Search.searchgtp2.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.searchgtp2.com?
search.searchgtp2.com is just one of many fake search engines available online. According to its developers, this search engine helps to track packages managed by delivery companies (such as UPS, FedEx, USPS, and so on) directly from the browser.
The search.searchgtp2.com website is promoted by Tracker Package, a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that is categorized as browser hijacker. This website and PUA collect data relating to users' browsing habits.
Tracker Package and search.searchgtp2.com target browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer. After infiltration, the homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL browser settings are assigned to search.searchgtp2.com.
It is impossible to undo these changes in the usual way, and thus users are forced to visit this website when they open the affected browser or a new tab. When users attempt to undo changes made by Tracker Package, it immediately reverts them to its default settings.
The only way to change them back to your choice is to uninstall the browser hijacker. In our introduction we mentioned that Tracker Package and search.searchgtp2.com collect browsing-related data. This includes IP addresses, search queries, keystrokes, URLs of visited websites, geo-locations, etc.
The information can also include personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. These actions can lead to problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, or even identity theft. We recommend that you do not use search.searchgtp2.com or Tracker Package. Uninstall them immediately.
Name | Tracker Package 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. |
There are many fake search engines similar to search.searchgtp2.com, such as feed.streaming-time.com, alphashoppers.co, free.pdf-maker.com, etc.
Developers promote them as being 'useful' and offer various features, but these claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. Frequently, browser hijackers and fake search engines are used only to generate revenue for the developers.
How did Tracker Package install on my computer?
Due to the lack of knowledge and careless behaviour of many users, Tracker Package often infiltrates systems without direct permission. Developers promote it using the intrusive advertisements and the "bundling" method.
These ads redirect users to malicious websites and execute scripts that stealthily download and install potentially unwanted applications, including Tracker Package. "Bundling" is stealth installation of potentially unwanted apps with regular software.
Developers often trick users into installing these apps by hiding them in "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes. Furthermore, many users click ads and skip download/installation steps. This behaviour often leads to inadvertent installation of apps such as Tracker Package.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Use official and trustworthy sources to download software, especially if it is free. Do not use third party downloaders and installers. Typically, these are monetized by promoting potentially unwanted/rogue applications. Do not skip installation steps without first checking "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings/options.
Deselect unwanted software and only then finish the installation. If you encounter advertisements that redirect you to various untrustworthy and potentially malicious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.), it is possible that you have installed some adware.
Check your browser for any unwanted/suspicious plug-ins, extensions, and add-ons and remove them immediately. Also check the list of installed programs on your computer and remove unwanted entries. If your computer is already infected with Tracker Package, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Tracker Package browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.searchgtp2.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Tracker Package application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.searchgtp2.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Tracker Package browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.searchgtp2.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.searchgtp2.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Tracker Package 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, "Tracker Package"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.searchgtp2.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Tracker Package 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.searchgtp2.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 tracker package 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 "Tracker Package" 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 "Tracker Package" browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.searchgtp2.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.searchgtp2.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 tracker package 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 "Tracker Package", 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, disable "Packages" extension, remove hxxp://search.searchgtp2.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.searchgtp2.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with tracker package 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 tracker package 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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