How to remove Search-Mgr browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is Search-Mgr?
While examining the Search-Mgr browser extension, we found that it functions as a browser hijacker: it changes certain browser's settings to searchmgr.online. It forces users to browse the Internet using a shady search engine. It is worth mentioning that browser hijackers usually are promoted and distributed using questionable methods.
Search-Mgr browser hijacker overview
Search-Mgr hijacks a web browser by changing the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. It sets them to searchmgr.online. Search engines like searchmgr.online can include shady ads in their results and generate misleading results. Thus, clicking ads or results displayed by searchmgr.online can lead to untrustworthy websites.
Additionally, Search-Mgr may collect data such as IP address, location, search history, page views, and other details. It may be tracking users so that its developers could later use obtained data for marketing or other purposes. Also, that data could be sold to third parties.
| Name | Search-Mgr |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Search-Mgr |
| Supposed Functionality | Rich new tab and default search functionality |
| Promoted URL | searchmgr.online |
| Detection Names (searchmgr.online) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (searchmgr.online) | 160.153.252.26 |
| 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. |
Browser hijackers in general
Browser hijackers promote shady (often fake) search engines and other websites. In addition to manipulating browser's settings, apps of this type can be designed to gather various data. Also, browser hijackers are often designed to prevent users from undoing their changes. Thus, users must remove them before they can revert to previous settings.
More examples of browser-hijacking apps are Tick Tab Clock, Search-Monster, and FindIt-All.
How did Search-Mgr install on my computer?
Browser hijackers often get added to browsers (or installed on computers) via untrustworthy pages, deceptive advertisements, fake installers, or when they are bundled into other software. In the last case, users add/install browser-hijacking apps to browsers when they finish software installations without deselecting unwanted apps.
When unwanted apps are bundled in other software, installers have "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings or ticked checkboxes. Unwanted installations are caused when these settings are left unchanged.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Avoid shady websites and downloads. Download applications and files from official/legitimate websites and stores. Check installers before completing installations. Especially when installing free software. It is common for browser hijackers to be bundled in freeware.
Do not trust advertisements on dubious websites or allow pages of this kind to show notifications. Keep the operating system updated and regularly scan it for threats. If your computer is already infected with Search-Mgr, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Search results by searchmgr.online (GIF):
Permissions asked by Search-Mgr browser hijacker:
Website promoting Search-Mgr browser hijacker:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Search-Mgr?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Search-Mgr application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Search-Mgr browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove searchmgr.online homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove searchmgr.online redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search-Mgr 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-Mgr"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the searchmgr.online website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Search-Mgr browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 "Search-Mgr" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Search-Mgr", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.searchmgr.online) 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 "searchmgr.online", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the searchmgr.online 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 extensions from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Search-Mgr", as well as all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable "Search-Mgr", remove hxxp://searchmgr.online 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 "Accept the Risk and Continue".
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 searchmgr.online 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 searchmgr.online 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit searchmgr.online website?
The income generated by this search engine for its creators depends on the number of its users.
Is visiting searchmgr.online a threat to my privacy?
Shady search engines can track their users. They can collect browsing-related data that can be sold to third parties or misused in other ways.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
In most cases, browsers get hijacked via freeware installers, notifications from shady websites, untrustworthy advertisements, and questionable web pages.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Search-Mgr browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner will scan the operating system and remove Search-Mgr and other browser-hijacking applications. It is recommended to remove browser hijackers automatically. Especially if there are multiple browser hijackers added to a browser. Apps of this type can be designed to reinstall one another. Thus, it can be difficult to remove all of them manually.
Outstanding!
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