Search.pa-cmf.com Redirect

What is search.pa-cmf.com?

search.pa-cmf.com is a fake search engine developed by SaferBrowser and promoted using browser-hijacking applications that usually offer an 'enhanced browsing experience' and a quick access to popular websites directly from the homepage. After stealth system infiltration, these hijacking apps modify browser options and record various user-system information.

This hijacker targets popular browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. It modifies browser settings by changing the homepage, new tab URLs, and default search engine to search.pa-cmf.com.

Although these changes may seem insignificant, they are difficult to undo - when attempts are made to revert them, the browser hijacker immediately reapplies its modifications. Therefore, affected systems force users to visit search.pa-cmf.com when they open a browser or new window/tab.

Furthermore, when this browser hijacker is installed, it gathers various data, such as IP addresses, keystrokes, search queries, URLs of visited websites, geo-locations, and other information that might contain personal details. Developers generate revenue by sharing the private data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.

This situation can lead to problems relating to browsing safety, privacy issues, and even more serious problems such as identity theft. Uninstall these applications immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	search.pa-cfm.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. ▼ 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.

Browser-hijacking applications are very prevalent (other examples are FreePDFConverter, Directions Mapper, and Get Sports). Most are promoted as useful, capable of providing various 'features' or tools, however, they mostly have similar behavior. Their purpose is generate revenue, rather than providing the functionality promised.

How did search.pa-cmf.com install on my computer?

Most browser hijackers have websites from where they can be downloaded, however, in most cases, users install them unintentionally. This usually happens when software developers use the "bundling" method - stealth installation of potentially unwanted applications with regular software.

Developers hide PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the installation dialogs and often do not disclose information regarding the presence of bundled apps properly. Furthermore, many users skip installation steps without checking the settings, thus leading to inadvertent installation of PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Download and install software, and browse the web with care. Download software (especially free software) using official and trustworthy sources, and direct links. Avoid using third party software downloaders, torrents, and other similar channels. Do not skip steps when installing software and check "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings/options.

Opt-out of any offers to install unwanted/unknown software and only then finish the installation. If you encounter intrusive ads that redirect you to untrustworthy websites (gambling, pornography, adult dating, and so on), check the list of installed applications (add-ons, plug-ins, extensions) on your browsers and remove any unknown or unwanted entries immediately.

If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.

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.pa-cmf.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.pa-cmf.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove search.pa-cmf.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.pa-cmf.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.pa-cmf.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

search.pa-cmf.com redirect 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 applications that cause browser redirects to the search.pa-cmf.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

search.pa-cmf.com redirect 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.pa-cmf.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.pa-cmf.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.pa-cfm.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.search.pa-cmf.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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.pa-cmf.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.pa-cfm.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 on "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://search.pa-cmf.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: "search.pa-cmf.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search.pa-cfm.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 search.pa-cfm.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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on search.pa-cfm.com browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion