The Search Privately search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such programs are spread massively nowadays. On this page you will see the precise instructions of “Search Privately” hijacker removal in different ways: utilizing anti-malware software and manual elimination technique.
Search Privately – What is it?
“Search Privately” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some particular details, for instance, about sport events, make your web browser much more safe, enable downloading of any kind of video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nevertheless, the “Search Privately” plugin is rather pointless because all such features are currently embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even skilled users are getting caught on such an appeal. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is spread together with free apps.
Here is a summary for the Search Privately hijacker
NAME | Search Privately |
Site | Searchprivatelynow.com |
Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, San Francisco |
Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
IP Address | 172.67.186.91 |
Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
Similar behavior | Secure, Websearchsport/, Beststreamsearch |
Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is Search Privately hijacker?
Besides its uselessness, Search Privately hijacker is likewise fairly hazardous for web browser use. It alters your search engine to its specific – Searchprivatelynow.com, and additionally modifies your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the mentioned symbol).
Apart from seeable transformations done by Search Privately hijacker, you might see that several of your search inquiries are redirecting to the uncertain websites, full of web links and promotions – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can contain web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you try to open Google search page by force.
But all these actions are more bothersome than truly harmful. The most significant risk, specifically for individuals who have a lot of confidential information in their internet browsers, is installed in information collecting functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, and various other activities are simply collected by Search Privately hijacker.
How to remove Search Privately search hijacker?
- Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
- Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
- “Move to quarantine” all items.
- Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
- Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
- Restart your computer.
Browser hijackers are usually fairly easy to deal with. Most of the times, they have an independent app that can be found in the list of installed programs. Because of the specific distribution tactic of Search Privately hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and removed manually. Nevertheless, if you got Search Privately in the package with a free applications, your personal computer can be infected with much more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you make use of anti-malware programs to delete the Search Privately PUA and all other malware.
You can make use of Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and removing different malware, including mentioned hijacker. But significant malware, that can exist on your PC in the mentioned instance, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and remove all malicious applications on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malware, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to choose any actions against the viruses, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.
To choose the action for each spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious program. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.
Reverting browser settings to original ones
To reset your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.
After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing Search Privately hijacker manually
Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.
To reset Edge, do the following steps :
- Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
- After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
- Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
- In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
If you use Google Chrome
- Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
- In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
- Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
- Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
- After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :
As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.
I need your help to share this guide.
Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur WoodhamHow to Remove Search Privately?
Name: Search Privately
Description: Search Privately - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove Search Privately?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Search Privately (Searchprivatelynow.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Browser Hijacker
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender