How to remove Search Selector from browsers
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Search Selector?
The Search Selector app helps users to search by providing results through the selected-search.com search engine. Typically, apps that promote search engines by changing browser settings are categorized as browser hijackers. They are also known as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), since users often download and install them unintentionally.
It is possible that Search Selector is one of these rogue apps. Furthermore, most PUAs collect browsing-related information.
Generally, browser hijackers are compatible with more than one browser and can be installed on browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. After installation, they change settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab.
Search Selector assigns these addresses to selected-search.com. Typically, users cannot modify these settings unless they uninstall the app that appointed them. Therefore, they are forced to visit a specific address (typically, of a fake search engine) when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.
Once a search query is entered into selected-search.com, it redirects users to search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine designed by Yahoo). Therefore, selected-search.com provides no unique results and simply displays those generated by another search engine.
Search Selector might also gather IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited web pages, and other data of this kind.
Developers could then share the information with third parties who misuse it to generate revenue. Since there is a possibility that Search Selector is a browser hijacker, we advise against using it. Furthermore, there is no point in using search engines (like selected-search.com) that provide results generated by other, legitimate search engines.
| Name | Search Selector |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Detection Names | Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Search Selector |
| Supposed Functionality | This app is advertised as a tool that helps users to search the web. |
| Promoted URL | selected-search.com |
| Serving IP Address (selected-search.com) | 50.19.220.167 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser 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 browser 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. |
Examples of apps categorized as browser hijackers include Get Breaking News, Better Converter Pro and Live Radio Pro Tab. Do not use apps of this type, since most perform actions to help developers to generate revenue in dubious ways.
This might cause problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, etc. Furthermore, these apps do not operate as promised or provide any useful features.
How did Search Selector install on my computer?
In most cases, unwanted apps are downloaded and/or installed via intrusive ads (that are capable of executing scripts) and when software developers use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". They use bundling to trick people into downloading and/or installing PUAs together with other, regular software.
They achieve this by hiding the apps in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar parts of the download or installation set-ups, however, PUAs are only downloaded/installed when people leave the settings unchanged.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Avoid using third party software downloaders, installers, torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial websites or other sources to download (or install) software.
Use official websites and direct links. Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings/options of any download or installation setup and deselect offers to install/download unwanted software.
When clicked, intrusive ads (especially those displayed on dubious pages) often lead to untrustworthy, potentially malicious websites, or cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove all unwanted, suspicious or unknown apps (extensions, add-ons, plug-ins) from your browser and programs from your computer immediately.
If your computer is already infected with Search Selector, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Search Selector asking for permission to change search settings to selected-search.com:
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Quick menu:
- What is Search Selector?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Search Selector application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove selected-search.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Search Selector browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove selected-search.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove selected-search.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search Selector 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 Selector"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the selected-search.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Search Selector 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://selected-search.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 Selector".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the selected-search.com redirect, 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 Selector" 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 "Search Selector", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.selected-search.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 disable "Search Selector", look for "selected-search.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 selected-search.com redirect, 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 Selector", 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://selected-search.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: "selected-search"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with selected-search.com redirect 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 selected-search.com redirect, 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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