Search.search-settings.com Redirect

What is search.search-settings.com?

Developers present search.search-settings.com as a "top-notch" Internet search engine that supposedly enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results. On initial inspection, this site may seem similar to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other legitimate search engines. Therefore, many users believe that search.search-settings.com is also legitimate and useful.

This site is promoted using a deceptive application called Search Settings, which claims to allow users to switch between search engines. In fact, Search Settings is designed to stealthily infiltrate systems, modify web browser options, and record various user-system information. Therefore, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.

Research shows that Search Settings targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, this PUP assigns the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to search.search-settings.com.

These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states - Search Settings reassigns browser settings when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, reverting the aforementioned changes becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit search.search-settings.com when they search via the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience.

Furthermore, Search Settings and search.search-settings.com records various data relating to browsing activity including IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, and search queries.

The data might contain private details that developers use to increase their revenue - they sell it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who also aim to generate revenue by misusing private information. This situation might cause serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

If you encounter redirects to search.search-settings.com, uninstall the Search Settings browser hijacker and never visit this rogue site again.

Threat Summary:

Name	Search Settings browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Search Settings is identical to Selected Search and also shares many similarities with Fast Email Access, Search Free Horoscope, Shield Defense, and dozens of other browser-hijacking applications. Although most offer different functionality, they have identical behavior. Claims to provide 'useful features' are simply attempts to give the impression of legitimacy.

In fact, browser hijackers are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and deliver no value for regular users. Search Settings, and other similar programs, are designed to promote other websites (by causing unwanted redirects) and record information (which is mostly sold to third parties).

Most of the promoted websites are fake search engines filled with dozens of advertisements irrelevant to the user. Furthermore, these sites generate fake search results.

Intrusive advertisements and fake results can lead to malicious websites. In addition, the ads often activate scripts designed to download and install malware. Therefore, fake search engines pose a direct threat to users' Internet browsing safety.

How did search.search-settings.com install on my computer?

Search Settings has an official promotion website, however, it is also proliferated using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" (stealth installation of third party applications with regular software/apps). Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps.

Therefore, bundled apps are concealed within the "Custom/Advanced" options of these procedures. As mentioned above, malware (such as PUPs) is often distributed using intrusive advertisements. Therefore, rushing the download/installation processes and clicking ads exposes systems to risk of various infections and compromises users' privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. PUPs are proliferated using the aforementioned bundling method, and intrusive ads. Therefore, never rush the download or installation processes. Carefully analyze all processes using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and cancel all additionally-included programs.

Where possible, select the direct download link, rather than using third party download tools. In addition, be cautious and avoid clicking on ads. Most intrusive ads appear genuine and it is very difficult to determine if they originate from the visited website. Do not take the risk by clicking them. The key to computer safety is caution.

Website promoting Search Settings browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

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

Search Settings 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, "Search Settings"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Search Settings 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://search.search-settings.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 "search-settings".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search settings 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Search Settings" and other recently-installed suspicious browser 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.search-settings.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

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 engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "Search Settings" when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search settings 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 "Search Settings", 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://search.search-settings.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: "search.search-settings.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search settings 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 search settings 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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