Remove SearchPile Browser Hijacker Completely

Ventsislav Krastev

Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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In case the home page or the new tab of your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer has been changed to home(.)searchpile(.)com you have an ad-supported browser hijacker on your computer. The potentially harmful software that is detected as a PUP.Optional has been reported numerously to significantly slow down affected computers. Furthermore, browser crashes and information aggregation from affected users are also present in reports by those who have come across this hijacker. Users are strongly advised to immediately remove the threat, instructions for which are provided after the article.

Search Pile Browser Hijacker – How Did I Get It

The ad-supported search engine that hijacks users` web browser is observed to distribute either via other unwanted programs or most commonly via bundled downloads. Bundled software is there for a reason – it aims to monetize the third-party sites from which it is downloaded by being embedded in the installers. In case you have come across any “Add this as a free extra” type of installation steps in the “Custom” installation option, there is a good chance this was a bundled application. Bottom line, it is strongly recommended to be very cautious from which sites you download software and always to look for the official providers.

Search Pile Browser Hijacker – What Does It Do

When activated, the browser hijacker begins affecting the computer by immediately changing the browser`s settings. It may then change its home-page, new tab page and also install extensions that display various advertisements. It is also recommended to read the privacy policy of Search Pile since the software associated with it may collect your information and share it with third-parties for profit.

The collected data by the provider of the hijacker includes the following:

• Unique identifier.
• Hardware and Software information.
• User`s configuration settings.
• Information about the user`s operating system.
• Information about the web browsers used.
• Details about the actual location of the user PC.
• Information about other software that is being used.

This information is usually combined with other information, aggregated and then sold or shared with third parties. It might assist different interests. For example, on one affected PC with the browser hijacker we have discovered the following IP addresses to have active outbound connection after two months of usage:

• 82.163.143.167
• 199.203.131.145

Furthermore, it was established that the computer affected with Search Pile Browser Hijacker had other suspicious programs and browser extensions that were causing up to 5 redirects to third-party scamming or malicious websites:

• ChEapMe 5.1
• ExstraSavingaS 4.2
• iWebar V2.1 0.95.62
• SensePlus.V2.0.95.95
• ShopDrop 4.7
• Shopper-Pro 1.0.0.4
• Swift Record 1.0.1 1.0.1

There was also suspicious software installed directly in the Program Files of Windows as programs:

• System Healer
• TakeTheCoupon
• youtubeadblocker
• Yellow AdBlocker
• BietSaver
• DNS Unlocker version 1.4

Here is how a relatively powerful computer system affected with such ad-supported software looks like after it has been affected with Search Pile and other Unwanted Software:

Furthermore, some third-party websites may lead the user to harmful hosts that may be of two types:

• Type 1: Scamming sites that use different social engineering techniques to deceive users into entering their personal or financial credentials and steal their funds.
• Type 2: Malicious URLs that may directly infect users with malware.

To administer its pop-ups and collect user information, Search Pile browser hijacker may use different tracking technologies:

• Web Beacons
• Pixels
• Cookies
• LSOs (Local Shared Objects)
• Unique Identifier Technologies

The web domain home(.)searchpile(.)com is, in fact, a hoax search engine and has been reported to redirect users to google(.)com with ad-supported search results. Furthermore, the search engine may display redirects to other sites and install even more ad-supported software. Users who see the search engine should immediately remove it.

Remove Search Pile Browser Hijacker Completely

To remove this hijacker, it is strongly advisable that you use a specific software since there is no guarantee that a manual removal of the program`s source file will eradicate it. This is because unwanted programs like Search Pile Browser Hijacker tend to change different settings that may either conceal their actual files or even make them reappear. This is why it is strongly recommended to use special anti-malware software that will detect and remove all associated files, registry objects and others associated with the Search Pile menace.

Step 1: Remove/Uninstall SearchPile in Windows

Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 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 get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes 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 SearchPile.

Step 2: Remove SearchPile from your browser

Remove a toolbar from Mozilla FirefoxRemove a toolbar from Google Chrome Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer Remove a toolbar from Safari

Start Mozilla Firefox Open the menu window

Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu

Select SearchPile and click “Remove”

After SearchPile is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.

Start Google Chrome and Open the drop menu

Move the cursor over “Tools” and then from the extended menu choose “Extensions“

From the opened “Extensions” menu locate SearchPile and click on the garbage bin icon on the right of it.

After SearchPile is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.

Start Internet Explorer:

Click “‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’

In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window, make sure that in the first window ‘Add-on Types’, the drop menu ‘Show’ is on ‘All add-ons’

Select SearchPile to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.

After SearchPile has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.

Start Safari

Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.

From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on SearchPile
Click ‘Uninstall’

A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall SearchPile. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the SearchPile will be removed.

Step 3: Remove SearchPile automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.

1. Remove SearchPile with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Remove SearchPile with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove SearchPile.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove SearchPile.

Step 1: Click here to go to SpyHunter’s download instruction page.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.

Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button.

Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any SearchPile files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently.

Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.

2. Remove SearchPile with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

2. Remove SearchPile with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

1. Install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to scan for and remove SearchPile. 2. Scan your PC with MalwareBytes to remove all SearchPile associated files automatically.

Step 1: Download Malwarebytes by clicking here.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards.


Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it.
Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button.

Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again.

Step 6: Review and click on ‘Next’ on the following 4 steps that will appear afterwards and after that click on the ‘Install’ button.

Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button and check the ‘Launch MalwareBytes AntiMalware’ check box.

Step 1: Launch MalwareBytes if you havent launched it after install.
Step 2: Wait for the software to update and then click on the blue ‘Scan Now’ button. If it doesnt start updating automatically, click on the blue ‘Update Now’ highlighted text.

Step 3: At this point, after clicking the ‘Scan Now’ button, the system should start scanning your PC. It may take a while but be patient – it is worth it.

Step 4: After the scan has been complete and all of the threats have been identified, click on the ‘Remove Selected’ button to detelete them permanently.

Step 5: Once the scan has completed, MalwareBytes will prompt you to restart your computer. It is recommended to save all your data you are working on before restarting.

3. Remove SearchPile with STOPZilla AntiMalware

4. Remove SearchPile with STOPZilla AntiMalware

1. Install STOPZilla Anti Malware to scan for and remove SearchPile. 2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all SearchPile associated files completely.

Step 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here.
Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards.

Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it.
Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button.

Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again.

Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button.

Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.

Step 1: Launch STOPZilla if you havent launched it after install.
Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button.

Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.

4. Back up your data to secure it against attacks related to SearchPile in the future

4. Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future

Security engineers recommend that you back up your files immediately, preferably on an external memory carrier in order to be able to restore them. In order to protect yourself from SearchPile (For Windows Users) please follow these simple steps:

1. For Windows 7 and earlier 1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 1. Enabling the Windows Defense Feature (Previous Versions)

1-Click on Windows Start Menu

2-Type Backup And Restore
3-Open it and click on Set Up Backup

4-A window will appear asking you where to set up backup. You should have a flash drive or an external hard drive. Mark it by clicking on it with your mouse then click on Next.

5-On the next window, the system will ask you what do you want to backup. Choose the ‘Let Me Choose’ option and then click on Next.

6-Click on ‘Save settings and run backup’ on the next window in order to protect your files from possible attacks by SearchPile.

1-Press Windows button + R

2-In the window type ‘filehistory’ and press Enter

3-A File History window will appear. Click on ‘Configure file history settings’

4-The configuration menu for File History will appear. Click on ‘Turn On’. After its on, click on Select Drive in order to select the backup drive. It is recommended to choose an external HDD, SSD or a USB stick whose memory capacity is corresponding to the size of the files you want to backup.

5-Select the drive then click on ‘Ok’ in order to set up file backup and protect yourself from SearchPile.

1- Press Windows button + R keys.

2- A run windows should appear. In it type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and then click on Run.

3- A System Properties windows should appear. In it choose System Protection.

5- Click on Turn on system protection and select the size on the hard disk you want to utilize for system protection.
6- Click on Ok and you should see an indication in Protection settings that the protection from SearchPile is on.

Restoring a file via Windows Defense feature:
1-Right-click on the encrypted file, then choose Properties.

2-Click on the Previous Versions tab and then mark the last version of the file.

3-Click on Apply and Ok and the file encrypted by SearchPile should be restored.

Ventsislav Krastev

Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.

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