Remove SafeSearch.net Hijacker from Your PC

by Berta Bilbao | April 18, 2016 | 0 Comments ad-supported application, browser hijacker, PUP, redirects

Threat Summary SafeSearch.net – Distribution Ways SafeSearch.net – Description Remove SafeSearch.net Completely

SafeSearch.net is the website for a browser hijacker named SafeSearch. Read the whole article carefully to see how you can remove it. This hijacker can change the new tab, homepage, and add an extension to your browsers. The search engine of your browsers will be modified. You might get redirected while browsing. Search results can show advertisements or try to mislead you.

Threat Summary

Name	SafeSearch.net
Type	Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description	The homepage, the new tab, and search engine of your browsers are modified.
Symptoms	Your browsers can have their homepage, new tab, and search engine changed. A browser extension could be added. Search results may be incorrect or show ads.
Distribution Method	Freeware Installers, Bundle Packages, Chrome Web Store
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss SafeSearch.net.

SafeSearch.net – Distribution Ways

A common distribution way for SafeSearch.net is from third-party installation setups. Without your awareness, the hijacker can get inside your PC. It can hide in freeware installs and bundled packages. More components are chosen for installation by default in such packages. The components are often hidden, so SafeSearch.net can install. Checking for a Custom or an Advanced menu in the setup is a good way of preventing unwanted installations.

Above you can see a browser extension connected with SafeSearch.net. It is available at Google Chrome’s Web Store. Another way for distribution of this hijacker is from advert clicks or visiting untrusted sites. Websites with an unknown reputation could be partnered with the hijacker’s creators. Affected browsers are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari.

SafeSearch.net – Description

SafeSearch.net is the main web page for a browser hijacker bearing the same name. If it is found on your PC, your browser settings will be changed. All of your browsers might have their homepage and new tab modified. The search engine will be modified as well. This hijacker claims to keep you safe by setting up website protection for your browsers. No such thing happens.

A browser extension associated to SafeSearch.net can be installed. The name is the same, just without the domain extension – SafeSearch. One of the available locations for it is the Google Chrome’s Web Store. The extension might have come bundled with other free software on your PC. You can experience multiple redirects sites of the hijacker or ones related to it. And except redirects, targeted advertisements might show while you browse.

The browser extension does this:

Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
Display notifications
Change your search settings to: safesearch.net

Everything inputted into the SafeSearch.net address will be filtered by it. Do not enter any personal information, or the hijacker will collect it. The search results of the untrusted program might be misleading. There could also be advertisements and links on the results page. You can see an example in the picture down here:

Another possibility is that the hijacker can set a search engine that at least at first glance looks exactly like Bing. It is possible that this is a tactic to trick you that the hijacker is a reputable program.

Redirects might appear with the hijacker installed on your PC. Not only the browser extension can redirect to SafeSearch.net, but also the homepage, new tab or clicking on adverts. Message notifications, pop-unders, pop-ups, text links or banners can display on pages as ad content. The redirects could be with the aim of getting more traffic to affiliated sites of the hijacker, by using pay-per-click.

The Privacy Policy of SafeSearch.net found on the same site, claims that both personally and non-personally identifiable information can be collected.

Information that may be collected according to the policy:

Your IP address
Your e-mail address
Your browser type
Your Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Your webpage visits
Cookies information

Using the services and the site SafeSearch will make the hijacker gather personal information about you. Cookies and whatever you type and technical data will be gathered. According to the policy, only in very rare cases may that data be shared or sold to third parties.

Remove SafeSearch.net Completely

To remove SafeSearch.net manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided down. If the manual removal does not get rid of the browser hijacker completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer safe.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.

Guide 1: How to Remove SafeSearch.net from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of SafeSearch.net on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove SafeSearch.net in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase SafeSearch.net from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall SafeSearch.net from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove SafeSearch.net from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate SafeSearch.net from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable SafeSearch.net Push Notifications in Your Browsers.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

How to Remove SafeSearch.net from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove SafeSearch.net

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall SafeSearch.net 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by SafeSearch.net 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 SafeSearch.net there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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.

Step 4: Scan for SafeSearch.net with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of SafeSearch.net from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall SafeSearch.net and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to SafeSearch.net:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to SafeSearch.net. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. 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 SafeSearch.net. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 SafeSearch.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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as SafeSearch.net. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 SafeSearch.net files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as SafeSearch.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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for SafeSearch.net:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove SafeSearch.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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Erase SafeSearch.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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Uninstall SafeSearch.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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove SafeSearch.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 SafeSearch.net will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate SafeSearch.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.