Search.searchpcst.com Redirect

What is search.searchpcst.com?

search.searchpcst.com is another fake search engine promoted by the PC Speed Test (also known as My Speed Test) browser hijacker app that is installed on web browsers as an extension, add-on, or a separate program on the operating system. The site offers improved search results and an internet performance test tool called OpenSpeedTest.

The PC Speed Test browser hijacker targets popular web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.

This fake search engine has an integrated performance test tool and also allows quick access to websites such as amazon.com, gmail.com, yahoo.com, facebook.com, broadbandchoices.co.uk, and fcc.gov Once installed, it takes control of the web browser by changing the search engine, homepage, and new tab options to the search.searchpcst.com URL.

If you try to search using this search engine, it redirects you to search.yahoo.com (a legitimate Yahoo search engine), thus making search.searchpcst.com useless. Furthermore, when a query is made, this search engine collects data such as visited websites, search queries, terms, IP addresses, and more.

Data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. This situation is likely to provide misleading or unwanted redirects, and offers to try out various products and services.

Developers generate revenue by tricking users into clicking on these misleading results. It is also possible that you might begin to see various intrusive ads - clicking them can result in various system infections. Therefore do not use these search engines (browser hijackers) and uninstall them immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	PC Speed Test 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.

There are many browser hijackers that offer dubious tools. Most will seem very similar and the only difference between them is the tool (or tools) offered (for example, the Internet performance test tool). All claim to be legitimate, but their main purpose remains identical: to generate revenue.

There are many examples of browser hijackers including search.hthecalendar.co, search.bittsearch.com, and search.hplayfreemusic.com

How did PC Speed Test install on my computer?

The PC Speed Test browser hijacker can be installed by downloading it from the pc-performance-test.com website, however, in this case, it would mean that you downloaded it knowingly or even willingly. This is generally not how browsers are hijacked. Typically, users are tricked into downloading hijackers using the "bundling" method or through intrusive advertisements.

Bundling is essentially stealth installation of third party apps with regular software. These apps are usually hidden in "Advanced", "Custom" or other similar options (or settings). If your browser was hijacked through intrusive ads, this will have occurred through the ads redirecting you to malicious websites and executing scripts that stealthily download or install software.

It is also possible that it was installed through third party software downloaders or installers - these are also known to promote various potentially unwanted programs (PUPs).

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Remember to check all available checkboxes, "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings/options of the installation processes. As mentioned before, software developers tend to hide browser hijackers and various other potentially unwanted programs in these sections. Additionally, avoid using torrents, unofficial websites and software downloaders as sources for downloading software.

Avoid clicking on various ads that seem suspicious - these may redirect you to unwanted websites (gambling, pornography, adult dating etc.) on which browser hijackers are active. If your computer is already infected with PC Speed Test, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting PC Speed Test 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 search.searchpcst.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall PC Speed Test application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.searchpcst.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove PC Speed Test browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.searchpcst.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.searchpcst.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

PC Speed Test 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, "PC Speed Test" or "My Speed Test"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

PC Speed Test 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.searchpcst.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 pc speed test 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 "PC Speed Test" 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.search.searchpcst.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 "search.searchpcst.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 pc speed test 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 on "Extensions" and remove "PC Speed Test", "My Speed Test", or simply "SpeedTest", 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 "PC Speed Test", "My Speed Test", or simply "SpeedTest" 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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with pc speed test 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 pc speed test 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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