Protectedsearch.com Virus

What is Protectedsearch.com?

The Protectedsearch.com website is promoted using various browser toolbars. While this website is not related to malware or virus infections, it is promoted using deceptive methods - many computer users report that they are redirected to this site without their consent. This redirect issue is closely related to installation of browser toolbars that use the igeared Api.

Using this website for your daily Internet searches adds no real value, since protectedsearch.com merely uses a custom Google search engine.

The main reason for applying this redirect is monetization - many free software developers bundle their free programs with browser plug-ins, which cause redirect issues or unwanted adds (and thus generate revenue via impressions or clicks).

At time of testing, the redirect to protectedsearch.com was caused by eM Client software. To avoid unwanted changes to your Internet browser settings, closely inspect each installation step of any free software downloaded from the Internet.

Uncheck any option suggesting installation of additional software or modifications to your Internet browser default search engine or homepage.

Protectedsearch.com is categorized as a malicious website due to deceptive promotion methods and unwanted ads displayed on the homepage. Clicking on ads such as these may lead to installation of additional unwanted software, online surveys, etc. To remove redirects to this site, check recently-installed freeware, toolbars, extensions, etc., and remove them.

Protectedsearch.com is not a legitimate website and Internet users only visit this website inadvertently when redirected to it. To eliminate these redirect issues, use the removal instructions provided.

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Quick menu:

• What is Protectedsearch.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall eM Client Toolbar application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Protectedsearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Protectedsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Protectedsearch.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 "eM Client Toolbar", select this entry and click " Uninstall" or "Remove"

After uninstalling browser extensions that cause protectedsearch.com redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Recommended malware removal software.

Protectedsearch.com redirect removal from browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

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 Internet Ventures related entries (eM Client Toolbar, eMClient Toolbar BHO) and disable them.

To change your homepage from protectedsearch.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 protectedsearch.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 protectedsearch 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and disable add-ons and remove "eM Client Toolbar".

To reset your homepage click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove protectedsearch.com and enter your preferred domain.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with protectedsearch 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 protectedsearch 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.

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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