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How to uninstall the SearchSpace browser hijacker

Also Known As: search-space.net redirect
Damage level: Medium

What is SearchSpace?

SearchSpace supposedly improves the browsing experience, however, this app is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker. It promotes the address of a fake search engine (search-space.net) by changing browser settings. Therefore, SearchSpace hijacks browsers by forcing users to search with a fake search engine.

Note that apps of this type often collect user-system information. Browser hijackers are classified as PUAs, since many people download and install them unintentionally.

search-space.net browser hijacker

SearchSpace browser hijacker overview

Most browser hijackers promote fake search engines by modifying browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. SearchSpace assigns these settings to search-space.net. In this way, it ensures that people visit this address when they open a hijacked browser, new tab and enter search queries into the URL bar.

Note that search-space.net is a fake search engine, since it displays results generated by Google. I.e., it does not generate unique results and simply redirects to google.com. Typically, the address of the fake search engine cannot be removed from browser settings unless the browser hijacker is uninstalled.

In this case, search-space.net can be stopped from being opened only by uninstalling the SearchSpace application. Most browser hijackers promote fake search engines and collect user-system information.

They usually target data such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited/opened web pages, geolocations, and other browsing-related information, however, in some cases, they collect sensitive, personal data. The details are sold to third parties (cyber criminals) who would misuse them in other ways.

If you have a browser hijacked by an app of this type, you might experience problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, or even become a victim of identity theft. Therefore never download or install PUAs. Remove SearchSpace and other PUAs from the browser and operating system immediately.

Threat Summary:
Name SearchSpace
Threat Type Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s) SearchSpace
Supposed Functionality This app supposedly improves the browsing experience.
Promoted URL search-space.net
Serving IP Address (search-space.net) 5.255.96.113
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.
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Browser hijacker examples

Unit Conversion Tab, Tab Recovery, and Shipment Trackers are the names of other browser hijackers. Unfortunately, there are many more apps of this type on the internet.

Typically, browser hijackers are advertised as supposedly delivering various features, improving the browsing experience, etc., however, most are useless and simply cause problems. If your browser or computer is already hijacked by an app of this type, remove it immediately.

How did SearchSpace install on my computer?

Typically, users download and install PUAs through intrusive ads that they have clicked or together with other (usually free) programs. Commonly, developers distribute PUAs using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". I.e., they include rogue apps into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers'.

In most cases, these offers are listed in "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings of the download/installation set-ups.

Many users allow unwanted apps to infiltrate when they download or install their software without checking and changing settings that are included in the set-ups. Intrusive ads can also cause rogue downloads and installations by running certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised against using third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), unofficial sites, and other similar channels to download or install your software. Files and programs should be downloaded from official, trustworthy websites, and via direct links.

Download and installation set-ups often contain various settings (e.g., "Custom", "Advanced") - check these and decline offers to download or install additional, unwanted apps. Do not click intrusive ads that are shown on suspicious, dubious websites, since they can open untrusted websites or even lead to download and installation of an unwanted application.

Remove any unwanted extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons installed on the browser. Also remove programs of this kind that are installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with SearchSpace, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting SearchSpace browser hijacker:

Website used to promote SearchSpace browser hijacker

Notification stating that SearchSpace can read and change various data:

searchspace asks for a permission to be installed on chrome

SearchSpace browser hijacker adding "Your browser is managed by your organization" Chrome entry:

SearchSpace chrome extension browser hijacker managing Chrome settings

Fake Adobe Photoshop cracking tool promoting SearchSpace browser hijacker:

Fake adobe photoshop crack promoting Search Space browser hijacker

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Quick menu:

SearchSpace browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

search-space.net browser hijacker uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "SearchSpace"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

SearchSpace browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing search-space.net related Internet Explorer extensions

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options 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:

Removing search-space.net from Internet Explorer homepage

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://search-space.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:

Removing search-space.net from Internet Explorer default search engine

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options 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 "SearchSpace".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search-space.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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing search-space.net related Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "SearchSpace" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage:

Removing search-space.net from Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "SearchSpace", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search-space.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:

Removing search-space.net from Google Chrome default search engine

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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-space.net", 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-space.net redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing search-space.net related Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "SearchSpace", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

Removing search-space.net from Mozilla Firefox homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window disable "SearchSpace", remove hxxp://search-space.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

Removing search-space.net from Mozilla Firefox 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 Mozilla Firefox switch about:config entry button button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search-space.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, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

removing browser hijacker from safari step 2 - removing extensions

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 3 - changing homepage

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.

removing browser hijackers from safari step 4 - changing the default Internet search engine

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 2

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 3

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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 Microsoft Edge (Chromium) puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search-space.net redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of browser hijackers while downloading free software sampleA 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on search-space.net redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit search-space.net website?

The purpose behind software that causes redirects is profit. In other words, the developers/publishers generate revenue through redirects to websites like search-space.net.

Is visiting search-space.net a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Websites like search-space.net usually collect (and sell) visitor data.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are primarily distributed via bundled installers, deceptive promotional pages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, online scams, spam browser notifications, and intrusive adverts.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove SearchSpace browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your system and eliminate installed browser-hijacking apps. Keep in mind manual removal (unaided by security software) might be ineffective, especially when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. After one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. Furthermore, browser-hijacking software may deny access to removal-related settings and/or undo user-made changes. Therefore, it is paramount to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

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Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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