How to eliminate the Search-Power browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Search-Power?
While testing the Search-Power application, our team has learned that it is a browser hijacker used to promote the searchpower.xyz address (a fake search engine). It hijacks a web browser by modifying its settings. We have discovered Search-Power while visiting pages that use rogue advertising networks.
Search-Power browser hijacker in detail
We have learned that Search-Power promotes searchpower.xyz by making it the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. We tried using searchpower.xyz and found that it shows results generated by bing.com, search1.me (another questionable search engine). It may show results generated by other search engines as well.
The problem with fake search engines is that they can promote potentially malicious websites (they can generate misleading results and show results generated by untrustworthy search engines). Thus, we strongly recommend not to use searchpower.xyz or have the Search-Power browser-hijacking extension on a web browser.
| Name | Search-Power |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Search-Power |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | searchpower.xyz |
| Detection Names | Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
Browser hijackers in general
The purpose of browser hijackers is to promote fake search engines. Not all apps of this type change settings to promote fake search engines. A big part of browser-hijacking apps is distributed through deceptive web pages. A couple of examples of other browser hijackers are Nuhtab, Easy Search, best darker.
How did Search-Power install on my computer?
We found the installer for Search-Power on a shady website. Web pages of this kind often are promoted through other sites that use rogue advertising networks. In other cases, browsers get hijacked after installing software that has a browser hijacker in its installer without changing certain settings.
Downloaders and installers used to distribute browser hijackers have "Manual", "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings. In order to avoid unwanted downloads and installations, those settings need to be changed (unwanted apps have to be deselected).
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Always check downloaders and installers that have ticked checkboxes or settings like "Custom", "Advanced" for optional downloads or installations and deselect them. Download files and programs from official websites and direct links (avoid using sources like P2P networks, unofficial pages, third-party downloaders).
Also, do not trust advertisements appearing on pages related to adult dating, gambling, and other sites. 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.
Searchpower.xyz redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Deceptive website promoting Search-Power browser hijacker:
Browser notification informing about Search-Power:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Search-Power?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Search-Power application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Search-Power browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove searchpower.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove searchpower.xyz redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. 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 (which cause browser redirects to the searchpower.xyz 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 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.searchpower.xyz) 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 "searchpower.xyz", 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 searchpower.xyz 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 plugins 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://searchpower.xyz 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 searchpower.xyz 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 searchpower.xyz 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit searchpower.xyz website?
The amount of revenue generated through searchpower.xyz is directly dependent on the count of the website visitors.
Is visiting searchpower.xyz a threat to my privacy?
Websites like searchpower.xyzm (fake search engines) and browser hijackers often are used as tools to collect various information about their users. Therefore, they can be a threat to privacy.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed via various browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, and other social engineering tactics. Also, they often are bundled with other programs (included in their installers as optional installation).
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Search-Power browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will check the operating for browser-hijacking applications and remove them. Note that manual removal may not work if multiple browser hijackers are present because they could reinstall one another. In such cases, all browser hijackers have to be removed at once. Thus, it is recommended to remove browser hijackers with specialized apps like Como Cleaner.
Outstanding!
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