Searchererr.website Redirect Removal

by Martin Beltov | August 17, 2017 | 0 Comments browser hijacker, browser redirect, Searchererr.website

A dangerous browser hijacker called Searchererr.website has been found to infect computer users worldwide. The victims report serious security and privacy issues when accessing the malicious service. It is linked with other criminal services that are used to harvest sensitive data from the victims.

Threat Summary

Name	Searchererr.website
Type	Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description	Every browser application which is on your computer will get affected. The hijacker can redirect you and show you lots of advertisements.
Symptoms	Browser settings that get changed are the start page, search engine and the new tab page.
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 Searchererr.website.

Searchererr.website – Delivery Methods

The Searchererr.website redirect can infect victim machines using several methods. The hackers behind the malware can use different strategies depending on the target victims and the available resources.

One of the most popular ways of through the use of browser hijackers. They are malicious extensions made for web browsers. The hackers usually attempt to make versions compatible with the most widely used applications: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge. Once installed they perform a series of malware actions depending on their configuration. Examples include the following:

Default Web Browser Settings Change ‒ The malware changes some of the most important browser settings used by the browsers to redirect to a hacker-provided address. This is used to make the victims use a counterfeit download portal and infect themselves with the redirect or another virus. Target settings include the default home page, search engine and new tabs page.
Operating System Settings Change ‒ The Searchererr.website browser hijacker is able to change important settings used by the operating system itself. This can lead to performance or stability issues.
Information Harvesting ‒ The malicious extensions can be used to download private information stored in the applications and relay it to the hackers. This may include any of the following: form data, bookmarks, history, passwords, settings and account credentials.

Another way of obtaining the Searchererr.website infection is by downloading an infected file from a hacker site. They usually come as counterfeit download portals and serve modified versions of popular software. The software installers are usually placed on sites that pose as legitimate sources. Other ways of delivering the Searchererr.website redirect is by distributing scripts using documents of different types ‒ rich text documents, spreadsheets or databases.

Searchererr.website – In-Depth Overview

The Searchererr.website redirect displays a home page that showcases a familiar-looking search engine design. The aim of the criminals is to make the victims use the service. It displays intrusive ads above and below the search engine in an effort to generate additional income. The displayed graphical and text links are run by an ad network or affiliate site which partners with the site owners.

Unlike other similar threats the home page displays no links or copyright. It is likely that the site is auto generated based on a template. A list of domains can be used to register several sites at the same time and apply the design. The victims are the lured through browser hijackers or another means. Its interesting to note that the site does not use cookies to track the users actions. They have probably opted to use network packets as an alternative. This is a less intrusive option where the information about site interactions is sent automatically during the message requests.

When the search engine is used the victims are shown results that do not correctly reflect the query. The hackers generate the bulk of their money by redirecting the victims to partner ad sites. This is the reason why browser hijackers have been found to be an effective distribution tool, they allow many users to instantly switch to the malware domain as their primary search option.

The security analysis shows that the engine is a customized Google search that is designed to reflect the configuration given by the hackers. The home page does not display a terms of use or privacy policy page which does not give an indication of who actually owns the site. The domain is registered by an anonymous party.

Searchererr.website – Privacy Policy

The lack of a privacy policy page showcases that the users have no information on how their data is being processed. This allows the Searchererr.website redirect operators to process the harvested information as they see fit. Examples of malicious usage include the following cases:

Site Usage Analysis ‒ The criminals behind the site have the ability to track the users interaction with the site by including scripts on every page.
User Information Harvesting ‒ Every user is assigned a unique ID associated with their computer and habits. If the site is truly part of large network then the data is crosslinked and an overall report is immediately available to the operators.
Data Trade ‒ The collected data can be sold to marketing agencies or other hackers for a profit. Sites like the Searchererr.website redirect are a popular source of valuable information about users, their interest and habits.

Remember that using such sites threaten your security. Follow our Searchererr.website redirect removal instructions below to restore your web browser and recover your computers from the infection.

Remove Searchererr.website Effectively

To remove Searchererr.website manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the hijacker redirect and its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program can keep your computer safe in the future.

Martin Beltov

Martin graduated with a degree in Publishing from Sofia University. As a cyber security enthusiast he enjoys writing about the latest threats and mechanisms of intrusion.

How to Remove Searchererr.website from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Searchererr.website

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 Searchererr.website 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 Searchererr.website 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 Searchererr.website 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 Searchererr.website 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

Get rid of Searchererr.website from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall Searchererr.website 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 Searchererr.website:

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 Searchererr.website. 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 Searchererr.website. 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 Searchererr.website 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 Searchererr.website. 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 malware from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.

Download

Combo Cleaner

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer

Remove Searchererr.website 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

Erase Searchererr.website 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

Uninstall Searchererr.website 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

Remove Searchererr.website 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 Searchererr.website 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

Eliminate Searchererr.website 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.

Searchererr.website Redirect Removal

Threat Summary

Searchererr.website – Delivery Methods

Searchererr.website – In-Depth Overview

Searchererr.website – Privacy Policy

Remove Searchererr.website Effectively

Martin Beltov

How to Remove Searchererr.website from Windows.

Get rid of Searchererr.website from Mac OS X.

Remove Searchererr.website from Google Chrome.

Erase Searchererr.website from Mozilla Firefox.

Uninstall Searchererr.website from Microsoft Edge.

Remove Searchererr.website from Safari.

Eliminate Searchererr.website from Internet Explorer.

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