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.
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.
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.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Safesearch4.ru hijacker and other threats.
Threats such as Safesearch4.ru hijacker may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
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.
A hoax browser search engine has been detected by malware researchers several days ago. The search engine exhibits a strange behavior and has the ability to display advertisements, modify web browser settings and also display advertisements that may turn out to be harmful. Since Safesearch4.ru is classified as a potentially unwanted program and is together with what many refer to a browser hijacker. Users who see the homepage of Safesearch4.ru are advised to immediately take down this PUP using the information provided in this article.
Threat Summary
Name
Safesearch4.ru hijacker
Type
Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description
Each browser application on your computer can be affected. The hijacker will redirect you and show various advertisements.
Symptoms
Browser settings which could be modified are the homepage, the search engine and the new tab window.
Distribution Method
Freeware Installations, Bundle Packages
Detection Tool
See If Your System Has Been Affected by Safesearch4.ru hijacker
The most likely method that may have gotten the suspicious web page to open every time you start Chrome, Firefox or Internet Explorer is called bundling. Since it is very similar to another hijacker – Safesearch1.ru, it involves the adding of indirectly dangerous programs like Safesearch4.ru on the computer of the user disguised “as free extras”. These programs are also known as fake “helpers”, apps that aim to improve the online experience, like seemingly useful toolbars and other forms. Such bundled installers may be downloaded without the user realizing they are bundled. Usually this happens when third-party websites who provide widely downloaded freeware, like well-known media players, torrent programs and even antivirus programs, ironically enough. These websites make money by including the free installers of those fake helpers in the form of either an installation step having a convincing statement as if the app is a part of the installation process:
“Add Safesearch4.ru to improve your browsing experience.”
“Insall Safesearch toolbar utility to help you find what you are looking for faster”.
Since these type of threats are classified as low-level, antivirus programs may do nothing to stop them, because of their sheer size in numbers. This is why users are advised to use advanced tools for removing them.
Safesearch4.ru Hijacker – More Information
When it has been successfully situated onto an affected computer, the hijacking software begins to modify Windows Registry Entries heavily. It may primarily target the subkeys of the web browsers that are installed on a given PC, for example:
The modifications of those subkeys and the values in them as well as some other tweaks may change the home page of the web browser to the default home page of Startsearch4.ru:
The page Startsearch4.ru itself is nothing special. For starters, it is created to faintly resemble Google and includes Google Custom Search which is essentially a searching service by google, indicating the search engine does not have it’s original searching database. In addition to this, the search engine also does not possess it’s own custom HTTPs encryption which is a strong indicator that the software is a hoax search engine due to the fact that most official search engines are properly secured.
Another very suspicious behavior the suspicious hijacker connected with Startsearch4.ru exhibited was that it uses cookies to collect different information, like:
Search history.
Online clicks.
Banners.
Possibly user information, if entered.
The software also does not have a privacy policy which increases the risk of using Safesearch4.ru, because it may be the opposite of safe. Another indicator that the program is solely created for the interests of it’s owner is that it displays ad-supported search results that may be based on what you search, here is what we received when searching for something online:
Safesearch4.ru – Conclusion and Removal Instructions
As a bottom line, the suspicious Safesearch4.ru search engine is an indicator that your computer is at risk. It may display advertisements that lead to dangerous websites that may either be scamming or directly infect your computer with malware.
Not only this, but Safeseaarch4.ru is primarily created for profit, this is why it may cause multiple redirects or advertisements in other forms to generate traffic to hoax websites or generate funds via pay-per click or other schemes.
This is why it is strongly advisable to remove Safesearch4.ru hijacker from your computer in full. To do this, you should follow the instructions which we have posted below. They are carefully designed to guide you in removing this PUP manually and if you do not have the experience or the time, automatically with a specific anti-malware tool.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Safesearch4.ru hijacker or other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as Safesearch4.ru hijacker. 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.
To remove Safesearch4.ru hijacker follow these steps:
1. Uninstall malicious programs from Windows
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
How to Uninstall malicious programs 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:
Hold the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear (fig.1).
In the field type in “appwiz.cpl” and press ENTER (fig.2).
This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
2. Clean your Browser and Registry from Safesearch4.ru hijacker
Remove Safesearch4.ru hijacker by cleaning your Browser and Registry.
Remove an extension from Mozilla FirefoxRemove an extension from Google Chrome Remove an extension from Internet Explorer Remove an extension from Microsoft Edge Fix registry entries created by Safesearch4.ru hijacker on your PC.
Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu.
Select the unwanted extension and click “Remove“
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.
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 the unwanted extension and click on its “Remove” button.
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.
Start Internet Explorer:
Click on the gear icon labeled ‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’
In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window.
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’.
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.
Start Edge
Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
From the drop menu select “Extensions”.
Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove Safesearch4.ru hijacker with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Safesearch4.ru hijacker and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Safesearch4.ru hijacker. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
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.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: 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.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
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 with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
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.
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.
A hoax browser search engine has been detected by malware researchers several days ago. The search engine exhibits a strange behavior and has the ability to display advertisements, modify web browser settings and also display advertisements that may turn out to be harmful. Since Safesearch4.ru is classified as a potentially unwanted program and is together with what many refer to a browser hijacker. Users who see the homepage of Safesearch4.ru are advised to immediately take down this PUP using the information provided in this article.
Remove an extension from Mozilla Firefox
Remove an extension from Google Chrome
Remove an extension from Internet Explorer
Remove an extension from Microsoft Edge
Fix registry entries created by Safesearch4.ru hijacker on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Safesearch4.ru hijacker and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
