This article presents you more details about Search.yourpackagesnow.com browser hijacker and provides a guide for its complete removal.
Search.yourpackagesnow.com is a hoax search engine that alters main browser settings without your permission. Once it accesses your browser it could hijack the start page, new tab page as well as the default search engine. Furthermore, it becomes able to spy on your online activities and generate you lots of annoying advertisements. For the sake of your online security, we recommend you to remove it as soon as possible.
Threat Summary
| Name | Search.yourpackagesnow.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, PUP |
| Short Description | A questionable search enigne that hijacks main browser settings. |
| Symptoms | The homepage, new tab page and search enigne in preferred web browser are altered without your permission. The main page of Search.yourpackagesnow.com appears every time you open the affected browser. Browser slowdowns occur due to increased number of online ads. |
| 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 Search.yourpackagesnow.com. |
Search.yourpackagesnow.com – Spread Techniques
The appearance of Search.yourpackagesnow.com hijacker in your preferred web browser is most likely caused by any potentially unwanted program that has managed to run on your device. Such a program could land on your computer without asking for permission.
This is possible with the help of some common shady spread techniques main one of which is software bundling. There are many free third-party programs that are used for the distribution of PUPs like the one associated with the discussed hijacker. This technique is preferred by PUP developers due to the easy access to setups code. Once they access it, they add the configuration files of their bogus program and set them to install by default along with the primary app. Programs with modified installers could be uploaded on forums, software platforms, social media channels and P2P networks.
There is a chance to prevent undesired apps from infiltrating your system. It could be found in the Advanced/Custom configuration option that is available in most software setups. By reading thoroughly the information it presents you could be able to reveal the presence of some extras and eventually opt out their installation.
Frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Opera and Safari could be hijacked by Search.yourpackagesnow.com
Search.yourpackagesnow.com – More About Its Impact
Search.yourpackagesnow.com browser hijacker is likely to affect main browser settings. So in order to force you into using its deceptive services, it could replace the start page, new tab page and default search engine in your preferred web browser.
Here is the page you are likely to see every time you open an affected browser:
At first, you may suppose that it is a trustworthy search engine that will generate the most relevant results every time you enter a search query. However, only a single search is enough to identify that it is a hoax search service. Apparently, Search.yourpackagesnow.com doesn’t have its own database but uses the database of Yahoo search. So when you enter the query “Golden Globe Awards” for example, the hijacker will initiate several redirects and eventually open you Yahoo search results.
There is nothing to worry about, you may say.. But here comes the moment to let you know that in the privacy policy page associated with this hijacker we found that it is designed to collect both personally and non-personally identifiable details.
Eventually, except all your search queries, the hijacker is able to obtain all of the following data:
- Visited URLs and websites
- Browser’s home page
- Search queries
- Search queries on the visited web pages
- Type of used browser
- Operating system type
- Internet protocol (IP) address
- Geographic location
- The domain name of current Internet service provider (ISP)
- Diagnostic information which describes how their Services are operating on the system
Collected data is likely to be used by the company owner Polarity Technology for its advertising and business purposes. Either way, your affected browser is likely to be flooded by numerous annoying targeted ads.
On one hand, this side effect could cause browser performance issues. On the other hand, some of the displayed ads could redirect you to infected web pages that attempt to steal sensitive credentials or infect your device with a severe malware infection.
In case that you want to prevent Search.yourpackagesnow.com from running in your browser and stay safe from all issues it causes, we recommend that you should consider its complete removal you’re your system and browser.
How to Remove Search.yourpackagesnow.com Hijacker
In order to remove Search.yourpackagesnow.com hijacker and all associated files that enable its appearance in the browser, you need to pass through several removal steps. They are all presented in the removal guide below. The guide enables you to choose between manual and automatic removal approach. Our advice is to combine the steps as this way you will be able not only to get rid of this particular undesired program but also strengthen the security of your device. Have in mind that files associated with this redirect may have different names than Search.yourpackagesnow.com.
In case that you have further questions or need additional help with the removal process, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact us at our email.
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 Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Search.yourpackagesnow.com
Step 2: Uninstall Search.yourpackagesnow.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 Search.yourpackagesnow.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 Search.yourpackagesnow.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 Search.yourpackagesnow.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Search.yourpackagesnow.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 Search.yourpackagesnow.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 malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, 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 Search.yourpackagesnow.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 Search.yourpackagesnow.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 Search.yourpackagesnow.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 Search.yourpackagesnow.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.yourpackagesnow.com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Search.yourpackagesnow.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.
