Sonic Search Ads

What is Sonic Search?

Sonic Search is a rogue browser extension claiming to enhance the Internet search experience by adding an improved website search function to browsers.

While this browser add-on may seem legitimate, be aware that Sonic Search is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application, since it employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional programs together with the chosen software) to install on Internet browsers without users' consent.

After successful infiltration on Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome, Sonic Search tracks users' Internet browsing activity and generates intrusive online advertisements.

These intrusive advertisements include in-text, banner, pop-up, interstitial, and text-link ads.

There is a high probability that clicking these ads will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections. In addition, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored since Sonic Search collects various information such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geographic locations, operating systems, language settings, browser types, URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar software and hardware details, which may be personally identifiable.

This behavior may result in serious privacy issues or even identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to uninstall Sonic Search from your Internet browsers. There are many similar rogue browser add-ons claiming to improve the quality of users' Internet browsing experience by adding useful functions (examples include Disturbicons, Movie Mode, Spy Lookout, etc.).

Neither Sonic Search, nor any of these other browser plug-ins add any real value for the user - their purpose is to generate income by the display of intrusive online advertisements.

Most Internet users inadvertently install adware such as Sonic Search during the download of free software via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites including download.com, soft32.com, and softonic.com Most of these websites employ download clients to monetize their free services by offering installation of advertised 'virus-free' browser extensions together with the chosen free software.

Thus, careless download and installation of free software often results in adware or malware infections. This situation can be prevented by closely inspecting each step of the freeware download process and clicking 'Decline' when installation of any additional programs is offered.

If you are installing downloaded software, be sure to select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' installation options - this step will reveal any hidden applications and allow you to remove them from the installation list. Internet users who have already installed Sonic Search, should follow this removal guide to eliminate this adware from their Internet browsers.

Sonic Search adware installer set-up:

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Quick menu:

• What is Sonic Search?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Sonic Search application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Sonic Search add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Sonic Search plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Sonic Search extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Sonic Search extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Sonic Search adware 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 "Sonic Search", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Sonic Search ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Sonic Search adware from Internet browsers:

At time of research, Sonic Search did not install its browser plug-ins on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox, however, it was bundled with other adware. Therefore, you are advised to remove all potentially unwanted browser add-ons from your Internet browsers.

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

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by sonic search, 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:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by sonic search, 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". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by sonic search 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by sonic search, 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:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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