How to remove searchoverus.com from from the browser's settings
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is searchoverus.com?
While testing searchoverus.com, we learned that it is a shady search engine. It generates questionable search results and shows advertisements. Typically, search engines of this kind are promoted via apps that hijack web browsers by changing their settings. Most users add browser hijackers to browsers inadvertently.
More about searchoverus.com
Results generated by searchoverus.com may include links to untrustworthy websites (e.g., phishing websites, pages that use rogue advertising networks, technical support scam pages). Also, they can include links to pages used to promote shady (potentially malicious) applications. The same applies to advertisements included in results displayed by searchoverus.com.
In addition to promoting questionable websites, searchoverus.com may be gathering browsing data and other information. In such cases, data collected by searchoverus.com may be misused for marketing purposes, sold to third parties, etc. These are the two main reasons why searchoverus.com cannot be trusted/should not be used.
| Name | searchoverus.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Supposed Functionality | Accurate search results |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Detection Names | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address | 18.160.144.117 |
| 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. |
More about browser hijackers
As a rule, browser hijackers replace the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page with a shady search engine. They force users to browse the Internet with a specific search engine. In most cases, browser hijackers promote fake search engines that do not generate any unique results. Also, they prevent users from removing those search engines from the settings of their browsers.
More examples of untrustworthy search engines are bestshoppingresults.com, fastholidayshopping.com, and findmebuy.com.
How did searchoverus.com promoting software install on my computer?
Most browser hijackers are distributed via software bundles, untrustworthy advertisements, and deceptive websites. In all cases, users rarely download and add them to browsers on purpose. When browser hijackers are bundled with other software, browsers get hijacked after finishing installations without changing certain settings.
Installers that have browser hijackers included in them also have "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual", or other settings. Browsers get hijacked when those settings are left unchanged before finishing installations. Advertisements can only cause unwanted downloads and installations if designed to execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Download applications from trustworthy sources such as official websites and stores. Do not use third-party stores and downloaders, unofficial pages, P2P networks, and similar sources to download them. Also, do not allow shady websites to show notifications or click advertisements appearing on such pages.
Also, check downloaders and installers for unwanted apps and deselect them before downloading and installing programs. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Searchoverus.com shows questionable results and ads (GIF):
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 searchoverus.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove searchoverus.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove searchoverus.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove searchoverus.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
searchoverus.com redirect 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the searchoverus.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
searchoverus.com redirect 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 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), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.searchoverus.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 "searchoverus.com", 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.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchoverus.com 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), 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 hxxp://searchoverus.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 "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.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with searchoverus.com 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 searchoverus.com 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.
Post a comment:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit searchoverus.com website?
This search engine generates more revenue for its developers when the number of its users is higher.
Is visiting searchoverus.com a threat to my privacy?
Using questionable search engines can lead to problems related to online privacy. Search engines of this kind can be designed to gather information about their users.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Developers of browser hijackers use various social engineering tactics to trick users into adding them to browsers. For example, browser notifications and intrusive advertisements. Also, apps of this type are distributed via software bundles.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner will scan the operating system and remove any detected browser hijacker. Note that manual removal does not always work, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present. They can be designed to reinstall one another to prevent users from removing them. In such cases, these browser hijackers have to be removed at once.
Outstanding!
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