Searchprivacyplus.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is searchprivacyplus.com?
searchprivacyplus.com is a fake search engine that is promoted as a web surfing tool designed to deliver an enhanced browsing experience (faster searches, more accurate results, and so on). Developers promote this site using a browser hijacker, a potentially unwanted application (PUA) called Flash SD App.
When installed, most apps of this type modify browser settings and collect data relating to users' browsing activity.
Generally, browser hijackers can be installed on popular browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer. If Flash SD App is already installed, it assigns the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL to searchprivacyplus.com.
Therefore, this page is opened when the user opens a browser, new tab, or enters a search query into the URL bar. Note that searchprivacyplus.com is related to another fake search engine called searchdimension.com. None of these changes can be reverted as long as Flash SD App is installed.
The only way to avoid having to visit the fake search engine is to uninstall the associated browser hijacker. Bear in mind that searchprivacyplus.com/searchdimension.com is a useless search engine. When a query is entered, it opens search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine by Yahoo) and displays results accordingly.
The searchprivacyplus.com site, and browser hijacker that promotes it, record browsing-related information. They collect IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, and so on. Furthermore, developers share the information with third parties (often cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.
These actions can lead to problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and so on. Having PUAs of this type installed can also lead to identity theft.
Name | Flash SD App browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Browser Extension(s) | Flash SD App, Flash SD App+ |
Promoted URL |
searchprivacyplus.com (fake search engine). |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
Serving IP Address (searchprivacyplus.com) |
104.18.54.150 |
Symptoms | Manipulated internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users 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), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are countless browser hijackers, most of which have similar behavior. Some examples of other apps of this type are Earth And Satellite Maps, Terra Arcade, and Movie Browsing. Despite any differences, they all gather browsing related information and promote dubious search engines.
Furthermore, developers often promote PUAs as 'useful', but they deliver no real value, features, and so on.
How did Flash SD App install on my computer?
In many cases, PUAs are distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". This is used to trick people into downloading and installing unwanted software together with other, regular software. Software developers usually hide information regarding the inclusion of these apps in "Custom", "Advanced", and similar settings/options of software set-ups.
Many users fail to check and change settings, thus allowing potentially unwanted programs to be downloaded and installed with other software.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Browse the web and install/download software with care. Do not skip download or installation steps without checking all included checkboxes, "Custom", "Advanced", settings and so on. Decline offers to download and install additionally-included apps.
Download software from official websites and avoid using third party software downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks, and dubious websites. Do not click intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on dubious pages. If clicked, they cause unwanted downloads/installations or redirect to other untrustworthy websites.
If a browser causes unwanted redirects or displays ads, check installed programs on your computer and extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed on your browser. Uninstall/remove all suspicious unwanted, unknown entries immediately and check if the problem persists.
If your computer is already infected with Flash SD App, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Flash SD App browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is searchprivacyplus.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Flash SD App application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove searchprivacyplus.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Flash SD App browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove searchprivacyplus.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove searchprivacyplus.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Flash SD App 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, "Flash SD App" or/and "Flash SD App+"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the searchprivacyplus.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Flash SD App 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://searchprivacyplus.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 "searchprivacyplus.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the flash sd app 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 "Flash SD App" or/and "Flash SD App+" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Flash SD App" or/and "Flash SD App+" look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.searchprivacyplus.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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 "searchprivacyplus.com", 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 flash sd app 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 on "Extensions" and remove "Flash SD App" or/and "Flash SD App+", as well as 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, disable "Flash SD App" or/and "Flash SD App+" remove hxxp://searchprivacyplus.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: "searchprivacyplus.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with flash sd app 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 flash sd app 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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