Search Safer Adware

What is Search Safer?

Developed by Intriguing Apps, Search Safer is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) claiming to protect user-browsing by blocking malware and spyware infections.

This may appear to be legitimate and useful functionality, however, be aware that Search Safer is categorized as adware since it uses a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' (stealth installation of additional applications together with the chosen software) to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent.

Following successful infiltration on these browsers, Search Safer generates numerous intrusive online advertisements including banner, coupon, interstitial, sponsored link, targeted video ads, and download offers of other PUPs also considered to be adware. It is highly probable that clicking these advertisements will cause high-risk adware or malware infections.

Furthermore, Search Safer monitors users' Internet browsing activity by recording various software and hardware information including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geographic locations, unique identifier numbers, operating system and browser types, default search engines, search queries entered, URLs visited, pages viewed, time zones, and other similar details that may be personally identifiable.

Search Safer is similar to other PUPs that use bundling as an installation method. Browse Safe, Browser Armor, Search Defense, and SafetySearch are just a few examples among many others. These browser plug-ins are useless to the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements.

The behavior of Search Safer, or other similar PUPs, may result in serious privacy issues or identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate this adware from your Internet browsers.

Search Safer is distributed in several ways including fake downloads (Browser updates, Java updates, etc.) and via other potentially unwanted programs such as Browser Guardian, Solid Savings, and coupons and savings related adware.

Most users infect their computers with Search Safer during download of free software via small programs called 'download clients' on freeware download websites such as soft32.com, softonic.com, download.com, and many others.

Download clients are used to monetize these websites' free services by offering installation of promoted (according to Intriguing Apps, 'legitimate') browser plug-ins together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of freeware often results in adware or malware infections.

Installation of Search Safer, or other similar adware, can be avoided by paying close attention to each step of the free software download process and clicking 'Decline' when installation of any additional programs is offered.

If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled applications listed for installation and allow you to eliminate them. If you have already installed Search Safer, follow this removal guide to eliminate it from your Internet browsers.

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Quick menu:

• What is Search Safer?
• STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Search Safer ads from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Search Safer advertisements from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Ads by Search Safer from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Search Safer extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Search Safer 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 "Search Safer" (or other potentially unwanted applications - at time of testing, Search Safer ads were generated by various coupon ads-displaying adware), select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Remove Search Safer adware from 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 "Search Safer", select this entry and click "Remove". Note that Search Safer ads can be caused by other adware. In the Manage Add-ons window, remove all suspicious browser add-ons.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by search safer, 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: "Search Safer", select this entry and click the trash can icon. Note that Search Safer ads can be caused by other adware. In the "extensions" window of Google Chrome, remove all suspicious browser extensions.

If you are unable to remove Search Safer (or any other add-on) and it is greyed-out ("Installed by enterprise policy"), follow this removal guide - how to remove a Google Chrome extension that is "Installed by enterprise policy"?

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by search safer, 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 "Search Safer". Note that Search Safer ads can be generated by other adware. In the "Add-ons Manager" window, remove all suspicious browser add-ons.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by search safer 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 search safer, 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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