This article will aid you to remove SearchLock effectively. Follow the browser hijacker removal instructions at the end of the article.
Searchlock.com is the official domain of the browser hijacker SearchLock. Read the whole article carefully on why you should remove it. 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 | SearchLock.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 | Redirects, Ads, Chrome Web Store, Add-on |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss SearchLock.com. |
SearchLock.com – Distribution Methods
You can get the related browser extension of SearchLock.com in a couple of 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 observe that the browser extension related to SearchLock.com is offered at the Chrome Web Store and is helping it spread further. Users there state Another distribution method for the hijacker is via advertisements, like banners and pop-ups or from visiting sites that are unknown. Those sites could be partnered with the hijacker’s makers or current owners. Affected browsers are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari and more.
SearchLock.com – More Information
SearchLock.com is the domain of the browser hijacker of the same name. If an add-on or a browser extension related to SearchLock 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 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 still branded as SearchLock and could redirect you to misleading search results. You might see targeted ad content from the redirects. The browser extension does the following:
- Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
- Replace the page you see when opening a new tab
- Read your browsing history
- Change your privacy related settings
All input typed in the SearchLock.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.
SearchLock.com – Privacy Policy
From the Privacy Policy of SearchLock.com is understood that the hijacker performs information collection. There are a few pages about privacy on the site, but the policy looks like this:
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 SearchLock
- Where you heard about SearchLock (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. Typing in your social media account could make any information you have on that account gathered by the hijacker as well.
As search terms might be collected, using the services and site of SearchLock, you should consider removing this unwanted application and search engine.
Remove SearchLock.com Completely
To remove SearchLock.com and anything related to it 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.
- Guide 1: How to Remove SearchLock.com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of SearchLock.com on Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove SearchLock.com in Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase SearchLock.com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall SearchLock.com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove SearchLock.com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate SearchLock.com from Internet Explorer.
- Guide 8: Disable SearchLock.com 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 SearchLock.com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove SearchLock.com
Step 2: Uninstall SearchLock.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 SearchLock.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 SearchLock.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.
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.
Step 4: Scan for SearchLock.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Video Removal Guide for SearchLock.com (Windows).
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Get rid of SearchLock.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall SearchLock.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:
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 SearchLock.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 SearchLock.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 SearchLock.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as SearchLock.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 SearchLock.com (Mac)
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove SearchLock.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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Erase SearchLock.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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Uninstall SearchLock.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 Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove SearchLock.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 SearchLock.com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Eliminate SearchLock.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 caused by SearchLock.com 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".
SearchLock.com-FAQ
What Is SearchLock.com?
The SearchLock.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 SearchLock.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 Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like SearchLock.com?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most adware or unwanted programs by firstly isolating them and then removing them from your browser and computer. One recommended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you. There are many anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter is one of the recommended anti-malware apps that can scan your computer for free and detect any viruses, tracking cookies and unwanted adware apps and eliminate them quickly. This saves time when compared to doing the removal manually.
How to Secure My Passwords and Other Data from SearchLock.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.
More tips you can find on our website, where you can also ask any questions and comment underneath the articles about your computer problems. We will try to respond as fast as possible.
How Does SearchLock.com Work?
The SearchLock.com threat is typically installed as part of another application that you may have downloaded from the internet. Unwanted apps are often disguised as helpful programs, such as browser add-ons or toolbars, but they can also be included in software downloads without your knowledge.
Threats such as SearchLock.com can also be installed through malicious websites, email attachments, and other dubious sources. Once installed, SearchLock.com can collect data about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. This data is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties. SearchLock.com can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information.
Is SearchLock.com Malware?
If you have noticed SearchLock.com on your computer, you may be wondering if it is considered malware. The answer is yes, it is possible for an unwanted program to be classified as malware.
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. The best way to protect your computer from PUPs is to be careful when downloading software from the internet. Be sure to read the terms of service and privacy policies before downloading any software, and be wary of any suspicious download links or ads.
About the SearchLock.com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this SearchLock.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 SearchLock.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 SearchLock.com threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1.Browser Redirect – What Is It?
2.Adware Is Malicious, and It Uses Advanced Techniques to Infect
3.The Thin Red Line Between Potentially Unwanted Programs and Malware
4.The Pay-Per-Install Affiliate Business – Making Millions out of Adware
5.Malicious Firefox Extensions Installed by 455,000 Users Blocked Updates