How to remove search-alpha.com from your browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search-alpha.com?
While examining search-alpha.com, we learned that it is a fake search engine that shows results from other search engines. Search-alpha.com is another variant of searchmarquis.com. Fake search engines are promoted mainly through browser hijackers that modify the settings of web browsers. Thus, it is recommended not to trust search-alpha.com.
More about search-alpha.com
Search-alpha.com redirects users to bing.com, nearbyme.io, ask.com, and possibly other addresses through search-location.com and api.lisumanagerine.club. It shows results from legitimate and questionable search engines. Also, search-alpha.com might be designed to trick users into clicking on ads or downloading potentially harmful software.
Furthermore, fake search engines like search-alpha.com can be a risk to user privacy and security, as they often collect sensitive information, such as IP addresses, search terms, and browsing history. This information can be used for targeted advertising, identity theft, or other malicious activities.
It is worth mentioning that shady search engines can also negatively impact the user experience by displaying irrelevant or low-quality search results. Overall, it is recommended to stick with well-known and trusted search engines, such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo, to ensure a safe and reliable search experience.
| Name | search-alpha.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser hijacker, Mac malware, Mac virus |
| Detection Names | Seclookup (Malicious), Full List (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Your Mac became slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you get redirected to shady websites. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), torrent file downloads. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady 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. |
More about browser hijckers
A browser hijacker is a type of unwanted application that alters the settings of a web browser without user's knowledge. This usually includes changing the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to a fake or unreliable search engine. Once installed/added, a browser hijacker can be difficult to remove and can cause damage to the user's privacy and security.
It should be mentioned that search-alpha.com may not always alter the settings of a web browser that it has hijacked. More examples of shady search engines are gobrowser.xyz, remarksearch.com, and chillsearch.xyz.
How did search-alpha.com install on my computer?
There are multiple ways in which browser hijackers can be added or installed on a user's computer. One common method is through the installation of free software. Users may inadvertently install browser hijackers by ignoring software installation prompts and clicking through them without changing the default "Custom" or "Advanced" settings.
In other cases, users may add browser hijackers on their browsers through malicious links, pop-up ads, and fake software updates.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Download software from trusted sources such as official websites and legitimate stores. Do not click on links or pop-up ads from unknown or untrusted sources. When installing software, read the installation options carefully and decline any additional software that is not necessary or desired.
Also, do not agree to receive notifications from suspicious websites, as they can be used to promote browser hijackers and even malicious programs. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate them.
Search-alpha.com redirects to bing.com via search-location.com and api.lisumanagerine.club (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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac
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. Limited seven 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-alpha.com?
- STEP 1. Remove search-alpha.com related files and folders from OSX.
- STEP 2. Remove search-alpha.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 3. Remove search-alpha.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search-alpha.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
Video showing how to remove search-alpha.com browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:
search-alpha.com redirect removal:
Remove search-alpha.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 visit search-alpha.com website?
The creators of search-alpha.com generate more revenue as the number of visitors to the site increases.
Is visiting search-alpha.com a threat to my privacy?
Yes, visiting search-alpha.com can pose a threat to your privacy. Search-alpha.com is a fake search engine that may collect your personal information, browsing history, search queries, and other sensitive data without your consent.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are commonly spread through various methods, including software bundling, fake software updates, and untrustworthy websites. Additionally, users may unknowingly download and install browser hijackers while installing free software or clicking on links from unknown sources.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove browser-hijacking applications. It is worth knowing that manual removal may not always be effective. It can be challenging to remove multiple browser hijackers, particularly when they can reinstall one another.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion