Searchinspired.com Redirect

What is searchinspired.com?

searchinspired.com is a fake web search engine that, according to developers, enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results and providing quick access to various popular websites (such as Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, and others).

Initially, this site may seem legitimate and useful, however, developers promote searchinspired.com using a browser-hijacking application called Search Inspired, which is likely to infiltrate systems without consent. Furthermore, searchinspired.com and Search Inspired record information relating to browsing activity.

Following infiltration, Search Inspired hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to searchinspired.com These changes may seem significant, and yet users are unable to revert them - Search Inspired reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, as long as Search Inspired is installed, returning browsers to their previous states is impossible and users are encouraged to visit searchinspired.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. This significantly diminishes the browsing experience. Another important issue is information tracking.

Research shows that searchinspired.com and Search Inspired record information that usually includes personal details such as IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc. This information is sold to third parties who generate revenue by misusing private information.

Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to searchinspired.com, immediately eliminate the Search Inspired browser hijacker. Never return to this website.

Threat Summary:

Name	Search Inspired 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.

The Internet is full of fake search engines that have similar characteristics to searchinspired.com including, for example, qip.ru, fluxsearch.com, nav-goo.com, z-results.com, hfastestsearch.com, and many others. 

All claim to generate improved results and, in some cases, provide other "useful features" (weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, latest news, shortcuts to popular websites, etc.), however, these false promises are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy.

The only purpose of all fake search engines is to generate revenue for the developers. They deliver no real value for regular users, cause unwanted redirects, and gather sensitive information. Some are also designed to feed users with misleading results and intrusive advertisements. Using them can lead to various computer infections.

How did Search Inspired install on my computer?

Search Inspired has an official download website. In most cases, however, this browser hijacker infiltrates the system without permission. The reasons for this are the lack of knowledge and careless behavior of many users.

Developers proliferate this PUP using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" (stealth installation of PUPs together with regular programs) together with intrusive advertisements.

Developers hide "bundled" programs within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes - they are not honest enough to disclose such information properly. Intrusive advertisements redirect to malicious websites and execute scripts that stealthily download and install PUPs.

Therefore, rushing download/installation processes and skipping steps often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs such as Search Inspired.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be very careful when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet in general - the key to computer safety is caution. Carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

Furthermore, you are strongly advised to avoid using third party download/installation set-ups, since developers monetize them by promoting PUPs (the "bundling" method). Download your programs from official sources only, using direct download links.

Intrusive advertisements typically seem legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious websites. If you experience these redirects, immediately eliminate all dubious applications and browser plug-ins (intrusive ads are typically delivered by adware-type PUPs).

Website promoting Search Inspired browser hijacker:

IMPORTANT NOTE! Search Inspired installs its Google Chrome extension as Administrator (read more here), thereby preventing removal. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:

1) Open the Command Prompt by clicking the start menu button and typing "command prompt". Right click the "Command Prompt" result and select "Run as Administrator":

2) Execute the following commands:

• rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
• rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
• gpupdate /force

After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this 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 searchinspired.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Search Inspired application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove searchinspired.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Search Inspired browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove searchinspired.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove searchinspired.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

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

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

Search Inspired 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://searchinspired.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 inspired".

Optional method:

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

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search inspired 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 inspired 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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