How to uninstall the Search Power+ application

What is Search Power+?

Search Power+ is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker. This rogue app hijacks browsers by assigning certain settings to searchpowerapp.com, the address of a fake search engine. PUAs often collect user-system information as well. Browser hijackers are categorized as PUAs, since people tend to download and install them inadvertently.

Search Power+ promotes its fake search engine by assigning searchpowerapp.com as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Therefore, people who install Search Power+ on their browsers are forced to visit searchpowerapp.com when they open a browser, new tab and/or enter search queries into the URL bar.

In most cases, browser hijackers do not allow users to undo or modify settings that were assigned by them, as long as the rogue software is installed. Therefore, a hijacked browser can only be prevented from opening the fake search engine address by uninstalling the browser hijacker.

In this case, searchpowerapp.com can be removed from browser settings by uninstalling Search Power+. Note that these search engines are fake, since they do not generate any unique results, or generate misleading information. In the case of searchpowerapp.com, it redirects to search.yahoo.com and simply displays results generated by the Yahoo search engine.

Furthermore, most browser hijackers track information. They target IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites and other browsing data. They might also target sensitive information, which is sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.

Therefore, browser hijackers such as Search Power+ can cause problems relating to browsing safety, privacy or even identity theft. If an app of this type is already installed on the browser and/or operating system, eliminate it immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Search Power+
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	CLEAN MX (Malicious), Fortinet (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Browser Extension(s)	Search Power+
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly improves the browsing experience.
Promoted URL	searchpowerapp.com
Serving IP Address (searchpowerapp.com)	104.27.161.32
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. ▼ 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 countless browser hijackers on the internet (for example, including Unit Conversion Tab, SearchYA, and Tab Recovery).

They supposedly improve the browsing experience and deliver various features, however, they simply change browser settings (promote fake search engines) and gather data. Having these apps installed on browsers or computers can lead to serious problems. Therefore, remove all browser hijackers and other PUAs immediately.

How did Search Power+ install on my computer?

In most cases, people download and install browser hijackers and/or other PUAs by clicking dubious, deceptive ads designed to execute certain scripts, or when the apps are distributed using the "bundling" method (when PUAs are included into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers').

These offers can generally be found in "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings of the set-ups. Many people inadvertently allow potentially unwanted apps to be downloaded and installed when they leave these settings unchecked and unchanged - i.e., they download and install programs without declining offers to download and install additionally-included PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Applications and files should be downloaded from official websites and through direct links. Third party downloaders, installers, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, and other channels of this kind are often used to distribute unwanted, sometimes even malicious programs.

Therefore, they should be avoided. Unwanted downloads and installations can be prevented by declining offers to download or install unwanted apps, before completing the process. Typically, these offers are mentioned in "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings.

Note that ads displayed on dubious web pages can cause installation of unwanted software. They can also open other untrusted pages if clicked. Remove any suspicious, unwanted extensions, plug-ins and add-ons that are already installed on the browser immediately.

Also remove programs of this kind that are installed on the the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Search Power+, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Search Power+ browser hijacker:

Another site used to promote Search Power+ browser hijacker:

Notification stating that Search Power+ can read and change various data:

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

Search Power+ 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 Power+"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Search Power+ 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://searchpowerapp.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 Power+".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchpowerapp.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 Power+" 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 Power+", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.searchpowerapp.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 "searchpowerapp.com", 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 searchpowerapp.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 Power+", 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 "Search Power+", remove hxxp://searchpowerapp.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with searchpowerapp.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 searchpowerapp.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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