Safe-web.tk Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is safe-web.tk?
safe-web.tk is a rogue website claiming to be a legitimate search engine that supposedly generates improved search results, and provides a 'result-filtering' feature allowing users to search within certain websites only.
This functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, developers promote safe-web.tk using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Furthermore, safe-web.tk continually monitors users' Internet browsing activity.
Developers employ rogue software download/installation set-ups that hijack Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to safe-web.tk.
This behavior may not seem significant, however, set-ups also install a number of "helper objects" (third party browser plug-ins and/or apps) that prevent users from reverting these changes. Helper objects reassign settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are forced to continually visit safe-web.tk without their consent, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.
Furthermore, web browsing activity is continually tracked, since helper objects and safe-web.tk record URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses (to determine geo-locations), and other similar data that might be personally identifiable. The data is shared with third parties who often misuse private data to generate revenue.
Thus, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter unwanted redirects to safe-web.tk, uninstall all suspicious apps/browser plug-ins (helper objects) immediately and avoid visiting this site again.
Research reveals hundreds of websites that share similarities with safe-web.tk. Examples include anasayfa.im, webhome-page.com, tab4you.com, and wzscnet.com. Fake search engines claims to generate improved search results, however, most provide no real value for regular users. They are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than enabling the functions promised, fake search engines cause unwanted browser redirects, collect various user/system information, and deliver intrusive online advertisements. Be aware that some generate results leading to malicious websites and, therefore, using these search engines can lead to high-risk computer infections.
How did safe-web.tk install on my computer?
Developers employ a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" and conceal details regarding modification of browser settings within the "Custom" or "Advanced" section of the download/installation processes. Skipping this section grants set-ups permission to modify various options, which might lead to serious privacy issues and/or high-risk computer infections.
Developers' revenue is dependent on the volume of visitors to safe-web.tk and, therefore, they never properly disclose these installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The key to computer safety is caution. Installation of potentially unwanted programs (such as helper objects) can be prevented by taking two simple steps. Firstly, never rush the download or installation processes. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each single step.
Secondly, decline all offers to download or install additional applications and opt-out of those already included.
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Quick menu:
- What is safe-web.tk?
- STEP 1. Uninstall safe-web.tk application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove safe-web.tk redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove safe-web.tk browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove safe-web.tk homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove safe-web.tk redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
safe-web.tk browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the safe-web.tk website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
safe-web.tk browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://safe-web.tk and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "safe-web".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the safe-web.tk browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://safe-web.tk and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "safe-web.tk" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the safe-web.tk browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove all recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://safe-web.tk and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "safe-web"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with safe-web.tk browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the safe-web.tk browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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