Safesurfs.net is an internet domain of a browser hijacker. The main page is also serving the purpose of a search engine. Strangely, all searches are redirected through SafeFinder – another hijacker. After the fast redirect, you will land on a Yahoo search results page. The hijacker can change browser settings, like the homepage, search engine, and new tab. Ads or targeted content might appear. A toolbar could be added as well. To remove the hijacker with its files, you should read the article carefully.
Threat Summary
| Name | Safesurfs.net |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | Browsers on your PC will have changed settings. Some of the settings are the homepage, search engine and new tab. A toolbar could be added as well. |
| Symptoms | The hijacker can redirect you and filter your search queries. It is not excluded for a browser extension to appear in your browser apps. You might see third party content and adverts. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundle Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Safesurfs.net. |
Safesurfs.net – Spread
Safesurfs.net can be spread in a few ways. Third-party installations are the common method for that. Bundled packages, including installers for free programs, can install the hijacker in your computer. Freeware install setups have additional content selected for default installing. The unwanted software can enter your computer machine and alter various settings before you notice. To avoid the installation of such a program, search for a Custom or an Advanced option menu, so you might deselect components.
Safesurfs.net can spread with banners, pop-ups and other advertisement content. The hijacker might be distributed with the help of suspicious sites hosting redirects. Websites such as those could be affiliates or partners of Safesurfs.net. Browsers that can be affected are: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.
Safesurfs.net – Detailed Information
Safesurfs.net is the main online domain and search engine for a browser hijacker software carrying the same name. Below, you can view a screenshot of the main web page:
The Safesurfs.net page is formed of one search bar, and a few buttons. The buttons redirect to social media sites or sites for online shopping. The page replaces your default search engine, the new tab setting, and your home page.
If any program which is related to the hijacker finds its way to your computer system, then you will surely notice how they modify your browsers. Additional software might be installed on your computer, to assist the hijacker. Extensions could redirect you or show you advertisements, and you can land on unwanted or unpopular pages. Such pages might be partnered with Safesurfs.net.
Above, you can view what happens when you try using Safesurfs.net as a search engine. You get redirected to Yahoo. But what you might miss if you are not specifically looking for it, is that all your searches will go through the following redirect:
Safesurfs.net can obtain data from your search queries with the help of Safe Finder. The search engines are related and will send any information about your search queries to servers of the hijackers’owners. You should be very careful in what you type in those fraudulent search engines.
Safesurfs.net – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy of the Safesurfs.net is non-existent, but believed to be the same as the one of the Safe Finder site. The redirects and search filter for Safesurfs.net is always that of Safe Finder. The policy is clear – the site collects personally and non-personally identifying information. There you can find out that the collected information could be shared with third-parties in certain circumstances.
Here is a snapshot of the Privacy Policy in question:
Information which is collected by that hijacker, according to the Policy:
- Browser (type and language)
- Operating System (type and language)
- Advertisements viewed
- Offers and services that interest you
- Default search
- VPN and Proxy services
- Internet Service Provider (ISP)
- Interaction with social networks
- Your name and address
- Geo location and IP address
- Date and time of access
- Your time zone
- Screen Resolution
- Search quires and browsing history
- Pages browsed and content viewed
By using any services of Safesurfs.net, and these of Safe Finder as well, including applications and toolbars associated with them will automatically grant your consent for your data to be gathered. The policy also states that cookies, web beacons, pixel tags and similar technologies are used in the acquiring of information.
Remove Safesurfs.net Completely from Your PC
To remove Safesurfs.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 and all its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer safe.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Safesurfs.net from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Safesurfs.net with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.net (Windows).
Get rid of Safesurfs.net from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.net files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.net (Mac)
Remove Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.net will be removed.
Eliminate Safesurfs.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".
Safesurfs.net-FAQ
What Is Safesurfs.net?
The Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.net Work?
Once installed, Safesurfs.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.
Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.net Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.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 Safesurfs.net threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.