Remove SurfSelf(.)com Browser Hijacker Efficiently

SurfSelf(.)com is a domain which serves as a search engine to a browser hijacker software. Once you have it on your computer machine, you will begin to notice changes in browsers, like the homepage, search engine, and new tab settings. Adverts and redirects could show up while you try to browse. A toolbar might be added as well. To remove this browser hijacker with all its files, you should read the article till the end.

Threat Summary

Name	SurfSelf(.)com
Type	Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description	The browsers on your PC will get their settings modified. Settings like the homepage, search engine and new tab can be changed. A toolbar might be added.
Symptoms	A browser extension might be installed in your browsers. The hijacker can redirect you and filter your search results. You might see third party content and advertisements when browsing.
Distribution Method	Freeware Installations, Bundle Packages
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by SurfSelf(.)com Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss SurfSelf(.)com.

SurfSelf(.)com – Ways of Delivery

SurfSelf(.)com can be delivered by in a few ways. A very popular one is with the help of third-party installation setups. Bundled packages plus setups for free programs can put the hijacker inside your computer. Freeware installers have additional content chosen in the default installation. The unwanted program can enter your computer system and switch various settings before you become aware of that. To avoid such a program from installing, you should search for a Custom or an Advanced options menu, so you can deselect components.

Another way for delivering SurfSelf(.)com is from the Google Chrome Web Store, as you can see above. Banners, pop-ups or other advertisements might also distribute the hijacker. Suspicious websites which host redirects might also be used as a delivery way for the hijacker. Websites like that might be partners of SurfSelf(.)com. Browsers that can be affected are: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.

SurfSelf(.)com – In Details

SurfSelf(.)com is the primary web domain and search engine for the browser hijacker program with the same name. You can see the main web page in the image below:

The SurfSelf(.)com page consists of a single search bar, and many different buttons. The buttons themselves use redirecting through the bit(.)ly URL shortener. In that way, the owners of the site make additional money. That same page is also filled with other various links and a toolbar. The page will replace your default search engine, new tab setting, and your homepage.

If any software that is tied to the hijacker is found on your computer device, then you will start seeing your browser apps being modified. Additional programs could be installed on your computer system, to provide assistance to the hijacker. Any extension might redirect you or show you adverts, and you can find yourself on unknown and unwanted web pages. Such websites could be partnered or affiliated with SurfSelf(.)com.

In the image depicted above, you can see the search results page of SurfSelf(.)com. You can see that Google’s Custom search is utilized, but the domain remains the same. Also, links and web pages will go through different redirects and URL shorteners as mentioned above.

SurfSelf(.)com can collect data from you by filtering your search queries. The search engine can send both personal and technical information to servers owned by the hijacker’s developers. Be careful about what you type in your searches.

The Privacy Policy of the SurfSelf(.)com site is shown in the screenshot above. The policy states openly that the SurfSelf hijacker is owned by the company Digi724 DMCC. It becomes clear that the website, plus any add-ons such as a toolbar and extensions, can all collect information about you. The information can be both personally and non-personally identifiable.

According to the Policy, the following information can be collected:

• Email address
• Your name (if you provide it)
• Internet protocol (IP) addresses
• Browser user agent
• Referring page
• Date and time stamp
• Cookies and web beacons

All of that information may be disclosed to third-parties in several situations. If you don’t your privacy to be invaded in such a way, and you have software connected to the search site, then it is advised to remove all unwanted files from your personal computer device.

Remove SurfSelf(.)com Completely from Your PC

To remove SurfSelf(.)com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of this hijacker and all related files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure.

Manually delete SurfSelf(.)com from Windows and your browser

Note! Substantial notification about the SurfSelf(.)com threat: Manual removal of SurfSelf(.)com requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.

2. Remove SurfSelf(.)com from Your Browser

Remove SurfSelf(.)com 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 SurfSelf(.)com and click “Remove”

After SurfSelf(.)com 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 SurfSelf(.)com and click on the garbage bin icon on the right of it.

After SurfSelf(.)com 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 SurfSelf(.)com 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 SurfSelf(.)com 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 SurfSelf(.)com
Click ‘Uninstall’

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

Automatically remove SurfSelf(.)com by downloading an advanced anti-malware program

1. Remove SurfSelf(.)com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

Remove SurfSelf(.)com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove SurfSelf(.)com.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove SurfSelf(.)com.

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 SurfSelf(.)com 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. Back up your data to secure it against attacks related to SurfSelf(.)com in the future

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

IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup .

SOS Online Backup

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 SurfSelf(.)com.

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 SurfSelf(.)com.

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 SurfSelf(.)com 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 SurfSelf(.)com should be restored.

Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools

Remove SurfSelf(.)com Using Other Alternative Tools

STOPZilla Anti Malware

1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove SurfSelf(.)com.
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.

2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all SurfSelf(.)com associated files completely.
Step 1: Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t 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.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is the Editor-in-Chief of SensorsTechForum. She is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space.

More Posts - Website