. The hijacker can redirect you. |
| Symptoms | The homepage, search engine and new tab of your browsers will be altered. You will be redirected from the search results, if you do a search, access a search bar or load a new tab. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
Download
Malware Removal Tool
|
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Need2find.net. |
Need2find.net – Delivery Methods
The Need2find.net redirect could have many delivery methods. A very common one is through third-party installations of freeware and bundled applications. Typically, applications like these are media players, downloading software or converters, for instance. The install setups could put additional features on your PC, by default. Unaware, the program could install a feature like that, which will make the hijacker alter browser settings. To prevent unwanted content to be installed you need to find a Custom or an Advanced settings menu.
Other delivery methods can involve a browser add-on, extension or plug-in, put inside your browser programs. Banners, pop-ups, pop-unders or a different ad type, hosted on websites can be used as another delivery method. The hijacker could use redirect links for delivering itself as well, while scattering them across various websites. These websites might be partnered or affiliated with Need2find.net. The following browsers could be affected: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.
Need2find.net – Detailed Description
Need2find.net is the main website page of a browser hijacker that uses the same name – Need2Find. The hijacker redirects you and replaces the default homepage, new tab window, search engine amongst other settings in all of your browser programs.
The page described above is displayed in the image below:
The Need2find.net page is simple and is comprised of a blank, white background, a search bar with a logo. Also, there are a couple of links in the footer of the page on the bottom left. The links are for contact details, the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Conditions of the website.
In the screenshot under this paragraph, you can see the page with search results of Need2find.net. You are not redirected to legitimate search engines as many other hijackers do to trick people, but remain on the same search engine. However, you could be shown ads and be redirected to other websites. The platform could collect everything you input in the search bars.
Every search you do will be filtered by the Need2find.net redirect. Except that data, any interaction with search bars, advertisements, or sponsored content will be collected and stored by the developers of this website platform. Be careful if you have used the browser redirect for searching and think about removing it.
Do not give out any information, especially if it’s personal. Everything from account details to banking credentials will be obtained from you. Redirect links as well as such in the form of in-text ones might be spread while you are browsing the Web. Cookies along with more tracking technologies are also used for the gathering of information. Read below to find out what information the Need2find.net website collects.
Need2find.net – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy of the Need2find.net website is quite short, and fits into a single page as shown in the below screenshot. It can be found at https://www.myallsearch.com/privacy.php page, from where we find out that it is like a subsidiary site of MyAllSearch.com. Both personally and non-personally identifying information can be acquired from you.
You can see the Privacy Policy in the screenshot below:
This quote from the Policy is interesting:
“We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others…”
It is interesting because that information is collected and also shared with third parties, affiliates or business partners of Need2find.net. Thus, they are not bound by the Policy and may sell, trade or rent that information themselves. That may defeat the whole purpose of the above statement which was quoted.
In the policy it is explicitly stated that the following information could be collected by the Need2find.net site:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your Email address
- Your IP address
- Other personal and technical information
Browser cookies and other such tracking technologies like Web beacons are used for obtaining some of that data. The Need2find.net website might gather other, voluntarily provided information. So, do not provide any personally identifying details about you or your browsing activity. You should remove the browser hijacker redirect as quick as possible.
Remove Need2find.net Fully
To remove Need2find.net manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the hijacker redirect and its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program can keep your computer safe in the future.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Need2find.net from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Need2find.net with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Need2find.net and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Need2find.net on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Need2find.net there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for Need2find.net (Windows).
Get rid of Need2find.net from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Need2find.net and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Need2find.net. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Need2find.net via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Need2find.net files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Need2find.net, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Need2find.net (Mac)
Remove Need2find.net from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase Need2find.net from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall Need2find.net from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove Need2find.net from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Need2find.net will be removed.
Eliminate Need2find.net from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Need2find.net-FAQ
What Is Need2find.net?
The Need2find.net threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Need2find.net?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Need2find.net?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Need2find.net Work?
Once installed, Need2find.net can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Need2find.net can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Need2find.net Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Need2find.net Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Need2find.net how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Need2find.net?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Need2find.net threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.