The content of this article reveals more details about an infection with Private.search-protection.com hijacker as well as removal steps that will help you to remove it completely from affected browser and system.
Private.search-protection.com is classified as browser hijacker due to its capabilities to modify essential settings and invade commonly used web browsers. Once it gains access to target browser it replaces the homepage, new tab page and default search engine with its domain address. With these modifications Private.search-protection.com hijacker urges you to use its deceptive services so it can obtain data from your infected browser and send it to its servers. An additional side effect you could witness is an increased number of online ads and redirect to poorly secured websites.
Threat Summary
| Name | Private.search-protection.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, PUP |
| Short Description | Private.search-protection.com hijacks essential settings in commonly used web browsers. Its doubtful search enigne replaces the defult one without your permission. The homepage and new tab page could also be affected. |
| Symptoms | The homepage and new tab page of affected browsers redirect to the main page of the suspicious Private.search-protection.com website. Many advertisements flood the browser and make it sluggish. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by Private.search-protection.com Download Malware Removal Tool |
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Private.search-protection.com. |
Private.search-protection.com – Spread Techniques
The installation code of Private.search-protection.com browser hijacker could sneak into the system during the installation of a desired program. Various third-party apps available for free download on various websites, forums, and online stores may contain the infection code in their installers. And it is easy to miss the presence of undesired components especially you install new apps by following the regular installation steps. There is rarely provided any information about the additional components. Thus, a click the Finish button grants apps like Private.search-protection.com the access to your system. To prevent such side effects it is advisable to always select the Advanced or Custom configuration options of the installer.
Private.search-protection.com may also hijack target browsers after a visit to a compromised web page that is set to install its code in the browser.
Frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari could be affected by Private.search-protection.com hijacker.
Private.search-protection.com – More About Its Impact
Private.search-protection.com infection could be recognized by the changed browser homepage, new tab page and default search engine. At first, you may think that even though you don’t remember ever adding this new search engine to your browser, it’s all right to use its services. Furthermore, it is designed in a very similar way to some of the most trusted search engines.
However, after a few searches, the poor performance of this search engine is revealed. As it appears images and maps results are unavailable on this website. When they are selected in Chrome browser triggers a pop-up that says:
Are you sure you want to navigate to images/maps? Your searches won’t be private anymore
And after a click on the “Ok” button the hijacker redirects the search to Google search results. As regards the other two options that are web and video search, our thorough check reveals that few to no results are generated by Private.search-protection.com at all.
Another side effect that could occur after Private.search-protection.com affects your browser is aggressive advertising. The hijacker is likely to deliver lots of sponsored content and cause redirects to websites of unknown origin during each browsing session. All the ads that attempt to trick you into visiting the web pages they promote could make your browser sluggish and completely unresponsive at times. What’s more troublesome is that some of them can land you on malicious web pages that deliver severe malware infections directly on your PC.
None of the hyperlinks lands on page that provides more information about the services of Private.search-protection.comhijacker. In fact, a company or individual who takes the responsibility of data collection and its usage lacks. This makes the usage of this hijacker more than risky and the sooner you remove it from the affected browser the better. By continue using its services the security of both your personal data and computer system is endangered.
How to Remove Private.search-protection.com Redirect
The steps listed below will help you to remove Private.search-protection.com hijacker completely from affected Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, or Safari web browser. The guide that follows will also be helpful for the removal of all harmful files associated with the hijacker from your Windows system. You will find two removal approaches – manual and automatic. Have in mind that the manual removal steps may not reveal all harmful files dropped on the system. If these files remain on the system you can still experience redirects to Private.search-protection.com during browsing sessions. For maximum protection, it is good to scan the system with certified anti-malware tool.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Private.search-protection.com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Private.search-protection.com from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Private.search-protection.com from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Private.search-protection.com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Private.search-protection.com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Private.search-protection.com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Private.search-protection.com from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Private.search-protection.com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Private.search-protection.com
Step 2: Uninstall Private.search-protection.com and related software from Windows
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 3: Clean any registries, created by Private.search-protection.com on your computer.
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 Private.search-protection.com 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.Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Private.search-protection.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Private.search-protection.com and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- 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 Private.search-protection.com 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 Private.search-protection.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Private.search-protection.com, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Private.search-protection.com 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Private.search-protection.com 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Private.search-protection.com 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Private.search-protection.com 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 Private.search-protection.com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Private.search-protection.com 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.
