Switch2search.com Redirect

What is switch2search.com?

Switch2Search is a deceptive browser extension identical to Swift2Search. Developers present Switch2Search as an application that allows users to search various social networks. Some users believe that this app is legitimate, however, it often infiltrates systems without users' permission.

Furthermore, Switch2Search tracks user's web browsing activity and stealthily modifies Internet browser settings. For these reasons, Switch2Search is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.

Switch2Search targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, Switch2Search assigns the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to switch2search.com. Users are unable to revert these changes, since Switch2Search reassigns settings when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are forced to visit switch2search.com when opening a new browsing tab or searching the Internet via the URL bar. Continual unwanted browser redirects significantly diminish the web browsing experience. Another downside of Switch2Search is information tracking.

This PUP continually records IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar data relating to web browsing activity. Initially, these data types may not seem significant, however, they will contain private details that developers share with cooperating third parties.

It is probable that this recorded information will be misused to generate revenue - behavior that can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to remove the Switch2Search browser hijacker immediately.

Switch2Search is virtually identical to hundreds of potentially unwanted browser-hijacking programs such as MyGamesTab, MyMusicTab, Fast Career Search, and many others. Research shows that all browser hijackers claim to enhance the web browsing experience by providing certain 'features', however, these claims are merely attempts to trick users to install.

In fact, browser hijackers provide no significant value for regular users. These apps are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than enabling the functionality promised, apps such as Switch2Search cause unwanted browser redirects, gather private data, and often deliver intrusive online advertisements.

Furthermore, some promote fake Internet search engines that generate results leading to malicious websites. Therefore, using these search engines is risky and can result in high-risk computer infections.

How did switch2search.com install on my computer?

This potentially unwanted program has an official download website, however, developers also promote it using a deceptive software marketing method called "bundling". Therefore, many users install this application inadvertently, without their consent. Bundling is essentially stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with regular software.

Users often rush the download/installation processes and skip most steps. Aware of this, developers intentionally hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installation of bogus programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be cautious during the download/installation processes. Closely analyze all steps of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, all additionally-included programs should be cancelled and offers to download/install them, declined.

Website promoting Switch2Search browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

• What is switch2search.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Switch2Search application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove switch2search.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Switch2Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove switch2search.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove switch2search.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Switch2Search 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 (for example, "Switch2Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the switch2search.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Switch2Search 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://switch2search.com 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 "switch2search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the switch2search 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 "Switch2Search", and other 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 Switch2Search Enhance your social... 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 "switch2search" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the switch2search 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 "Switch2Search", and all other 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://switch2search.com 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: "switch2search.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with switch2search 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 switch2search 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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