Experts classify ShellSearch.net as a PUP (potentially unwanted program) and a browser redirect, and recommend its removal. ShellSearch.net may replace your homepage and default search provider without your direct permission. The search results provided by ShellSearch.net may be manipulated, so the page rank of certain predetermined web pages gets increased. Apart from the browser settings changes, the application may also inject marketing materials in the websites you view and collect information about your online activities. Experts recommend removing ShellSearch.net with a competent anti-spyware application.
How Does ShellSearch.net Enter Your PC?
ShellSearch.net usually ends up in your system bundled with free programs like media players, PDF creators, download managers, etc. This stealth installation method is used by many software developers to cover losses. An easy way to avoid unwanted additional installations is to go for the Custom options and un-check any suggested plug-ins, add-ons, and apps.
Is ShellSearch.net Dangerous?
Once installed, ShellSearch.net is known to modify your default browser settings, assigning itself as your homepage and search engine. The application may provide manipulated search results and link you to potentially unsafe web locations. You may be presented with third party advertisements in the form of pop-ups, banners, in-text ads, etc., which are not only irritating, but they also hide the risk of malware infiltration if you land on a corrupted website.
ShellSearch.net may track information mainly for marketing purposes. Such can be:
- Search terms
- Most frequently visited websites
- Data entered in the websites you visit
- Email address
- PC’s IP address and location
The collected data may be used to provide the user with targeted advertisement, or shared with interested parties for marketing purposes.
How to Delete ShellSearch.net from Your PC?
ShellSearch.net can be removed manually or with the assistance of a competent anti-malware tool. The instructions below will guide you through the removal process.
Spy Hunter system scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the malware tool.
1. Remove ShellSearch.net from your browser
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select ShellSearch.net and click “Remove“
After ShellSearch.net is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
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 ShellSearch.net
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall ShellSearch.net. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the ShellSearch.net will be removed.
2. Remove ShellSearch.net automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
To clean your computer with the award-winning software Spy Hunter –
It is highly recommended to run a system scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.
- Guide 1: How to Remove ShellSearch.net from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of ShellSearch.net from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove ShellSearch.net from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase ShellSearch.net from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall ShellSearch.net from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove ShellSearch.net from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate ShellSearch.net from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove ShellSearch.net from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove ShellSearch.net
Step 2: Uninstall ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as ShellSearch.net, 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net 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 ShellSearch.net will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate ShellSearch.net 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.
