Remove Safe Browsing by Safely

What is Safe Browsing by Safely?

Safe Browsing by Safely is categorized as a browser hijacker, since it changes certain browser settings so that users are forced to visit the address of a fake search engine. Furthermore, apps of this type usually gather browsing data. They are also known as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), as people often download and install them inadvertently.

Typically, browser hijackers promote the addresses of fake search engines by changing settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab. Safe Browsing by Safely assigns them to search.searchsafely.net. Therefore, users are forced to visit this address when they open a hijacked browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

In most cases, browser hijackers prevent users from removing an address (in this case, search.searchsafely.net) from the settings - they prevent users from change the settings by immediately reassigning them after each attempt to do so. The only way to revert settings is to uninstall the browser hijacker.

Note that search.searchsafely.net is a fake search engine, since it does not generate any unique results. When used, it simply provides results generated by Yahoo by redirecting users to search.yahoo.com. Most browser hijackers and fake search engines record browsing data such as IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites, etc.

They might also gather private, sensitive information. Developers can misuse the information to generate revenue or sell it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it for the same purpose.

Threat Summary:

Name	Safe Browsing by Safely
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Safe Browsing by Safely
Supposed Functionality	This app supposed to improve browser security.
Promoted URL	search.searchsafely.net
Serving IP Address (search.searchsafely.net)	104.27.131.143
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Symptoms	Manipulated internet browser settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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 browser 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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Some examples of other apps that are classified as browser hijackers include My Login Hub, Auto Purge and Relola. Typically, these apps are advertised as legitimate and useful. I.e., they supposedly deliver useful features (or other value). Unfortunately, most are designed only to gather browsing data and promote the address of a fake search engine.

People who have browsers hijacked by PUAs of this type might experience problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, and so on. Some could even become victims of identity theft. If a browser hijacker is installed on your browser and/or operating system, it should be eliminated immediately.

How did Safe Browsing by Safely install on my computer?

PUAs are often distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". They are included into the download and/or installation set-ups of other programs and presented as 'additional offers'. These offers are usually hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the set-ups.

Therefore, information about additionally-included apps is not properly disclosed. People commonly agree (inadvertently) with offers to download and/or install unwanted apps when they leave the aforementioned settings unchanged. PUAs can also be downloaded and/or installed through untrustworthy ads.

Once clicked, some of these ads execute certain scripts that download/install unwanted software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download all software from official, trustworthy websites. Third party downloaders, installers, unofficial web pages, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), etc., should not be used to download or install files/programs. Check all settings such as "Custom", "Advanced" of the download or installation setup.

Dismiss any offers to download and/or install unwanted software before finishing the process. Do not trust ads displayed on dubious web pages. These can redirect people who click them to other untrustworthy sites. They can also cause download/installation of unwanted software.

If the browser opens dubious sites and/or displays ads, it is very likely that an installed PUA is causing it. In such cases, remove all unwanted, suspicious applications (such as add-ons, plug-ins and extensions) from the browser, and programs of this kind from the operating system.

If your computer is already infected with Safe Browsing by Safely, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Safe Browsing by Safely browser hijacker:

Safe Browsing by Safely asks permission to read and change data, display notifications and change search settings:

Safe Browsing by Safely redirects to search.yahoo.com through search.searchsafely.net (GIF):

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Safe Browsing by Safely?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Safe Browsing by Safely application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.searchsafely.net redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Safe Browsing by Safely browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.searchsafely.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.searchsafely.net redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Safe Browsing by Safely 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, "Safe Browsing by Safely"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.searchsafely.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Safe Browsing by Safely 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://search.searchsafely.net 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 "Safe Browsing by Safely".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.searchsafely.net redirect, 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 "Safe Browsing by Safely" 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 "Safe Browsing by Safely", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.searchsafely.net) 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 "search.searchsafely.net", 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 search.searchsafely.net redirect, 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 "Safe Browsing by Safely", 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 "Safe Browsing by Safely", remove hxxp://search.searchsafely.net 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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search.searchsafely.net redirect 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.searchsafely.net redirect, 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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