How to remove Search Toggler (searchtoggler.com) browser hijacker

What kind of extension is Search Toggler?

Our researchers discovered the Search Toggler browser hijacker while reviewing extensions promoted through their own dedicated websites. Despite its description promising an easier way to switch between search engines, Search Toggler quietly reassigns the browser's search settings to searchtoggler.com.

This extension also falls into the privacy-threat category, since software of this kind commonly monitors users' browsing habits. We recommend against installing Search Toggler, and removing it as soon as possible if it is already present on a device.

Search Toggler and searchtoggler.com browser hijacker overview

Once installed, Search Toggler changes the browser's homepage, new tab page, and default search engine to searchtoggler.com. This is a typical example of browser hijacking, a practice used to push users toward a specific, promoted address every time they open a new tab or run a search.

Interestingly, the extension's own installation prompt on its promotional page states that adding it will set Chrome's New Tab search to Microsoft Bing. However, the actual permissions requested by Search Toggler reveal that it changes search settings to searchtoggler.com, not bing.com, which is a clear mismatch between what is advertised and what actually happens.

It is also worth noting that the promotional site itself misspells the extension's name as "Seach Toggler" throughout its branding, which is often a sign of a low-effort, mass-produced page.

Searchtoggler.com does not produce its own search results. Instead, it redirects to search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine) or to yandex.ru, depending on the visitor's geolocation. Users in other regions may be sent to a different address entirely.

Browser hijackers often rely on persistence-ensuring mechanisms, such as restricting access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes, to prevent users from recovering their browsers.

Software within this classification usually has data-tracking abilities, and Search Toggler may be no exception. Information of interest can include visited URLs, viewed pages, search queries, browser cookies, and other browsing-related details. This data may be sold to third parties or otherwise misused.

To summarize, browser-hijacking software is associated with intrusive tracking, exposure to unreliable websites, and in some cases, financial losses or identity theft.

Browser hijacker examples

We have examined numerous browser hijackers; View Menu with Prices, Great Start - Homepage, and My Focal Find are merely a few of our newest articles.

Browser-hijacking software typically appears legitimate and offers various features. However, these functions seldom work as advertised, and in most cases, they are completely nonoperational.

How did Search Toggler infiltrate my computer?

Search Toggler is offered through its own promotional website, which advertises it as a simple way to switch between several search engines with one click. Pages like this often rely on convenient-sounding descriptions to convince visitors to click "Add to Chrome" without reading the permissions carefully.

The bundling marketing method, which involves packing regular program installers with unwanted/malicious additions, is also used to distribute browser hijackers. Pre-packed installation setups can be downloaded from freeware and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other dubious channels.

Additionally, browser hijackers can be endorsed on scam sites and accessed via redirects caused by websites utilizing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, and installed adware.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We strongly advise researching software and downloading it only from official/verified sources. When installing, we recommend reading terms, exploring possible options, using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, features, etc.

Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing, since fraudulent and malicious online content typically appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, intrusive ads may look harmless, however, they redirect users to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, scam-promoting, adult dating, etc.).

In case of continuous encounters with such adverts/redirects, inspect the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Search Toggler, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Appearance of searchtoggler.com redirecting to the Yahoo search engine (depending on geolocation, users may also be redirected to Yandex) (GIF):

Permissions asked by Search Toggler browser hijacker:

Search Toggler browser hijacker's "official" promotional website:

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:

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.

Quick menu:

• What is Search Toggler?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Search Toggler browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove searchtoggler.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove searchtoggler.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Search Toggler 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 applications, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Search Toggler 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 "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "Search Toggler" 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 Toggler", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.searchtoggler.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 "searchtoggler.com", 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 search toggler 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 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 Toggler", 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 Toggler", remove hxxp://searchtoggler.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 "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 search toggler 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.

If you continue having problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

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 toggler 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit websites like searchtoggler.com?

Software that generates rogue redirects is developed for profit. The people behind Search Toggler generate revenue by sending traffic to searchtoggler.com and the search engines it redirects to, typically through advertising and traffic-based deals.

Is visiting searchtoggler.com a threat to my privacy?

It can be. Pages used in browser hijacking are often capable of collecting visitor data, such as search queries and browsing habits, which may later be sold to third parties. Visiting such a site is generally considered a minor but real privacy risk.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser-hijacking software is primarily distributed via promotional webpages, online scams, freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive advertisements that lead to bundled installers.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Search Toggler browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate installed browser-hijacking applications. It is noteworthy that manual removal (performed without security programs) might not be ideal, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present.

In these cases, after one is removed, the others may reinstall it. What is more, removal-related settings might be inaccessible when this software is installed. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.