Remove Searchtpg.com Redirect

by Berta Bilbao | February 8, 2018 | 0 Comments browser hijacker, Polarity Technologies, redirect

Threat Summary Searchtpg.com – Spread Methods Searchtpg.com – Technical Data Searchtpg.com – Privacy Policy Remove Searchtpg.com Redirect

The article will help you to remove Searchtpg.com totally. Follow the browser hijacker removal instructions given at the end of the article.

Searchtpg.com is the main URL address and new tab page for a browser hijacker redirect that is named Track Packages. The owner company is called Polarity Technologies which is previously known as SaferBrowser, before its renaming. The unwanted application modifies the new tab window, homepage, and search engine for all browser applications that you own. Hence, your browsers’ main pages can also get a toolbar set on them and an extension related to this hijacker installed without your knowledge.

Threat Summary

Name	Searchtpg.com
Type	Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description	The hijacker redirect can alter the homepage, search engine and new tab on every browser application you have installed.
Symptoms	The homepage, new tab and search engine of all your browsers will be switched to Search.Searchtpg.com. You will be redirected and could see sponsored content.
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 Searchtpg.com.

Searchtpg.com – Spread Methods

Searchtpg.com uses different methods to spread itself around the Internet. Installation setups from third-party programs are mainly responsible for delivering the browser hijacker. Without any notification, freeware, and bundled packages could spread the hijacker to your computer system. Installation setups such as those might be set to install additional content by default. To prevent that from happening can be managed if you find Custom or Advanced settings in the setup. From there you should be able to deselect unwanted components from being installed.

Searchtpg.com could be delivered through a browser extension. Add-ons and plug-ins associated with the hijacker might be put all around the Internet and be used as another way of delivery. Social media networks and file-sharing services can also be used for delivering installation setups that contain the hijacker program. The browser hijacker redirect can appear from redirect links and advertisements found on suspicious websites. Browsers that can get affected are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer.

Searchtpg.com – Technical Data

Searchtpg.com is the Web address of a browser hijacker. The default search engine for your browsers is going to load the page Searchtpg.com, after the hijacker has affected them. You can see the main page of the hijacker in the image below:

If your computer system is affected by this hijacker, you will see redirects to the search engine that comes with it and changes the other browser settings such as your homepage, new tab, themes etc. The developer of the hijacker is Polarity Technologies, according to the Privacy Policy of the product. That is just a rebranding of SaferBrowser – a company known for developing a lot of applications with browser hijacking capabilities.

Extensions and addons which are connected to this hijacker could be in your browser apps and alter the new tab window, homepage, and the default search settings. That can be seen through redirects which are spawned to your pages when you are casually browsing the Internet. Many, different kinds of data can be collected from you and sent to servers related to the Searchtpg.com site owners. Third party partners and affiliates might also receive that information.

The extension could do the following:

Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
Replace the page you see when opening a new tab
Manage your apps, extensions, and themes

Searchtpg.com filters whatever searches go through it so you should be careful of what you provide as information. Content, some of which is sponsored, can appear as targeted advertisements, and be displayed after you make a search or if you are just surfing the Web. That advertising content can be of a few types and presented as in-text links, pop-ups, pop-unders, and similar advertisements.

The image displayed above reveals the redirect for the search results of the Searchtpg.com page and its function. The redirect link is hosted on a sub-domain of the hijacker and only appears in a very small period of time. Each one of your search queries will get filtered, and all of the data which is gathered from those is going to a sub-domain and will be stored there. Afterward, you will see the search results page of a reputable search engine – or at least it will look like it. On the screenshot displayed below you can see an example of a fake Yahoo’s search results page:

Be careful with what information you tend to give inside search bars, especially if that data contains personal information and similar things, as your credentials to a site, account details among other things. Keep on reading to find out what information is being obtained from you.

Searchtpg.com – Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policy of Searchtpg.com states that personally and non-personally identifying information will be collected by the hijacker. The company Polarity Technologies is given as the owner of the hijacker, although it might be just a renaming of SaferBrowser or some subsidiary/partner of it. One proof of such similarity between the aforementioned companies is the Privacy Policy, which bears a lot of resemblances to its past variants. Information that is collected about you and your browsing habits can be disclosed to third party businesses and partners of Polarity Technologies.

The policy states that the following information is obtained:

Email address
IP address
Home address (mailing address)
Search queries and all data you type in searches
Search data and specifics of searches
URLs and clicks
Browser type
Your name
Your geographic location
Your ISP (Internet Search Provider)
Communications preferences
Operating System (and other related data)

You can view the Privacy Policy page from the below image:

Reading the privacy policy to its end reveals a statement of how using any application or service connected to the Searchtpg.com website is thought to be your approval for data collection. The Polarity Technologies company obtains information about you and your online activity. The website also uses browser cookies, and more tracking technologies, like Web beacons, to gather more information about you and your online browsing habits.

Remove Searchtpg.com Redirect

To remove Searchtpg.com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions given below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the browser hijacker entirely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software helps keep your computer secure in the future.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.

Guide 1: How to Remove Searchtpg.com from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of Searchtpg.com on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove Searchtpg.com in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase Searchtpg.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall Searchtpg.com from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove Searchtpg.com from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate Searchtpg.com from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable Searchtpg.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 Searchtpg.com from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Searchtpg.com

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall Searchtpg.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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Searchtpg.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 Searchtpg.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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 Searchtpg.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of Searchtpg.com from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall Searchtpg.com and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Searchtpg.com:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Searchtpg.com. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. 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 Searchtpg.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 Searchtpg.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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Searchtpg.com. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 Searchtpg.com files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Searchtpg.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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for Searchtpg.com:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove Searchtpg.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 Searchtpg.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 Searchtpg.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 Searchtpg.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 Searchtpg.com will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate Searchtpg.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.