Search Protect by Conduit

What is Search Protect?

Search Protect (or SearchProtect) is a potentially unwanted application created by Conduit Ltd. The software modifies users' Internet browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) homepage and default search engine settings by assigning them to search.conduit.com

Furthermore, this adware 'protects' these settings by preventing further user-changes to them. Developers of this browser hijacker state that Search Protect is a useful desktop application, which helps to maintain users' selected browser settings.

This application, however, adds no real value and is created to redirect Internet users to search.conduit.com and prevent further modification of Internet browser settings by the user.

Unwanted redirects to this website are applied in order to generate revenue from users who click deceptive ads or use the dubious Internet search engine presented by this website.

Computer users should be aware that, apart from unwanted browser redirects, Search Protect also tracks Internet browsing activity by recording web pages visited, user language, Internet Protocol (IP) address, geographic location, and search queries.

The presence of Search Protect by Conduit on your system can lead to malware infections and privacy issues. Therefore, you are advised to eliminate this potentially unwanted desktop application and remove the search.conduit.com browser hijacker.

Search Protect by Conduit adware is similar to other browser hijackers, which modify users' Internet browser settings. Examples include Sweet-page.com, Aartemis.com, Nationzoom.com, and Do-search.com Commonly, Internet users install this browser settings-changing adware when downloading free software.

Today, most freeware download websites employ 'download clients' - small programs offering installation of advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen free program.

Not paying close enough attention to the download steps can result in adware infections, thus, when downloading free software, be attentive and opt-out of installation of any advertised browser extensions by clicking the 'decline' button. Computer users who experience browser redirects to search.conduit.com should use this removal guide to eliminate adware from their operating system.

Screenshot of deceptive freeware download clients promoting installation of Search Protect by Conduit:

Screenshot of Search Protect by Conduit:

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Quick menu:

• What is Search Protect?
• STEP 1. Uninstall SearchProtect application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove SearchProtect redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove SearchProtect browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove SearchProtect homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove SearchProtect redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Search Protect by Conduit 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 "SearchProtect" (publisher - Conduit), select it and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

At time of research, Search Protect by Conduit installed with other potentially unwanted programs: PC Speed Maximizer, MyPC Backup, and Mobogenie. You can safely uninstall these programs.

After uninstalling Search Protect (which causes browser redirects to the search.conduit.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

Search Protect by Conduit removal from Internet browsers:

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

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Change homepage:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove search.conduit.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change default search engine:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing," or any other preferred search engine as your default and remove "Conduit Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchprotect by conduit or conduit virus, 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:

Change homepage:

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 search.conduit.com and click the "x" symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change default search engine:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Conduit Search" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchprotect by conduit or conduit virus, 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 on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Conduit".

Change homepage:

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 search.conduit.com and enter your preferred domain.

Change default search engine settings:

In the URL address bar, type about: config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!"
In the search filter at the top, type: "search.conduit.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset " to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with searchprotect by conduit or conduit virus 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 searchprotect by conduit or conduit virus, 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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