Search Mine browser hijacker removal instructions

Search Mine – What is it?

“Search Mine” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some precise information, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser much more safe, enable downloading of any video, et cetera.

Nonetheless, the “Search Mine” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such functions are already integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even qualified users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free apps.

Search Mine Search Hijacker

How harmful is Search Mine hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Search Mine hijacker is additionally rather hazardous for browser use. It changes your search engine to its particular – Searchmine.net, and likewise transforms your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Aside from visual adjustments done by Search Mine hijacker, you might observe that a couple of your search queries are redirecting to the unknown websites, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can consist of links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you attempt to start Google search page by force.

However all these activities are much more bothersome than really hazardous. The major hazard, primarily for individuals who have a considerable amount of secret information in their internet browsers, is installed in information gathering functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, as well as various other activities are easily gathered by Search Mine hijacker.

How to remove Search Mine 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 almost always rather very easy to remove. Most of the times, they have a separate app that can be spotted in the list of installed software. As a result of the specific marketing method of Search Mine hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and removed manually. However, if you got Search Mine in the package with a free applications, your computer can be contaminated with a lot more serious malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you use anti-malware programs to deal with the Search Mine PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of discovering and clearing away a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. However, severe malware, that might be present on your computer in the mentioned instance, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all malicious applications on your desktop 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 checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be removed 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 malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Search Mine 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