Searchgosearch.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is searchgosearch.com?
searchgosearch.com is a fake web search engine that supposedly generates improved results and, therefore, enhances the browsing experience. Judging on appearance alone, searchgosearch.com may seem similar to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other legitimate search engines.
Therefore, many users believe that this site is also legitimate. Be aware, however, that searchgosearch.com is promoted using rogue download/installation tools designed to modify web browser settings without consent. Furthermore, this site records data relating to web browsing activities.
Rogue set-ups target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, they assign searchgosearch.com as the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage browser options.
Although these changes may seem insignificant, users are unable to revert them, since set-ups stealthily install a number of "helper objects" (potentially unwanted programs [PUPs] and/or browser plug-ins). "Helper objects" reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible.
Ultimately, users are encouraged to visit searchgosearch.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. These redirects significantly diminish the web browsing experience. Note that after entering a search query into searchgosearch.com, users are redirected to findgofind.co.
In addition, searchgosearch.com and "helper objects" gather various information that typically contains personal details. The list of collected data includes (but is not limited to) Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, keystrokes, and geo-locations.
The data is later shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you experience redirects to searchgosearch.com, immediately check the list of installed apps/browser plug-ins and uninstall any suspicious entries. Never return to this site.
Name | searchgosearch.com 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. |
searchgosearch.com is virtually identical to go.mennythanks.com, newtab-tvsearch.com, searchencrypt.com, and dozens of other fake web search engines. By offering improved search results and, other "useful features" (e.g., quick access to popular websites, weather forecasts, etc.) sites such as searchgosearch.com attempt to give the impression of legitimacy.
In fact, these sites are designed only to help developers generate passive revenue. Rather than giving any real value for users, fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and gather sensitive information.
In addition, these sites feed users with misleading results and intrusive ads (e.g., coupons, banners, and so on). In addition, users are often redirected to untrustworthy websites. Therefore, using fake search engines can lead to various system infections.
How did searchgosearch.com install on my computer?
As mentioned above, searchgosearch.com is promoted using rogue set-ups. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Developers are aware that many users rush download/installation processes and skip steps. Therefore, all details regarding modification of browser options are hidden within "Custom/Advanced" settings of these procedures.
By skipping download/installation steps, users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify browser settings, expose their systems to risk of various infections, and compromise their privacy. Note: the main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Potentially unwanted programs are distributed using the "bundling" method and intrusive advertisements. Therefore, to prevent infiltration, be very cautious when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet in general. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and closely analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs.
Opt-out of all additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them. You are also advised to download software from official sources only, using direct download links. Developers monetize third party downloaders/installers by promoting PUPs.
Therefore, these tools should not be used. Intrusive ads typically seem legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious websites.
In most cases, intrusive ads are delivered by adware-type PUPs. Therefore, if you encounter dubious redirects, immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. The key to computer safety is caution.
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is searchgosearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall searchgosearch.com application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove searchgosearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove searchgosearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove searchgosearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove searchgosearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
searchgosearch.com 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 searchgosearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Searchgosearch.com 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://searchgosearch.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 "searchgosearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchgosearch.com 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
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.searchgosearch.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 "searchgosearch.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 searchgosearch.com 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://searchgosearch.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: "searchgosearch.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with searchgosearch.com 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 searchgosearch.com 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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