Safe2Search browser hijacker removal instructions

Safe2Search – What is it?

“Safe2Search” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to browse some certain information, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser much more secure, enable downloading of any type of web video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “Safe2Search” plugin is fairly ineffective since all such features are currently built-in to your web browser and/or Windows. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But sometimes even qualified users are getting caught on such an appeal. In certain situations, this hijacker is dispersed along with free tools.

Safe2Search Search Hijacker

How harmful is Safe2Search hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Safe2Search hijacker is also quite unsafe for web browser use. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Safe2search.com, and additionally modifies your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, changing it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Apart from visual alterations done by Safe2Search hijacker, you can observe that a number of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious sites, full of links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can have links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you attempt to open Google search page by force.

However all these activities are a lot more annoying than truly destructive. The greatest threat, especially for people who have a great deal of confidential information in their browsers, is embedded in data gathering capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, and various other activities are simply collected by Safe2Search hijacker.

How to remove Safe2Search 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 typically pretty simple to remove. Most of the times, they have an independent app that can be seen in the list of installed applications. As a result of the certain marketing method of Safe2Search hijacker, it can be simply tracked and erased by hand. Nevertheless, if you got Safe2Search in the package with a free program, your computer might be infected with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you utilize anti-malware tools to remove the Safe2Search PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of discovering and removing different malware, including named hijacker. However, major malware, that can be present on your computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To keep away from such situations, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all malicious programs 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 viruses, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can see the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard during the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for each detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be removed to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Safe2Search 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.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. 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 :
2. 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.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender