Searchsecurepro.co Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is searchsecurepro.co?
searchsecurepro.co is another faker search engine promoted using the Search Secure browser hijacker. This potentially unwanted application (PUA) is known to distribute searchsecureprime.co.
Search Secure claims to enhance computer safety whilst browsing the internet, however, this app often infiltrates systems, diminishes the browsing experience, and gathers information.
Search Secure targets the most popular browsers - Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following successful infiltration, Search Secure assigns the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage settings to searchsecurepro.co. These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that Search Secure reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states. Note that searchsecurepro.co is useless as search engine, since once a search query is entered, it simply redirects users to search.yahoo.com.
So searchsecurepro.co does not generate any unique results and thus gives no real value for regular users. Data tracking is also an issue. Both searchsecurepro.co and Search Secure record information relating to browsing activity.
These fake search engines and browser hijackers usually record IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar information relating to browsing activity. Collected data often includes personal details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
These people generate revenue by misusing private information. Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you uninstall the Search Secure browser hijacker and never return to searchsecurepro.co.
Name | Search Secure 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. |
The internet is full of fake search engines similar to searchsecurepro.co The list of examples includes (but is not limited to yourweatherpage.com, search.hpdfconverterhub.com, search.hloginnow.net, and search.hquickmapsanddirections.com.
By offering various 'useful features' (improved search results, quick access to popular websites, etc.), developers trick users into believing that promoted sites are useful and legitimate, however, fake search engines usually have one purpose: to generate revenue for the developers.
They deliver no real value for regular users, cause unwanted redirects, and gather information. Some even feed users with misleading results and intrusive ads leading to dubious websites. Using fake search engines can thus lead to various system infections.
How did Search Secure install on my computer?
Search Secure does has an official download website, however, these browser hijackers usually infiltrate computers without permission, since developers proliferate them using "bundling" and "intrusive advertising methods". "Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software.
Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation procedures. Intrusive advertisements redirect users to malicious websites and execute scripts that download/install potentially unwanted applications.
Furthermore, many users often rush these procedures and skip steps, thereby exposing their systems to risk of various infections and compromising their privacy. This behavior often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted applications such as Search Secure.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent system infiltration by PUAs, be very cautious when browsing the internet and downloading/installing software. Developers invest many resources into intrusive ad design. Most seem legitimate, however, they usually redirect to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.). Most are delivered by adware-type applications.
Therefore, if you encounter suspicious ads/redirects, immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Furthermore, carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Decline offers to download/install additional apps and opt-out of those already included.
We advise you to download your programs from official sources only, using direct download links, since third party downloaders/installers are usually monetized using the "bundling" method (developers proliferate PUAs). The key to computer safety is caution.
If your computer is already infected with Search Secure, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Search Secure browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is searchsecurepro.co?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Search Secure application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove searchsecurepro.co redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Search Secure browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove searchsecurepro.co homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove searchsecurepro.co redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search Secure 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 Secure"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the searchsecurepro.co website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Search Secure 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://searchsecurepro.co 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 "searchsecurepro".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search secure 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 Secure" 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.searchsecurepro.co) 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, disable "Search Secure", look for "searchsecurepro.co", 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 secure 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 "Search Secure", 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://searchsecurepro.co 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 search secure 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 secure 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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