Search.privatesearch.online Redirect

What is search.privatesearch.online?

The search.privatesearch.online website operates as a search engine, however developers promote it using a browser hijacker called Private Browsing by Safely.

Browser hijackers are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). The search engines that they promote are generally useless and should not be trusted. Private Browsing by Safely promotes search.privatesearch.online by changing browser settings and, as with most apps of this type, also collects browsing-related data.

Most browser hijackers can be installed on browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer. As mentioned, Private Browsing by Safely modifies browser settings. Once installed it assigns the homepage, new tab URL and default search engine to search.privatesearch.online.

This fake search engine is then visited when a browser/new tab is opened or a search query is entered into the URL bar. If used to search, search.privatesearch.online displays results produced by Yahoo. Users are simply redirected to search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine) and thus search.privatesearch.online provides no unique results, rendering this search engine useless.

Private Browsing by Safely prevents users from changing the aforementioned settings - no changes can be made unless the browser hijacker is uninstalled. Browser hijackers and search engines that they promote often record information relating to users' browsing activities.

Targeted details usually include geolocations, IP addresses, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites and other similar information. These apps also collect personal details. The people responsible for these apps (developers) share the data with other parties who misuse it to generate revenue.

Some of these third parties might include cyber criminals. Therefore, do not trust any fake search engines or browser hijackers should.

Threat Summary:

Name	Private Browsing by Safely
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Private Browsing by Safely
Supposed Functionality	Privacy protection.
Promoted URL	search.privatesearch.online
Serving IP Address (search.privatesearch.online)	35.244.208.173
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious 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.

Dailymailtab.com, speedtestace.co and page-ups.com are just some examples of other fake search engines. There are many more available online.

Typically, they are promoted using various browser hijackers and bogus search engines that supposedly enhance the browsing experience (provide fast searches, accurate results, and other benefits). Most are useless and designed only to generate revenue for the developers. By using them, many people put their browsing safety and privacy at risk.

How did Private Browsing by Safely install on my computer?

These apps are often promoted/distributed using "bundling", a deceptive marketing method that is used to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted apps with other, regular software. Information about bundled apps is not properly disclosed and is hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings of software download/installation set-ups.

When software is downloaded and installed without checking the set-ups, unwanted apps are also installed. Another common reason behind download/installation of PUAs is clicked intrusive advertisements. Some are deceptive and, if clicked, run scripts designed to download and install unwanted, potentially malicious software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Do not use third party downloaders (or installers), Peer-to-Peer networks (such as torrent clients, eMule etc.), unofficial websites and other similar sources as tools to download software. The best way to download software is using official websites and direct download links. Furthermore, all download and installation procedures should be handled properly.

It is important to check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings that are included in set-ups and to deselect offers to download/install unwanted applications. Additionally, intrusive advertisements should not be trusted. They may seem legitimate, however, by clicking them, people are redirected to untrustworthy websites.

Typically, ads of this type appear on pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating and so on. If unwanted redirects or ads are a common issue, check for unwanted, unknown extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons installed on the default web browser. Remove all entries of this kind immediately.

Also check installed programs on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Private Browsing by Safely, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Private Browsing by Safely browser hijacker:

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.privatesearch.online?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Private Browsing by Safely application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.privatesearch.online redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Private Browsing by Safely browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.privatesearch.online homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.privatesearch.online redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Private Browsing by Safely 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, "Private Browsing by Safely"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Private Browsing by Safely 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.privatesearch.online 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.privatesearch.online".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the private browsing by safely 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 "Private Browsing by Safely" 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, disable "Private Browsing by Safely", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.privatesearch.online) 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.privatesearch.online", 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 private browsing by safely 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 "Private Browsing by Safely", 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 "Private Browsing by Safely", remove hxxp://search.privatesearch.online 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.privatesearch.online"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with private browsing by safely 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 private browsing by safely 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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