This article will aid you to remove SearchAwesome.net. Follow the removal instructions for the adware given at the end of the article.
SearchAwesome.net is a website which features an adware that bears the same name as its domain. Except the browser extensions that it may promote, any other software related to it will push advertisements on your browsers, which classifies it as adware. The SearchAwesome.net website might be modified and used as a browser redirect, too. Clicking on adverts and links may load sites that use tracking technologies, such as cookies and could promote browser extensions related to browser hijackers.
Threat Summary
| Name | SearchAwesome.net |
| Type | Adware, PUP |
| Short Description | Advertisements generated from this website can display on other sites and redirect you. |
| Symptoms | You keep seeing adverts in your browsers, like pop-ups and in-page ads, etc. You can get redirected from ads and links loaded on the website. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by SearchAwesome.net Download Malware Removal Tool |
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss SearchAwesome.net. |
SearchAwesome.net – Ways of Distribution
SearchAwesome.net might distribute via a third-party installation setup. Applications connected to SearchAwesome.net can intrude your computer, without your knowledge of that. Bundled packages and freeware setups could be distributing this adware. Installer setups like those could be set by default to install additional components. To avoid installations of such unwanted applications, you have to search for the Custom or Advanced settings. From there, you should be able to deselect any component that is not necessary.
SearchAwesome.net might distribute itself by using similar websites which are hosting its ads. Websites like those often offer nearly the same shopping deals and can have plenty of redirect links. Clicking on just one redirect link or advert could send the adware to your computer system. In addition, banners, pop-ups as well as more kinds of adverts could be placed on the Internet to popularize this shopping platform. These ad-types might redirect to the main domain of the adware. All browsers which could be affected are: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.
SearchAwesome.net – Detailed Overview
SearchAwesome.net is the main site for this adware that tries to promote browser extensions to make your browser searches easier no matter what topic they are related to. Here is an example of the main page promoting such extensions, which could also offer a direct download of the adware:
As an adware SearchAwesome has been seen in the past with a different domain, which is “Travassactechnology.com“. The website can load pop-ups and other advertising content as you use it. The website, along with its adverts and all kinds of links associated with it, can redirect you and even result in hijacking the browser you use.
SearchAwesome.net generates advertisements such as pop-up boxes, banners and some few others, as well. Lots of deals could be generated by the website. There could be discounts, coupons, and all kinds of offers, lowering the price for the supposed service provided from SearchAwesome.net, all generated in your browsers.
In the case your browser software and your computer machine have any program associated with this adware platform or related application, you can witness a lot of sponsored content, targeted advertisements, and redirect links which show when surfing the World Wide Web.
Advertisements could have one of those texts inside them:
- Advert from SearchAwesome.net
- Powered by SearchAwesome.net
- Ad by SearchAwesome.net
- Ads by SearchAwesome.net
- Advertisement by SearchAwesome.net
- Brought to you by SearchAwesome.net
- Advert from SearchAwesome.net
- Powered by SearchAwesome.net
- Ad by SearchAwesome.net
- Ads by SearchAwesome.net
- Advertisement by SearchAwesome.net
- Brought to you by SearchAwesome.net
The SearchAwesome.net website could spread links that can redirect you to suspicious websites to generate traffic. This traffic can be turned into revenue from using a pay-per-click scheme. A huge number of the advertisements on the site might be associated with affiliates or partners of the SearchAwesome.net service. Below you can see a search window (triggered by SearchAwesome) loaded from the search-related extension promoting different advertisements inside search results:
The adverts, plus all other sponsored content can collect information about you and your browsing activity. Advertisements tied to SearchAwesome.net can be in the form of banners, pop-ups, pop-unders, in-page ads, plus in-text links ads. Other ad-types are not excluded from showing up, as well.
SearchAwesome.net – Privacy Policy
You can access the Privacy Policy page of the SearchAwesome.net site by clicking on the footer link of its related pages. The Policy provides just enough detail about the data collection done by the adware. Below, you can see exactly what information can be obtained from you when you are using any of the SearchAwesome.net service.
You can preview the Privacy Policy in the below screenshot:
The following information can be collected from you, semi-quoting the Policy:
Non-Personal Information
- Technical information (operating system, default browser)
- Your aggregated use of the Software, (if you installed the software yourself)
- Usage statistics
- Language and the time stamp
- Approximate geographical location
Personal Information
- Your IP addresses
- Search Queries
- Browsing History
- Contact Information
- Click data
- Email Address (upon registration or when contacting SearchAwesome)
- Name (upon registration or via emails)
- Other Information you provide (Via Surveys etc.)
Cookies connected to the adware site and services of SearchAwesome.net are also dropped by them to acquire more information related to your internet activity and habits (what ads you click on etc). The SearchAwesome.net service could collect even more data with which you could be identified.
To conclude, you should be wary of what you do on websites. In case you do not like the idea of any information to be acquired about you by this adware or its services, you should consider removing it.
Remove SearchAwesome.net Ads
To remove SearchAwesome.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 redirect and its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program can keep your computer safe in the future.
Tsetso Mihailov
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove SearchAwesome.net from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of SearchAwesome.net from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove SearchAwesome.net from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase SearchAwesome.net from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall SearchAwesome.net from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove SearchAwesome.net from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate SearchAwesome.net from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove SearchAwesome.net from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove SearchAwesome.net
Step 2: Uninstall SearchAwesome.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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by SearchAwesome.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 SearchAwesome.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.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 SearchAwesome.net from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall SearchAwesome.net 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 SearchAwesome.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 SearchAwesome.net files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as SearchAwesome.net, 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 SearchAwesome.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
Erase SearchAwesome.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
Uninstall SearchAwesome.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
Remove SearchAwesome.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 SearchAwesome.net will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate SearchAwesome.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.
