How to remove Searchqu Toolbar from the system
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Searchqu?
Searchqu Toolbar is a browser add-on, which adds various social network shortcuts and other buttons to your Internet browsers. Some computer users may find these shortcuts useful, but Searchqu toolbar can be categorized as an unwanted program due to its deceptive methods of installation and lack of full uninstall procedures.
When installed on your computer, this toolbar will change your default homepage to searchnu.com in all of your browsers (for example, Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Google Chrome).
More about Searchqu
After uninstalling Searchqu toolbar from your operating system Control Panel, your homepage URL will remain searchnu.com To completely remove this toolbar from your Internet browser, manual removal steps are required.
This browser add-on is not malware or a computer virus, and PC users often install this toolbar inadvertently when not paying attention to software installation windows. Searchqu toolbar is regularly bundled with free software (for example, jZip, etc.), and if you do study the information presented during the installation process, you will install this toolbar on your Internet browsers.
Whilst most free software states that it is 'adware free', they should be installed with caution, since free software developers commonly monetize their programs using browser add-ons.
When installed on your computer, searchqu toolbar will set searchnu.com as your browser's starting page. This website has a search engine powered by Google, but frequently displays unrelated search results in sponsored results tabs.
If you have not intentionally installed searchqu toolbar or you have done so inadvertently, you can use the removal guide provided to eliminate this browser add-on and reset your homepage URL.
| Name | Searchqu Toolbar |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Searchqu |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | searchnu.com |
| Detection Names (searchnu.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (pavadinimas) | 69.16.230.228 |
| 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. |
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Quick menu:
- What is Searchqu?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Searchqu Toolbar application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Searchqu add-on and homepage from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Searchqu plugin and homepage from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Searchqu extension and homepage from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Searchqu redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove Searchqu manually by deleting filles and registry entries.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Searchqu Toolbar 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 "Searchqu Toolbar", select this entry and click " Uninstall" or "Remove"
After uninstalling Searchqu Toolbar, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. Use recommended malware removal software.
Searchqu Toolbar removal from browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Uninstalling Searchqu Toolbar alone is not adequate; remove the remaining unwanted components from your Internet browsers manually.
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click on the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for Bandoo Media related entries (Searchqu Toolbar, DataMngr) and disable them.
After removing the add-ons, change your homepage from searchnu.com to your preferred domain - Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove searchnu.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchnu.com redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
To change your homepage from searchnu.com to your preferred domain, click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over searchnu.com and click the x symbol.
Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchnu.com 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:
To reset your homepage click on the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", and in the opened window, remove searchnu.com and enter your preferred domain.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with searchnu.com 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 searchnu.com 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.
Manual Searchqu Toolbar removal:
If you were unable to remove Searchqu Toolbar using the steps above, you can use this manual removal instruction. Use it at your own risk, since if you do not have strong computer knowledge, you could harm your operating system.
Be careful and use it only if you are an experienced computer user. (Instructions on how to end processes, remove registry entries...)
Remove these Searchqu Toolbar registry entries:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{A40DC6C5-79D0-4ca8-A185-8FF989AF1115} "UrlHelper Class"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\SearchQUIEHelper.DNSGuard\CurVer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\SearchQUIEHelper.DNSGuard
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\SearchQUIEHelper.DNSGuard.1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar "Searchqu Toolbar"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{99079a25-328f-4bd4-be04-00955acaa0a7} "Searchqu Toolbar"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{99079a25-328f-4bd4-be04-00955acaa0a7}\InprocServer32 "C:\PROGRA~1\WINDOW~4\ToolBar\searchqudtx.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{99079a25-328f-4bd4-be04-00955acaa0a7} "Searchqu Toolbar"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{A40DC6C5-79D0-4ca8-A185-8FF989AF1115}\VersionIndependentProgID "SearchQUIEHelper.UrlHelper"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{A40DC6C5-79D0-4ca8-A185-8FF989AF1115}\ProgID "SearchQUIEHelper.UrlHelper.1"
Delete these Searchqu Toolbar files:
%Temp%\searchqutoolbar-manifest.xml
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\dtx.ini
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\guid.dat
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\log.txt
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\preferences.dat
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\stat.log
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\stats.dat
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\uninstallIE.dat
%AppData%\searchqutoolbar\version.xml
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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If you have additional information on searchnu.com redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit searchnu.com website?
The goal may include generating traffic for the website, increasing ad revenue for the attackers, or promoting certain products or services.
Is visiting searchnu.com a threat to my privacy?
Yes, visiting searchnu.com, especially if it is associated with a browser hijacking, can pose a threat to your privacy. Browser hijackers may collect and misuse your browsing data, potentially compromising your online privacy and security.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Your computer was probably compromised by a browser hijacker or a toolbar using deceptive tactics like bundled software installations, fake updates, malicious links, misleading advertisements, or dubious websites.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Searchqu Toolbar?
Certainly, Combo Cleaner will conduct a thorough scan of your computer to remove any existing browser-hijacking applications. It is important to understand that relying solely on manual removal may not be foolproof, especially in situations where multiple browser hijackers are present and they can reinstall each other. Hence, removing all of them at once is crucial for a comprehensive solution.
Outstanding!
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