This article will aid you to remove Search-Private.com effectively. Follow the browser hijacker removal instructions at the end of the article.
Search-Private.com is the official domain of the browser hijacker Search-Private. The hijacker can change the homepage, new tab setting, search engine of your browsers and set an add-on. The add-on is also available at Google’s Chrome web store. You might be redirected. Search results display adverts and could be incorrect or misleading.
Threat Summary
| Name | Search-Private.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | The homepage, new tab setting, and search engine of your browsers are changed. |
| Symptoms | Your browsers will have their homepage, new tab setting and search engine modified. A browser extension can be added. You will see ads and incorrect search results. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages, Chrome Web Store |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Search-Private.com. |
Search-Private.com – Distribution Ways
You can get the related browser extension of Search-Private.com in a few ways.
Users report that they get redirects which occur from third-party installations. Once a PUP (potentially unwanted application) is installed it could push redirects, such as:
- results.searchlock.com
- results.searchlock3.com
The first of those redirects leads to “https://www.searchlock.com/en/” while the second one doesn’t open and we get an official warning from Google in the Chrome browser:
The warning states the following:
Your connection is not private
Attackers might be trying to steal your information from results.searchlock3.com (for example, passwords, messages, or credit cards). Learn more
NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID
This server could not prove that it is results.searchlock3.com; its security certificate is from *.searchlock.com. This may be caused by a misconfiguration or an attacker intercepting your connection.
A similar warning appears in Firefox and other browsers, but if you proceed to the page despite the warning, you will end up on a page with the URL “https://searchlock3.com/“. Entering any information there could be obtained from that SearchLock domain. To conclude, free installation setups and bundled packages could install some PUP that may redirect you to those domains. Additional components for installation are selected by default in such packages and you should deselect anything you do not want installed. Looking for a Custom or an Advanced option in a setup is a good way of preventing unneeded installations.
Above you can see that there is even an extension related to Search-Private.com. It is offered at the Chrome Web Store and is helping it spread further. Another distribution method for the hijacker is via advertisements, like banners and pop-ups or from visiting sites that are unknown. Those sites can be partnered with the hijacker’s makers. Affected browsers are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari, plus others.
Note! The extension seems to say Search Private (search-private.com) and if installed, you will see on its main page that it uses the same logos, design, and search engine as “SearchLock“. The search results go to the “results.searchlock.com” domain. And although it says at the bottom of the main page “search-private.com is not owned operated sponsored or endorsed by SearchLock” it still uses their logo and search filter. True or untrue, in either case this is bad and somebody is definitely lying here.
Search-Private.com – Detailed Information
Search-Private.com is the domain of the browser hijacker of the same name. If Search-Private addon or extension is installed on your computer, you will see certain settings changed. Your browsers will have their homepage changed, as well as the search engine and new tab setting. It claims to be useful by making your searching private, but there is no evidence that is true. Instead, all information that you type in goes through the Search-Private/SearchLock domain.
A browser extension is available for installation. One of the locations is on the Chrome Web Store. It might also end up on your PC as a result of a PUP installation that redirects to it. The extension is also named as Search-Private (although it uses the SearhLock logo) and could redirect you to misleading search results. You might see targeted ad content from the redirects. The browser extension does the following:
- Replace the page you see when opening a new tab
- Read your browsing history
Everything that you type in the Search-Private.com search engine could be filtered from it as we saw the browser warning in the above section regarding the distribution. So, if you type personal data, it may be collected by the hijacker. The search results delivered by the unwanted program can be misleading. Around the search results, there could be many adverts and links, unrelated to specific searches. This can be seen in the image here:
Browser redirects can come from the new tab setting, the homepage, or from advertisements. Pop-ups, pop-unders, banners or even in-text links might show as part of the adverts content. Sometimes, the user experience is different and close to the one received from popular search engines in terms of results. The redirects may have the goal to generate more traffic to domains which get money by pay-per-click, but that is not proven.
Search-Private.com – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy of Search-Private.com is located on “https://www.searchlock.com/en/pages/privacy“. From the Privacy Policy of Search-Private.com is understood that the related browser hijacker performs information collection. There are a few pages about the privacy and privacy features on the site, but the Policy page is shown below:
The information that is clearly stated to be collected is the following:
- Web browser (type and version)
- Operating system
- Numerical count of daily searches, ad and result clicks
- Search terms
- Date you installed Search-Private
- Where you heard about Search-Private (example: Facebook)
If the hijacker makers know if you heard about their application through Facebook or other social media, they may know from which social account you ended up on their site. Tying your social media account will make any information you have on that account gathered by the hijacker as well. Also, below you can see that the domain loads 13 cookies on your computer and can store them for up to 2 years:
Search terms could be collected, using the services and site of Search-Private. The website and related browser applications do obtain data from you, as well as its advertising partners do, and to top it all off SearchLock (Search-Private) uses cookies. You are told that the application doesn’t do that, but they have lied that they are not tied to Search Lock, so you should consider removing this unwanted application and search engine.
Remove Search-Private.com Redirect
To remove Search-Private.com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. If the manual removal does not get rid of this hijacker completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware program. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Search-Private.com from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Search-Private.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Search-Private.com 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 Search-Private.com 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 Search-Private.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.
Video Removal Guide for Search-Private.com (Windows).
Get rid of Search-Private.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Search-Private.com 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 Search-Private.com. 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 Search-Private.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 Search-Private.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Search-Private.com, 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 Search-Private.com (Mac)
Remove Search-Private.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.
Erase Search-Private.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.
Uninstall Search-Private.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.
Remove Search-Private.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 Search-Private.com will be removed.
Eliminate Search-Private.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.
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".
Search-Private.com-FAQ
What Is Search-Private.com?
The Search-Private.com 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 Search-Private.com?
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 Search-Private.com?
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 Search-Private.com Work?
Once installed, Search-Private.com 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.
Search-Private.com 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 Search-Private.com 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 Search-Private.com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Search-Private.com 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 Search-Private.com?
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 Search-Private.com threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.