SearcheeBoo! Removal — Uninstall Guide

SearcheeBoo! – What is it?

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

Nonetheless, the “SearcheeBoo!” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such functions are already built-in to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But occasionally even expert users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific situations, this hijacker is distributed along with free apps.

SearcheeBoo! Search Hijacker

How harmful is SearcheeBoo! hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, SearcheeBoo! hijacker is likewise rather hazardous for web browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its particular – Searcheeboo.com, and also alters your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the specified symptom).

Aside from aesthetic alterations done by SearcheeBoo! hijacker, you can observe that some of your search questions are redirecting to the unknown websites, filled with web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can include links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you try to launch Google search page by force.

However all these activities are much more frustrating than truly harmful. The main risk, specifically for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their web browsers, is installed in data collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are easily collected by SearcheeBoo! hijacker.

How to remove SearcheeBoo! 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 often rather simple to delete. Most of the times, they have a separate app that can be located in the list of installed apps. Because of the specific distribution way of SearcheeBoo! hijacker, it can be simply tracked and erased by hand. Nonetheless, if you got SearcheeBoo! in the package with a free program, your PC might be contaminated with far more severe malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you use anti-malware programs to deal with the SearcheeBoo! PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of recognizing and removing a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. However, major malware, that may exist on your personal computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antimalware program by editing the Group Policies. To prevent such circumstances, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all unwanted applications on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can observe the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be counteracted 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 displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing SearcheeBoo! 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