How to remove searchsnow.com from browser settings
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is searchsnow.com?
Searchsnow.com is the address of a fake search engine. In most cases, these addresses/fake search engines are promoted through browser hijackers, which change certain browser settings. Browser hijacking apps can also collect browsing-related and other information.
People often download and install these rogue apps inadvertently and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
How do browser hijackers promote searchsnow.com?
Generally, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by assigning their addresses as the homepage, default search engine and new tab URL. In this way, the apps promote fake search engines by forcing users to visit a specific address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.
They are classified as fake search engines, since they do not generate unique results and/or display misleading information. This particular search engine displays results on mybrowser-search.com by opening the site through a number of other dubious web addresses such as searchbaron.com and hut.brdtxhea.xyz.
To stop the browser from opening searchsnow.com (and addresses to which it redirects), the PUA promoting it must be uninstalled, otherwise that app will reassign its settings after each attempt to modify/undo them. Furthermore, these apps also collect various data.
They usually target browsing-related details such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, etc.
They can also be designed to record personal, sensitive details. The developers might use the gathered information to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), or in other ways. Therefore, users might become victims of identity theft, experience problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy, etc.
| Name | searchsnow.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus. |
| Serving IP Address | 185.93.1.241 |
| Symptoms | Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you get redirected to dubious websites. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information. |
| Malware Removal (Mac) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Fake search engine examples
Some more examples of fake search engines are searchmarquis.com, prudensearch.com and search.becovi.com. Generally, these addresses appear in browser settings when the browser is hijacked by a potentially unwanted application. PUAs are commonly advertised as useful and legitimate, supposedly improving the browsing experience and including other features.
Never trust or use fake search engines or browser hijackers. They are useless and can cause serious problems.
How did searchsnow.com install on my computer?
In most cases, browser hijackers and other PUAs are downloaded and/or installed through untrusted, deceptive ads, or when software developers distribute them using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". They use this method to trick users into unwanted download/installation of PUAs by including them into the set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers'.
Typically, these offers can be declined through settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", or others. Unintentional downloads and installations happen when people leave the settings unchanged. In some cases, it happens when they click ads that execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule, etc.), unofficial pages, and other similar download/installation channels are often used to distribute PUAs. They can be used to distribute malicious apps as ell. Therefore, software and files should be downloaded only from official websites and through direct links.
Check all "Advanced", "Custom" and other options and decline offers to download or install additional, unwanted apps. Do not click advertisements that are displayed on dubious, untrusted websites, since they can open other websites of this kind or even cause unwanted downloads and installations.
Remove any, suspicious extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins installed on the browser immediately. The same should be applied to software of this kind that is installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
Searchsnow.com opens mybrowser-search.com via searchbaron.com and hut.brdtxhea.xyz (GIF):
Instant automatic Mac 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 Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is searchsnow.com?
- STEP 1. Remove searchsnow.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove searchsnow.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove searchsnow.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove searchsnow.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove adware and browser hijackers from a Mac computer:
Searchsnow.com redirect removal:
Remove searchsnow.com-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:
Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX", "NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.
Remove browser hijacker-related files and folders
Click the Finder icon from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/
In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:
In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/
In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by browser hijackers - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Browser hijacker commonly installs several files with the exact same string.
Check for browser hijacker generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:
In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/
In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.
Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:
If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.
Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.
After removing files and folders generated by the browser hijackers, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.
Remove browser hijackers from Internet browsers
Remove Safari browser hijackers:
Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".
In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.
Change your homepage:
In the "Preferences" window, select the "General" tab. To set your homepage, type the preferred website URL (for example: www.google.com) in the Homepage field. You can also click the "Set to Current Page" button if you wish to set your homepage to the website you are currently visiting.
Change your default search engine:
In the "Preferences" window, select the "Search" tab. Here you will find a drop-down menu labeled "Search engine:" Simply select your preferred search engine from the drop-down list.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.
Remove Google Chrome browser hijackers:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL 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 a browser hijacker URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
Change your homepage
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove the browser hijacker URL 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 "Accept the Risk and Continue".
In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users to visit searchsnow.com website?
Cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) generate revenue through redirects to searchsnow.com and similar websites.
Is visiting searchsnow.com a threat to my privacy?
Most likely, yes. These sites typically collect information about their visitors with the intention of selling it to third-parties.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are primarily proliferated through software bundling, deceptive promotional websites, freeware and third-party download sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (e.g., Torrent clients, eMule, etc.), online scams, fake updates, intrusive advertisements, and spam browser notifications.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate detected browser-hijacking applications. Note that manual removal (unaided by security software) might not be a perfect solution, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present. In some instances, when one browser hijacker is removed - the others simply re-install it. Furthermore, removal-related settings might be inaccessible with this software installed. Hence, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.
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