Searchprotector.net Redirect

What is searchprotector.net?

searchprotector.net is presented as a "top-notch" Internet search engine that significantly enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results.

Judging on appearance alone, searchprotector.net may seem legitimate and useful, however, developers promote this site using rogue download/installation set-ups that hijack web browsers and stealthily modify various options. In addition, searchprotector.net continually records various information relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

Research shows that rogue set-ups hijack Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage settings to searchprotector.net.

They append the targets of browser shortcuts with this same URL and, therefore, users are continually redirected to searchprotector.net when they search via the URL bar or simply open a browser/new browser tab. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience and users are unable to revert the aforementioned changes.

Furthermore, set-ups stealthily install a number of third party applications and/or browser extensions (so-called "helper objects") that immediately reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible.

Helper objects and searchprotector.net continually monitor browsing activity by gathering various data that might contain personal details. This behavior is very common to fake search engines and helper objects.

The list of collected data often includes (but is not limited to) search queries, URLs visited, pages viewed, mouse/keyboard activity, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and geographic locations.

Initially, data collection such as this may not seem harmful, however, developers often generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who also aim to increase their revenue by misusing personal details, Thus, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

If you encounter redirects to searchprotector.net, uninstall all suspicious programs/browser plug-ins and never visit this rogue site again.

Threat Summary:

Name	searchprotector.net 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.

searchprotector.net is virtually identical to startme.today, search.selected-search.co, startme.online, and dozens of other fake search engines. As with searchprotector.net, these sites also offer 'improved results', however, remember that all fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and deliver no value for regular users.

They often promote various websites by generating fake results and are filled with intrusive ads irrelevant to the user.

These fake results and intrusive advertisements can lead to malicious websites. Furthermore, the ads often execute scripts that download and install malware and, as mentioned above, the fake search engines track web browsing activity. Therefore, they pose a direct threat to users' privacy and browsing safety.

How did searchprotector.net install on my computer?

Criminals promote searchprotector.net using rogue download/installation set-ups. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Therefore they hide details of browser modifications within the "Custom/Advanced" options of these processes.

By skipping this section, users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify various options, expose their systems to risk of various infections, and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the Internet. Download your software from official sources only using the direct download link. Third party download tools commonly provide options to include additional applications (via the aforementioned bundling method) - these options are often hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings.

Therefore, closely analyze all download/installation steps and opt-out of any third party applications. If you are forced to use third party downloaders, cancel the entire process.

Furthermore, avoid clicking advertisements. Cyber criminals do their best to make intrusive ads appear legitimate and, therefore, it is virtually impossible to determine if they originate from the visited website. Therefore, no matter how 'attractive' ads may appear, do not take the risk of clicking them. The key to computer safety is caution.

Deceptive pop-up ad promoting installation of searchprotector.net browser hijacker:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 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.

Quick menu:

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

searchprotector.net redirect 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 potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the searchprotector.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

searchprotector.net homepage and default Internet search engine removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove searchprotector.net-related Internet Explorer add-ons:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select such entries and click "Remove".

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate text (hxxp://www.searchprotector.net/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.searchprotector.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch 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, then remove "searchprotector".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchprotector.net 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:

Remove searchprotector.net-related Google Chrome extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.searchprotector.net/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

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.searchprotector.net) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click 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 "searchprotector.net", and 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 searchprotector.net 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:

Remove searchprotector.net-related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.searchprotector.net/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

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://www.searchprotector.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change 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: "searchprotector.net"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with searchprotector.net 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 searchprotector.net 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on searchprotector.net browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion