Search.searchqpt.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.searchqpt.com?
Quick Package Tracker is another browser-hijacking application that falsely claims to allow users to track statuses of packages delivered by DHL, USPS, FedEx, and other companies.
Although Quick Package Tracker may seem legitimate, be aware that this potentially unwanted program (PUP) typically infiltrates systems without users’ permission. Furthermore, Quick Package Tracker promotes a fake Internet search engine and continually records various data.
Following infiltration, Quick Package Tracker hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to search.searchqpt.com (the fake search engine). Furthermore, although these changes may seem insignificant, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that Quick Package Tracker continues to reassign browser options when users attempt to change them. Therefore, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states and are encouraged to visit search.searchqpt.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. These redirects significantly diminish the web browsing experience.
Furthermore, web browsing activity is monitored, since Quick Package Tracker and search.searchqpt.com collect information that typically includes confidential details. Developers share this information with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who are capable of misusing personal details to generate revenue.
Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to search.searchqpt.com, immediately eliminate Quick Package Tracker and scan the computer with a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite. Never return to this site.
Name | Quick Package Tracker 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. |
Quick Package Tracker's developers have released dozens of identical browser-hijacking applications. The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) Easy Television Access, Easy Video Converter Access, Easy Movies Access, and Your Transit Info Now.
Note that these applications offer different functionality, however, all have identical behavior - their promises are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. Applications such as Quick Package Tracker generate revenue for the developers only. Rather than enabling the functionality promised, browser hijackers cause unwanted redirects and gather sensitive information.
In addition, fake search engines generate false search results and intrusive advertisements. In most cases, users are redirected to malicious websites. Therefore, using a fake Internet search engine can lead to computer infections.
How did search.searchqpt.com install on my computer?
Quick Package Tracker is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, this PUP typically infiltrates systems without permission. The reasons for this are the careless behavior and lack of knowledge of some users. Developers proliferate Quick Package Tracker by employing a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", together with intrusive advertisements.
"Bundling" is stealth installation of third party applications with regular software/apps. Developers know that users often rush download/installation processes and skip steps.
Therefore, they hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of these procedures. By skipping steps and clicking various ads, users expose their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet. Choose "Custom/Advanced" settings, closely analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs, and cancel all additionally-included programs.
It is also advised that you avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since criminals employ them to proliferate PUPs. Download your applications from official sources only, using a direct download link. Cyber criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design.
Despite this, they are distinguishable, since most lead to survey, gambling, pornography, and other suspicious sites. Intrusive ads are typically delivered by adware-type PUPs. Therefore, if you encounter them, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Always use a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite.
Website promoting Quick Package Tracker browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.searchqpt.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Quick Package Tracker application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.searchqpt.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Quick Package Tracker browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.searchqpt.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.searchqpt.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Quick Package Tracker 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, "Quick Package Tracker"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.searchqpt.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Quick Package Tracker 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.searchqpt.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".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the quick package tracker 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 "Quick Pakage Tracker" 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, disable "Quick Pakage Tracker", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.searchqpt.com) 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 "searchqpt.com", 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 quick package tracker 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 "Quick Package Tracker", as well as 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.searchqpt.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: "searchqpt.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with quick package tracker 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 quick package tracker 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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