Goto.searchpro.club Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is goto.searchpro.club?
goto.searchpro.club is a rogue website designed to cause unwanted redirects. It is promoted via malicious browser extensions that stealthily infiltrate systems without consent. Furthermore, goto.searchpro.club and its extensions record various data relating to web browsing activity.
The aforementioned extensions cause redirects when users attempt to search via legitimate search engines. For instance, when entering a query into Google (or other search engines), the extensions copy the query and redirect to goto.searchpro.club, which causes another redirect to yahoo.com (also copying the text query into Yahoo).
Therefore, rather than searching via Google, a search via Yahoo is forced. Note that Yahoo is a legitimate search engine and is not harmful, however, goto.searchpro.club and its associated extensions might cause some issues.
Research shows that rogue browser extensions (also known as potentially unwanted programs [PUPs]) often record user-system information relating to browsing activity.
The list of collected data types usually includes (but is not limited to) users' geographic locations, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, queries entered into search engines, pages viewed, and mouse/keyboard activity. The collected information might contain personal details that developers use to generate revenue by selling it to third parties.
These people (potentially, cyber criminals) also aim to increase their revenue by misusing private information. Information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to goto.searchpro.club, uninstall all suspicious applications/browser extensions.
Name | goto.searchpro.club browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
In this case, the promoted website (goto.searchpro.club) redirects to Yahoo. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience, however, PUPs also promote various fake search engines such as websrch.net, safesearch.top, and goodworldsearch.com.
These websites claim to provide 'useful features' (improved search results, quick access to popular websites, weather forecasts, etc.), however, as with PUPs, fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than providing any significant value for regular users, they promote deceptive websites (by generating false results), deliver intrusive advertisements (using the "Pay Per Click" advertising model), and record user-system information. False search results and intrusive ads can lead to websites containing malicious content.
Furthermore, some intrusive ads execute scripts that download and install malware/PUPs. Using a fake Internet search engine might lead to serious privacy issues and high-risk computer infections.
How did goto.searchpro.club install on my computer?
As mentioned above, goto.searchpro.club is promoted using rogue browser extensions (PUPs). Criminals proliferate PUPs by employing the aforementioned intrusive ads and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of third party programs with regular (mostly free) apps/software.
Therefore, PUPs often infiltrate systems without permission or users install them inadvertently. Developers are aware that many users often rush the download/installation processes and conceal PUPs within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. Skipping this section and clicking ads exposes systems to risk of various infections and compromises users' privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be extremely cautious when browsing the Internet and especially when downloading/installing software. Cyber criminals put a great deal of time, money, and effort into designing intrusive ads. Therefore, most will seem genuine. Determining if displayed ads originate from visited (legitimate) websites is virtually impossible.
Therefore, never risk clicking them. Carefully analyze each download/installation step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Download your software from trusted/official sources only and (if possible) select a direct download URL.
Avoid using third party download/installation tools, which commonly "bundle" rogue apps. Poor knowledge of these threats and rushing steps are the main reasons for computer infections - the key to safety is caution.
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is goto.searchpro.club?
- STEP 1. Uninstall goto.searchpro.club application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove goto.searchpro.club redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove goto.searchpro.club browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove goto.searchpro.club homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove goto.searchpro.club redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
goto.searchpro.club 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the goto.searchpro.club website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
goto.searchpro.club 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://goto.searchpro.club 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 "goto.searchpro".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the goto.searchpro.club 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.goto.searchpro.club) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
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 engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "searchpro.club", and when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the goto.searchpro.club 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 all 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://goto.searchpro.club 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: "goto.searchpro.club"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with goto.searchpro.club 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 goto.searchpro.club 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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