How to remove software generating redirects to search-2go.com
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of website is search-2go.com?
Search-2go.com is a fake search engine. Like most pages of this kind, it cannot provide search results and redirects users to legitimate Internet search websites.
It is noteworthy that search-2go.com has been observed featuring as an intermediary in redirection chains caused by browser hijackers. Software within this classification endorses fraudulent search engines by modifying browser settings.
How do browser hijackers promote search-2go.com?
Typically, browser hijackers reassign browsers' default search engines, new tab/window URLs, and homepages to the addresses of promoted websites. Hence, users are forced to visit the newly assigned pages whenever they open a new browser tab/window or enter a search query into the URL bar.
It is noteworthy that browser-hijacking software commonly utilizes persistence-ensuring techniques like blocking access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes.
In most cases, fake search engines cannot generate search results and redirect to genuine Internet search sites. The rare exceptions that can – provide search results that are irrelevant and may include sponsored, deceptive, and potentially malicious content.
During our investigations, we observed search-2go.com featuring in the middle of redirection chains. We noted chains beginning with search-owl.com and leading through search-2go.com, before landing on either Yahoo or Bing. It is worth mentioning that where an illegitimate search engine redirects might be influenced by factors like user geolocation.
Fake search engines and browser hijackers usually gather sensitive data. The software in question might target browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, etc. The collected information can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.
In summary, the presence of browser-hijacking software on devices may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | search-2go.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 | 172.67.218.75 |
| 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. |
Fake search engine examples
Guardflares.com, lotus-tab.com, predatorwallpaper.com, and travelbugtab.com are merely a few of our newest articles on fraudulent search engines. Websites of this kind and the software promoting them – usually appear legitimate and useful.
Users may be enticed by promises of various "useful" and "advantageous" features. However, these functionalities are rarely operational, and in most cases – they do not work at all. Keep in mind that even if a webpage or a piece of software functions exactly as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of legitimacy or safety.
How did search-2go.com promoting software install on my computer?
Browser hijackers can have "official" promotional webpages, and they are endorsed by scam sites. Most visitors access these pages via redirects caused by websites that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, misspelled URLs, and adware.
The bundling marketing technique, which involves packing regular program installers with unwanted/malicious supplements – is also used to proliferate browser-hijacking software.
The risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the device is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by rushing through installation processes (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping steps or sections, using "Easy/Express" settings, etc.).
Additionally, browser hijackers are spread by intrusive advertisements. Some of these adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform sneaky downloads/installations.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
It is important to always research software prior to downloading or purchasing. We recommend downloading only from official and trustworthy sources. When installing, it is essential to read terms, explore available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additions (e.g., apps, extensions, tools, features, etc.).
We also advise being careful while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content usually appears legitimate and harmless. For example, while intrusive advertisements may look innocuous – they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, scam-promoting, pornography, etc.).
In case of continuous encounters with advertisements/redirects of this kind, check the device and immediately remove all suspicious 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.
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-2go.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search-2go.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove search-2go.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove search-2go.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search-2go.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-2go.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 "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-2go.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-2go.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-2go.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-2go.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-2go.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-2go.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 to visit search-2go.com website?
The motivation behind developing software that produces rogue redirects is profit. In other words, the developers/publishers generate revenue through redirects to webpages like search-2go.com.
Is visiting search-2go.com a threat to my privacy?
Fake search engines (e.g., search-2go.com, etc.) usually collect and sell information about their visitors. Therefore, visiting such sites is considered a minor privacy threat.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
The most prevalent distribution techniques include: deceptive promotional webpages, bundled installers, online scams, freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate detected browser-hijacking applications. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security tools) might be ineffective, particularly when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. Furthermore, browser-hijacking software might be capable of denying access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes. Hence, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.
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