Searcholive.com Redirect

What is searcholive.com?

searcholive.com is is another fake search engine that is promoted by a browser hijacker - in this case, the FP App browser hijacker. Generally, search engines and browser hijackers are promoted as 'useful tools' that provide an enhanced browsing experience and various other features.

In fact, the FP App browser hijacker is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUAs) and most people install it unintentionally. Furthermore, searcholive.com and FP App record information relating to users' browsing activity.

FP App can be installed on most popular browsers and targets Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. It modifies the search engine, homepage, and new tab URL browser settings by assigning them to searcholive.com. Therefore, users are forced to visit searcholive.com when opening a browser or new tab.

FP App also causes chain redirects - in this case, forcing redirects to findprivate.online and then searcholive.com. Therefore, users who visit searcholive.com are often redirected from findprivate.online. These changes cannot be undone, at least not until FP App is removed. This browser hijacker reassigns browser settings when attempts are made to change them.

As mentioned earlier, searcholive.com and FP App record information relating to users' browsing activity. This information often contains details such as IP addresses, search queries, keystrokes, URLs of visited websites, and so on.

Some of this information might include personal/sensitive data that FP App/searcholive.com developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.

Thus, having information tracking apps installed or using fake search engines such as searcholive.com might cause privacy issues or even identity theft. We recommend that you uninstall the FP App browser hijacker and never return to searcholive.com.

Threat Summary:

Name	FP App 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-hijacking apps that promote fake search engines. Some examples of other fake search engines are findprivate.online, feed.streaming-time.com, and search.hdopplerweatherradar.co. 

Typically, browser hijackers and fake search engines are promoted as 'useful' and capable of delivering various features, however, this is simply to give the impression of legitimacy. Fake search engines and browser hijackers are designed only to generate revenue for their developers. Few of these apps/search engines provide the functionality promised or any other value.

How did FP App install on my computer?

FP App can be downloaded from the Google Chrome store, however, however, developers promote their browser hijacking apps using "bundling", a method used to trick users into installing potentially unwanted applications with other regular software.

Software developers hide bundled apps such as FP App in "Advanced", "Custom", and other similar settings or sections of the download/installation processes.

They do not disclose information about bundled apps properly. Furthermore, users who skip software download/installation steps and do not check available settings often install PUAs inadvertently. Clicking untrustworthy ads can thus lead to unwanted installations.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Do not skip the software installation steps - check "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" and other similar options/settings of the installation setup. Deselect any unwanted software (such as PUAs) and only then finish the installation. Avoid downloading software (especially if it is free) from untrustworthy sources, using third party downloaders, torrents, or other similar sources.

Use official (and trustworthy) websites and direct links only. Bear in mind that intrusive ads are often rogue. If you continually encounter intrusive advertisements that redirect you to dubious websites (gambling, pornography, adult dating, or others), check your browser for unwanted extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins installed, and uninstall them immediately.

Also remove unwanted programs from your computer. If your computer is already infected with FP App, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Screenshot of FP App browser hijacker in Google Chrome web store:

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

FP App 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, "FP App"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

FP App 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://searcholive.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 "searcholive".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the fp app 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 "FP App" 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 "FP App" browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.searcholive.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 "searcholive.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 fp app 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 "FP App", 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 "FP App", remove hxxp://searcholive.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: "searcholive"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with fp app 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 fp app 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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