This is an article that provides specific details on Searchfort.onlie redirect as well as a step-by-step removal applicable to commonly used web browsers and Windows system.
Searchfort.online is a deceitful website that appears in commonly used browsers to promote a hoax browser extension called Search App. The constant redirects to this website could be a result of installed potentially undesired program that landed on your PC without your knowledge. Such kind of program could have altered main browser settings in order to inject annoying redirects like Searchfort.online and install other undesired software in the browser. Other types of ads could also interrupt your browsing sessions in an attempt to tick you into visiting doubtful websites or installing rogue apps.
Threat Summary
| Name | Searchfort.online |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, PUP |
| Short Description | A questionable website that offers dubious browser extension in an attampt to allow it to hijack your browser. |
| Symptoms | Browser slowdowns occur due to increased number of online ads. |
| 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 Searchfort.online. |
Searchfort.online – Spread Techniques
Searchfort.online redirect may land on the system after the installation of recently downloaded free app. How free third-party apps could distribute the undesired program is by pushing its installation code in their setups. However, don’t expect that they will openly inform you about its presence as the aim of these apps is to trick you into installing the PUP unintentionally. This way the authors of a given free app gain profits or which is worse bad intenders that have compromised the code of the app gain access to your system.
And in case that following the regular installation steps is a usual practice for you it is highly possible that you allowed the program associated with Searchfort.online redirect to take over your browser settings without noticing its presence. So next time you decide to install any free third-party app be advised to look for the Advanced or Custom setup options and select them in order to prevent such unwanted consequences. They should inform you whether the installer incorporates extra software or not and provide an option to deselect all undesired apps.
Another technique used for the distribution of Searchfort.online is the so-called drive-by-download. It allows malicious intenders to inject the code of the hijacker into different web pages that are then spread across the web. Each visit of one of these corrupted pages results in the unnoticed download of the infection directly on the PC. The links to such pages may be part of malvertising campaigns, send via instant messaging services or post on social media channels.
Frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, Opera and Safari could be affected by Searchfort.online redirect.
Searchfort.online – More About Its Impact
When you first land on Searchfort.online redirect page you will see a pop-up-like window that invites you to download the suspicious browser extension called Search App.
In fact, the offered browser extension is a one designed to alter main browser settings in order to hijack your browser. Once this becomes a fact your browser homepage, new tab page and default search engine may display the main page of any nasty browser hijacker like BlpSearch.com. As a result, you will start to see configured search results that primarily aim to trick you into visiting sponsored content.
In addition, the undesired program associated with Searchfort.online redirect is likely to generate various kinds of other online ads including pop-ups, pop-unders, sliders, videos, banners, etc. On the one hand, all these ads can make your browser sluggish. On the other hand, they may land you on poorly secured or phishing web pages.
Searchfort.online – Data Collection Practices
In this paragraph, we will present a summary of the most important details stated in the Privacy Policy provided on Searchfort.online redirect and the app it tries to push Search App. We did this for you as we think that you need to be informed what information these nasty apps collect from your affected browser and system. Only by being informed you could wisely decide whether you want to continue using it or remove it completely from the system.
What the policy reveals is that Searchfort.online as well as all associated programs are designed to obtain all of the following details as long as they are running on your system:
- Your E-mail addresses
- Your IP address
- Your Internet service provider (ISP)
- Cookie Information
- Your browser type and version
- Webpages you visit
- Access times
- Your names
- Your physical address
- Your telephone number(s)
- Your login name and password(s)
- Other information you provide
As of the company owner of this deceptive software its name is revealed to be Aztec Media. Unfortunately, once it obtains all of the mentioned details it becomes able to use them for various advertising and other business purposes. So if you don’t want to become a target of yet another wave of intrusive online ads or your system be compromised by severe malware infection, you should consider the immediate removal of all harmful files from browser and system.
In case that you are an European citizen don’t forget that you are protected by the GDPR which in turn allows you to contact the owners of this nasty program and demand them to delete all your data from their servers.
How to Remove Searchfort.online Redirect
In order to remove Searchfort.online redirect and all associated files from your PC make sure to complete all the steps listed in the removal that follows. It presents both manual and automatic removal instructions that combined will help you to remove this undesired program in full. The automatic approach guarantees maximum efficiency as a scan with an advanced anti-malware tool reveals the exact location of all malicious files and objects created by Searchfort.online. The results enable you to access and remove all harmful files from the infected PC. Have in mind that files associated with this hijacker may be detected with a different name than Searchfort.online and Search App.
In case that you have further questions or need additional help, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact us via email.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Searchfort.online from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Searchfort.online from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Searchfort.online from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Searchfort.online from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Searchfort.online from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Searchfort.online from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Searchfort.online from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Searchfort.online from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Searchfort.online
Step 2: Uninstall Searchfort.online 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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Searchfort.online 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 Searchfort.online there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
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.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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Searchfort.online from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Searchfort.online and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- 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 Searchfort.online 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:
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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Searchfort.online 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 Searchfort.online 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 Searchfort.online 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 Searchfort.online 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 Searchfort.online will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Searchfort.online 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.
