What is SearchEnhance (SearchEnhance Virus, Adware)?

SearchEnhance is an adware serving platform, and browser add-on and extension, referred to as a browser hijacker that infects computer systems without detection, or entraps victims whom voluntarily install the SearchEnhance browser attachment from a variety of online distributors, including their primary website, SearchEnhance.com.

SearchEnhance is known to serve in-text search boxes and advertisements on a variety of websites, including emails, that popup when a text link is hovered over. The popup links supplied by SearchEnhance may contain links to malicious websites and payloads, that utilize the SearchEnhance advertising network that stretches across many platforms, including OneTab and sister-adware Text Enhance.

Search results displayed by the SearchEnhance popup search window are paid for by third parties, therefore the results are not realistic and may contain malicious software, or websites containing entrapping malware, spyware, or online scams targeted at unsuspecting victims.

Is SearchEnhance safe?

No, SearchEnhance is not safe to download and use. SearchEnhance attempts to appear as a legitimate SearchEnhancer that empowers its users and provides a faster and more relevant for popular internet browsers, but SearchEnhance entraps victims to their terms, which may be a nuisance, and can ultimately negatively affect the overall functionality of the infected computer system or assist privacy invading malware in gathering sensitive information including browser and computer activity, and stored browser data (passwords, history).

How To Remove SearchEnhance And Third Party Malware

If SearchEnhance and/or third party malware has infected your computer system, or you find that SearchEnhance is difficult to remove, please use the steps and tips below to completely remove the SearchEnhance virus and third party malware.

1. SearchEnhance Removal Software (Antivirus Scan)

Scan and Remove Malware infecting your computer system with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (other suggested removal tools).

 

Instructions: 1. Install Malarebytes 2. Update the software 3. Perform full scan(Image).

2. How To Uninstall SearchEnhance (Windows)

The instructions below detail how to uninstall SearchEnhance and third party programs. Uninstalling the program should always be initiated before attempting to remove any browser attachments.

1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.

2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program.

3. Locate SearchEnhance in the list of installed software. Double click SearchEnhance to uninstall the program, or highlight the program and click the Uninstall button, (video example: right click > Uninstall). Uninstalling SearchEnhance may prompt a Window suggesting to install new software once SearchEnhance is removed. Make sure to pay close attention to instructions that prompt after uninstalling SearchEnhance.

4. Manually Search for and Delete the SearchEnhance.exe file from your computer. This file is not malicious but can be executed to install SearchEnhance.

Keep in mind, there may be additional third-party software that may need to be removed as well.

3. How To Remove SearchEnhance Add-on And Extension

The instructions below detail how to remove SearchEnhance from Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer. Please note, if uninstalling SearchEnhance and third party software was successful using the steps above, there may be no SearchEnhance add-on or extension to remove.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click Tools and select Add-ons. (Ctrl+Shift+A)

2. On the Extensions and Plugin search for SearchEnhance and additional third party add-ons and remove them.

Google Chrome

1. Click on the Customize icon (wrench or 3 bar icon) next to the address bar and navigate to Tools > Extensions.

2. Search for SearchEnhance and additional third party extensions. Remove the SearchEnhance extension by clicking the trashcan icon adjacent to it.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.

2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab search for SearchEnhance and additional third party add-ons and remove them if located.

Alternative Removal Options & Tips:

If removing, uninstalling, or bypassing symptoms of malware associated with SearchEnhance is difficult to remove and initiate, please refer to alternative removal options and tips below.

System Restore

A System Restore is an easy solution to restore an infected computer to a date and time before issues. System Restores can be used to remove software that may have installed without consent.

• To learn more please visit: http://botcrawl.com/how-to-restore-microsoft-windows-vista-microsoft-windows-xp-and-microsoft-windows-7/

Hosts File (Advanced)

If you chose to use Window’s hosts file, add the following IP addresses:

216.18.197.158
216.18.197.157

Deny Flash

SearchEnhance and related adware use flash. In some cases denying or disabling flash on your system may suspend the infection.

• To disable (deny) flash visit: http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/help09.html and select the “Deny” radio option.

Remove Hijacked Home Page

CCleaner ↔ Install

An alternative recommendation is to use a program such as CCleaner to repair all browser settings at once with productive accuracy.

1. Install CCleaner.

2. Navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.

Manually Remove Hijacked Home Page

In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings. Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove any malicious websites and replace with your preferred URL.

In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options. Under the General tab remove any malicious URL from the “Home Page:” field and replace with your preferred home page.

In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove any malicious URLs from the Home Page field and replace with your preferred URL.

Remove Hijacked Search Engine

CCleaner ↔ Install

1. Install CCleaner.

2. Navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found.

Manually Remove Hijacked Search Engine

In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to any suspicious search engines including search.snap.do and/or conduit manufactured search engines.

In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove any suspicious search engines from the list by highlighting the selection and clicking remove.

In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons and remove the malicious search engine from the list.