Search.searchipdf.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.searchipfd.com?
search.searchipdf.com is one of many fake search engines and virtually identical to search.hfastmapsanddirections.com, search.hyourfreeonlineformsnow.com, search.hnewsscoop.co, and hundreds of others. Developers present this site as legitimate and useful and has similar appearance to other well-known search engines such as Yahoo and Google.
Unfortunately, developers promote it through rogue downloaders/installers that install potentially unwanted apps (PUAs) and modify browser settings. Additionally, people who use search.searchipdf.com unintentionally allow this site to gather browsing-related information.
These rogue downloaders and installers usually target browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. In this case, they assign search.searchipdf.com as the homepage, default search engine, and new browser tab URL.
Furthermore, they often install "helper objects" (browser apps, such as extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) that ensure that these changes cannot be reverted. Therefore, affected users are forced to visit search.searchipdf.com when they open browsers, new tabs, or search via the URL bar (enter a search query into it).
To avoid redirects to search.searchipdf.com, "helper objects" must be uninstalled. Note that search.searchipdf.com redirects users to search.yahoo.com each time a search query is entered. Therefore, users end up searching via Yahoo (a legitimate web search engine) and thus search.searchipdf.com is irrelevant.
These potentially unwanted apps (and associated fake search engines) collect information/data relating to browsing activity. For example, geo-locations, IP (Internet Protocol) addresses, entered search queries, URLs of all visited websites, and so on. PUAs and fake search engines also gather personal details.
Developers of these apps and search engines share the data with other parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. If any PUAs are installed on your system, we strongly recommend that you uninstall them immediately. Leaving them installed or using fake search engines can lead to privacy/browsing safety issues or even identity theft.
Name | Search.searchipdf.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. |
There are countless fake search engines online, which developers present as 'useful' and legitimate. They offer potential users an enhanced browsing experience, various tools, features, and so on. In fact, these search engines simply cause problems and only developers benefit.
How did search.searchipfd.com install on my computer?
Some unwanted apps are promoted on various websites, however, most people download and install PUAs unintentionally, or accidentally. In most cases, this happens when people click intrusive, dubious advertisements or software developers use the "bundling" method.
They use bundling to trick people into downloading/installing (unwanted) apps together with other regular software. They include (bundle) these apps with software installation or download set-ups. They hide PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced" and other parts of these set-ups.
Despite this, inadvertent installations/downloads occur usually due to users who install or download software without checking the available settings.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
When downloading/installing software and browsing the web, avoid downloading software (especially if it is free) using untrustworthy sources. These include third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, unofficial websites, and so on. Use official and trustworthy websites.
Do not skip software download/installation steps - check "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" and other similar settings (or options) of the software download or installation setup. Opt-out of (deselect) offers to install or download unwanted software.
Bear in mind that intrusive ads may seem legitimate, however, most redirect to dubious websites (gambling, pornography, adult dating, and others). If these redirects occur even without clicking ads, check the browser for any unwanted extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins installed.
Also check for any suspicious programs installed on the operating system. Uninstall all 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.
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Quick menu:
- What is Search.searchipfd.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Search.searchipfd.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Search.searchipfd.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Search.searchipfd.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Search.searchipfd.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
search.searchipfd.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.searchipfd.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
search.searchipfd.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.searchipfd.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.searchipfd.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.searchipdf.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.searchipfd.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.searchipfd.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.searchipdf.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, disable unwanted app, remove hxxp://search.searchipfd.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.searchipfd.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.searchipdf.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.searchipdf.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.
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