Searchfortplus.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is searchfortplus.com?
searchfortplus.com is another fake web search engine that supposedly enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results.
Initially, this functionality may appear legitimate and useful, however, searchfortplus.com is promoted using a browser-hijacking app called Searchfort Plus. In addition, searchfortplus.com and Searchfort Plus gather various sensitive data relating to web browsing activity.
Searchfort Plus targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, Searchfort Plus assigns the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to searchfortplus.com. Furthermore, although these changes may seem insignificant, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that Searchfort Plus reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them - returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit searchfortplus.com when they open a new browser tab or enter a search query into the URL bar. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience.
Furthermore, once a query is entered, searchfortplus.com redirects to search.yahoo.com and users end up searching the web via Yahoo (a legitimate search engine). This makes searchfortplus.com useless. Another important issue is data tracking. Research shows that searchfortplus.com and Searchfort Plus continually gather information relating to browsing activity.
Collected data often includes personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). These people misuse private information to generate revenue. Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.
If you encounter redirects to searchfortplus.com, immediately eliminate the Searchfort Plus browser hijacker and never return to this website.
| Name | Searchfort Plus 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. |
searchfortplus.com is virtually identical to stabers.club, sm.de, findgofind.co, go.bonefreeze.com, and dozens of other fake web search engines.
As with searchfortplus.com, all claim to generate improved results and provide other "useful features" (e.g., shortcuts to popular sites, weather forecasts, and so on), however, these claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. Fake web search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than giving any real value for regular users, they cause unwanted redirects and record sensitive information. In addition, they often generate misleading search results and intrusive ads, leading to potentially malicious websites. Therefore, using fake search engines can lead to high-risk computer infections.
How did Searchfort Plus install on my computer?
Searchfort Plus has an official download website, however, it often infiltrates systems without permission, since developers proliferate this browser hijacker using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" and intrusive advertisements. "Bundling" is stealth installation of third party apps with regular software/apps.
Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes, whilst intrusive ads redirect to malicious sites and execute scripts that download/install malware. Many users rush these procedures and skip steps.
In addition, they often click various advertisements, thus exposing their systems to risk of various infections and compromising their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To infiltration by PUPs, be very cautious when browsing the Internet and especially when downloading/installing software. Intrusive ads appear legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to dubious sites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, and similar). Intrusive ads are typically delivered by adware-type PUPs.
Therefore, if you encounter them, immediately eliminate all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, 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.
The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. Remember that the key to safety is caution.
Website promoting Searchfort Plus browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is searchfortplus.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Searchfort Plus application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove searchfortplus.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Searchfort Plus browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove searchfortplus.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove searchfortplus.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Searchfort Plus 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, "Searchfort Plus"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the searchfortplus.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Searchfort Plus 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://searchfortplus.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 "searchfortplus".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchfort plus 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 "Searchfort Plus" 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.searchfortplus.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 "searchfortplus.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 searchfort plus 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 "Searchfort Plus", 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://searchfortplus.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: "searchfortplus.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with searchfort plus 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 searchfort plus 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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