Searchanonymo.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is searchanonymo.com?
Search Anonymo is a deceptive application that supposedly allows users to stealthily browse the Internet, hiding their location and other private details. Judging on appearance alone, Search Anonymo may appear legitimate and useful, however, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) stealth installation without consent; 2) modification of web browser settings, and; 3) tracking of users' Internet browsing activity.
Search Anonymo hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to searchanonymo.com. These changes may seem insignificant, however, it is impossible to revert them - Search Anonymo automatically reassigns the aforementioned settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are forced to visit searchanonymo.com when they search via the URL bar or open a new browser tab. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience.
Furthermore, Search Anonymo continually tracks Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and various other data that might contain personal details. Search Anonymo's developers share this collected data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal details to generate revenue.
Thus, the presence of a data-tracking app can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly advise you to uninstall the Search Anonymo browser hijacker immediately.
There are hundreds of browser-hijacking applications similar to Search Anonymo including EasyFileConvert, iCoupon Clipper, and Test My SPEEDS - these are just some examples from many.
All offer certain features that supposedly enhance the Internet browsing experience, however, the only purpose of browser-hijacking applications is to generate revenue for the developers, whilst regular users receive no value. Fake search engines merely cause unwanted redirects and continually record various user-system information.
How did searchanonymo.com install on my computer?
This browser hijacker has an official download website, however, developers also distribute it using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".
Therefore, most users install this browser hijacker inadvertently, without their consent. Developers hide bundled programs within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. Rushing this stage and skipping steps often leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs such as Search Anonymo.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Be aware that PUPs are distributed using the "bundling" method. Therefore, never rush the download or installation processes. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings, closely analyze each step, and decline offers to download/install additional apps.
Website promoting Search Anonymo browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is searchanonymo.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Search Anonymo application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove searchanonymo.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Search Anonymo browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove searchanonymo.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove searchanonymo.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search Anonymo browser hijacker 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 any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "Search Anonymo"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the searchanonymo.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Search Anonymo browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://searchanonymo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Search Anonymo".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search anonymo browser hijacker, 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 Anonymo", and other recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over Search Anonymo and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "searchanonymo" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search anonymo browser hijacker, 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" and remove "Search Anonymo", and all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://searchanonymo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "searchanonymo.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search anonymo browser hijacker 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 and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
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 top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search anonymo browser hijacker, 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:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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