searchab.com Hijacker

Last Update: January 27, 2013 by webmaster , Comments: 0

searchab.com is a browser hijacker that trade your home page to unknown search page. It usually shows a white page containing strange search box. During our test, we found that searchab.com function just like any other search engine. However, there are ongoing debates about its identity. Some people claims that searchab.com is a virus that conquer their home page without asking for permission. If that is the case, then we can conclude that searchab.com is part of adware.

Tools and programs are classified by adware if they are installed on the PC without the full concern of user. Most of the time, adware are embedded on other programs that anyone can download from online servers. Installing adware such as searchab.com hijacker is discreet. You will never have a trace of it getting loaded into the computer. Signs and symptoms will be visible when your home page is set to use the unknown search engine from http://searchab.com.

Removing the add-ons or extension from your browser stop the redirects, still, we highly encourage you to run a scan of anti-malware program to make sure that no more deposits of searchab.com are left inside the computer.

Type	Hijacker
Sub-Type	Adware
OS Affected	Windows

What are the Symptoms of searchab.com Hijacker?

searchab.com hijacker is identified with a program Privatized VPN. Once you install this product, there is a tendency that your home page will be redirect to searchab.com. Image of the unknown search box is shown in the image below.

Follow these Procedures to Remove searchab.com

Procedure 1: Uninstall searchab.com from Windows Control Panel

1. To begin, click on Windows Start located at bottom left part of the screen. Alternatively, you can press 'Start' button on your keyboard. From the selection, click on Control Panel. This will open a Window allowing you to adjust computer settings.

2. Under Programs, click on Uninstall a program. It will open a program and features window where-in you can uninstall, change, or repair installed software.

3. Look for the name searchab.com or any related term. Please note that the adware may change the title anytime. This part is risky. Find any suspicious file that you deemed is linked to the adware. Once found, please select the item you wanted to remove.

4. Click on Uninstall button to remove the program automatically.
5. If it prompts for confirmation, please click OK to proceed.

Procedure 1: Start Windows in Safe Mode with Networking

Restart your computer in Safe Mode with Networking

- After turning On the power of the computer, just before Windows start, press F8.
- From the selections, choose Safe Mode with Networking. Please use keyboard's arrow up/down to navigate between selections and press Enter to proceed.

Procedure 2: Scan and remove searchab.com files with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware

To remove searchab.com, download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware by clicking on the button below. This tool is effective in getting rid of Trojans, viruses and malware.

1. After downloading, please install the program using the default settings.
2. At the end of the installation, please make sure that it will download necessary updates.
3. Once update has completed. The tool will launch.
4. Thoroughly scan the computer and remove all threats detected by this anti-malware program.

Procedure 3: Manually remove settings created by searchab.com.

If the hijacker was not removed properly during the scan, you can use this guide to uninstall it from the computer. We prepared procedures to remove this unknown search program from various Internet browsers including Internet Explorer 8/9, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.

Uninstall searchab.com from Internet Explorer 8:

1. Launch the program Internet Explorer 8.
2. On top menu, please navigate to Tools > Internet Options.

3. It will open the options window; make sure that you are viewing the General tab. Look for the area that says "Search" and click the Settings button.

4. You will see a list of search providers. Select your preferred search provider and click the button Set as default to replace searchab.com.

5. You may now remove searchab.com from the list. Highlight the item and click on Remove button.

For Internet Explorer 9:

1. Launch the program Internet Explorer 9.
2. On top menu, please navigate to Tools > Internet Options.
3. On General tab, proceed to Change search defaults and click the Settings button.
4. You will see a list of search providers. Select your desired search provider and click the button Set as default to replace searchab.com.
5. You may now remove searchab.com from the list.

Instructions to remove searchab.com from Mozilla Firefox:

1. Launch the program Mozilla Firefox.
2. On the address bar, type about:config and press Enter on the keyboard to view the list of preferences.

3. If it display a warning message stating that the action might void your warranty, just click "I'll be careful, I promise!"

4. Type searchab.com (or Root Name Only) in the search box to display the list of references that were altered by the adware. Please refer to the image below.

5. There is no button to remove the preference set by searchab.com. All you need to do is restore it to Firefox's default settings. Right-click on the item and select Reset from the drop-down list.

6. After resetting all affected preferences, you can now restart Firefox.

7. Navigate to toolbar and on Google's Search box, click the arrow down sitting right beside the 'G' logo.

8. Click on Manage Search Engines... from the drop-down list to see all search engines installed in Firefox.
9. Choose your preferred default search provider by placing it at the top most position. Highlight the item and click on Move up until it reaches the first spot.

10. To remove searchab.com from Firefox, highlight on its name and click the Remove button.

Delete searchab.com from Google Chrome:

1. Launch the program Google Chrome.
2. Click on the Wrench or 3-Bars icon on top right corner of the browser.

3. Choose Settings from the drop down list. It will open a window containing Google Chrome settings.
4. Find the area that says "Search". This is located in the middle part of the page.

5. Click on Manage search engines. It will show a list of Search engines including the default one.
6. Mouse-over to your preferred search engine and click Make default.

7. Then, to remove searchab.com from Google Chrome, mouse-over to that item and click on the X mark.

Protect your PC from searchab.com or Similar Attack

Turn On Safe Browsing Features

Internet Explorer - Activate SmartScreen Filter

Internet Explorer versions 8 and 9 has this feature called SmartScreen Filter. It helps detect phishing web sites and protect you from downloading malicious files online. To turn on SmartScreen Filter, follow these steps:

1. Please open Internet Explorer.
2. On top menu, select Tools (IE 9). For IE 8, please look for Safety menu.
3. Select SmartScreen Filter from the drop-down list and click on Turn on SmartScreen Filter.

4. Please restart Internet Explorer.

Google Chrome's Enable Phishing and Malware Protection

With Google Chrome's Phishing and Malware Detection feature, you will have lesser risks browsing the web. It will display a warning when the site you are trying to visit is suspicious. To enable Phishing and Malware Protection, please do these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the Customize and control Google Chrome (3-Bars Icon) located on top right corner of the browser.
3. Select Settings from the drop-down list.
4. Once on the settings page, click on Show advanced settings... at the bottom of the page to see the rest of the Chrome setup.
5. Locate Privacy section and mark 'Enable phishing and malware protection'.

6. Please restart Google Chrome. New settings keep your browser safe while surfing the web.

Mozilla Firefox - Block Attack Sites and Web Forgeries

Phishing and Malware Protection is a built-in feature on Firefox version 3 or later. It warns you when a page you are trying to visit contains phishing content or an attack site designed to drop threats on the computer. To help you keep safe while browsing the Internet using Firefox, please follow this guide:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. On top menu, click on Tools. Then select Options from the list.
3. Select Security and put a check mark on the following items:

• Warn me when sites try to install add-ons
• Block reported attack sites
• Block reported web forgeries

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