Ads by Search Fairy

What is Search Fairy?

According to the developers of Search Fairy (Results Media Ltd), this bogus plug-in improves the Internet search experience by displaying advanced search results. This functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, be aware that Search Fairy is in fact adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

Search Fairy is mostly distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of third party software together with regular software. These applications are often bundled with free software downloadable on freeware download websites.

After infiltration, Search Fairy delivers intrusive online advertisements (banner, pop-up, and coupon) and gathers various software and Internet browsing-related hardware information (IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.).

There is a high probability that the displayed ads will lead to bogus websites containing infectious content. In addition, collected data may contain personally identifiable details, and therefore, the presence of Search Fairy adware on your system can lead to further computer infections or serious privacy issues.

For this reason, you are strongly advised to uninstall this PUP from your system immediately. Many adware-type applications have similar or identical behavior - they claim to provide various useful features, however, none deliver any real value.

Commonly, rogue applications (for example, BrowserPro App, NetSpeed App, Price Defend, and SpeedCheckApp) claim to increase Internet connection speeds or save time and money while shopping online . Rather than providing any significant value, adware-type ads collect personally identifiable data (to share with third parties) and display intrusive online advertisements to generate revenue.

Adware applications are frequently distributed via small programs called 'download managers' to monetize freeware download websites' (such as softonic.com and soft32.com) free services and traffic. Download managers offer installation of additional programs together with the chosen software.

These apps are often described as '100% legitimate and virus-free', however, most are classed as adware or malware. To avoid computer infections, closely inspect the free software download procedure to ensure that no third party applications are included.

Furthermore, applications downloaded from the Internet should be installed using the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any hidden software listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.

If you have inadvertently installed Search Fairy, and you observe intrusive online ads while surfing the Internet, read the following removal guide to eliminate this PUP from your system.

Search Fairy adware installer set-up:

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Quick menu:

• What is Search Fairy?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Search Fairy application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Search Fairy adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Search Fairy ads from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Search Fairy' from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Search Fairy adware from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

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

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

Remove Search Fairy 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 Fairy", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search fairy adware, 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 "Extensions". Locate "Search Fairy", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search fairy adware, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove "Search Fairy".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search fairy adware 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 search fairy adware, 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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