Removing software that causes redirects to search-boss.com

What kind of website is search-boss.com?

Search-boss.com is a fake search engine, and like most – it cannot generate search results. Browser-hijacking software endorses sites like search-boss.com via redirects. It is pertinent to mention that users who find themselves forced to visit search-boss.com may also experience redirects to another illegitimate search engine – exploreahoy.com.

How do browser hijackers promote search-boss.com?

Browser hijackers operate by modifying browser settings. For example, one promoting search-boss.com would set this webpage as a browser's default search engine, homepage, and new tab/window. Therefore, with such software installed: Web searches performed via the URL bar and new browser tabs/windows opened – result in redirects to the endorsed website (e.g., search-boss.com).

In most cases, fake search engines cannot provide search results and lead users to legitimate Internet search sites. We found that search-boss.com redirects to two genuine search engines – Ask.com and Yahoo (search.yahoo.com). However, this website could land elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation might influence redirects.

Browser-hijacking software commonly utilizes persistence-ensuring mechanisms, such as denying access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes – to prevent browser recovery.

Additionally, this software and the webpages it promotes typically collect user data. Browser hijackers can target browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, personally identifiable details, account log-in credentials, finance-related information, etc. This vulnerable data can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

In summary, the presence of browser-hijacking software on devices may lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	search-boss.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	172.67.190.181
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).
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.

Fake search engine examples

Vently.com, qimp.net, searchersgood.com, findflarex.com, and color-picker-tab.com are merely some of our newest articles on illegitimate search engines. These webpages and browser hijackers usually appear ordinary and innocuous.

"Useful" features are often employed as lures to trick users into ignoring rogue redirects or downloading/installing suspect software. However, these functionalities seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they are completely nonoperational.

Remember that functional features alone do not prove the legitimacy and safety of websites or applications/ browser extensions.

How did search-boss.com promoting software install on my computer?

Browser hijackers can be bundled with regular programs. Downloading from suspicious sources, such as freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders – poses a threat of bundled content infiltrating the system. The risk is compounded by rushing through installation processes (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.).

Additionally, some intrusive advertisements can execute scripts to perform stealthy download/installations upon being clicked. These ads are also used to spread browser-hijacking software.

Furthermore, browser hijackers are promoted on legitimate-looking download pages and scam sites. Most visitors enter these webpages via redirects caused by spam browser notifications, websites employing rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, intrusive adverts, or installed adware.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We recommend researching software and downloading it only from official/verified sources. Installation processes must be treated with care by reading terms, studying available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of supplementary apps, extensions, tools, and so on.

Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing since fake and dangerous online content typically appears legitimate and harmless. For example, despite their innocuous appearance – intrusive adverts redirect users to highly questionable sites (e.g., pornography, gambling, scam-promoting, etc.).

In case of continuous encounters with such ads/redirects, inspect the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Appearance of search-boss.com redirecting to the Ask.com search engine (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:
▼ 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-boss.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search-boss.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove search-boss.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove search-boss.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Search-boss.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, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Search-boss.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove search-boss.com browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Extensions" and click "Manage 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.search-boss.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 "search-boss.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 search-boss.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://search-boss.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 search-boss.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 search-boss.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.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit search-boss.com website?

The motivation behind developing software that generates rogue redirects to webpages like search-boss.com is profit.

Is visiting search-boss.com a threat to my privacy?

Websites classed as fake search engines (e.g., search-boss.com, etc.) usually collect and sell visitor data. Hence, visiting such a webpage is a privacy concern.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser-hijacking software is primarily proliferated via bundled installers, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, online scams, P2P sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive ads.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate installed browser-hijacking applications. It must be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security software) might not be an ideal solution. In cases where multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system, after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. Additionally, browser-hijacking software may be capable of restricting access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes. Therefore, it is crucial to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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