How to remove the Searchalgo virus – Searchalgo.com redirect removal instructions
What is the Searchalgo virus (redirect)?
The Searchalgo virus, also known as the Algo virus or Search Algorithm virus (Searchalgorithm redirection virus) are terms for malware categorized as a browser hijacker that changes internet browser settings of popular internet browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer without permission. The Searchalgo virus changes the home pages and default search engines of such browsers, in turn causing infected internet browsers to start up on http://www.searchalgo.com and redirect to searchalgo.com, as well as third-party websites that are fraudulently self-promoted as legitimate seach engines.
Though Searchalgo may promote itself as legitimate and safe, Searchalgo.com is not a legitimate seach engine. Search results displayed by Searchalgo.com on the search results page may contain malicious or misleading links or contain comptetely irrelevant information, sponsored results, or no content whatsoever. As shown in the image below, when searching for such terms as botcrawl or even “malware” www.searchalgo.com displayed no results. It should also be noted that internet browsers often redirect to Searchalgo when the internet user attempts to visit a specific URL using the address bar or search the web using the browser’s address bar.
Searchalgo malware is closely associated with adware including Deal Finder and SpecialSavings by SuperFish. Aside from unwanted browser redirections and start-ups, victims infected with the Searchalgo virus may experience unwanted advertisements from any of the mentioned advertisement serving programs, as well as additional third-party partners.
Is Searchalgo.com safe (Searchalgo.com review)?
Searchalgo is not safe for reasons concerning cyber criminal activity concerning credit theft, identity theft, and extortion. Furthermore, Searchalgo.com is not a legitimate search engnie and offers no benefit to users.
The Searchalgo.com redirect associates with and bunldes with third-party malware including adware and spyware, and is primarily packaged inside third-party browser add-ons and extensions, especially the Deal Finder add-on (though over-time this may change).
How does the Searchalgo.com redirect infect a compuer?
The Searchalgo redirect virus primarily bundles with third-party software and files including freeware, shareware, codecs, and even torrents. If you recently installed software from a suspicious source, chances are the item bundled with Searchalgo and other platforms powered by SuperFish.
It should be noted that some freeware may offer users seeking to download the item the opportunity to opt out of installing additional software that may be responsible for the www.searchalgo.com redirect when setting up he intial software installment.
How to remove Searchalgo malware (hijacker)
- Uninstall Searchalgo (and third-party software)
- Remove Searchalgo add-on or extension (and third-party attachments)
- Automatically remove malware – Scan for and remove malware associated with Searchalgo.com and third-parties using the free or full version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and repair internet browser settings using CCleaner by Piriform.
- Manually remove Searchalgo.com from home page
- Manually remove Searchalgo.com search engine
1. Uninstall Searchalgo
In order to remove the Searchalgo related addon, extension, or toolbar, it may be necessary to first uninstall Searchalgo related software. Software that may need to be uninstalled may include a title similar to “Updater.”
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program.
3. In the list of installed programs, search for Searchalgo, Updater Service, Deal Finder, and other potentially unwanted software. Once located, double click the unwanted programs or highlight them in the list and click the Uninstall button.
2. Remove Searchalgo add-on or extension
If necessary, to stop unwanted redirections to searchalgo.com and other web pages you must remove the Searchalgo add on, Searchalgo extension, and/or third-party browser attachment from each intenret browser installed on your computer.
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 the Searchalgo extension and remove it by clicking the trashcan icon next to them.
Mozilla Firefox
1. Type Ctrl+Shift+A.
2. On the Extensions and Plugin search for the Searchalgo add-on and remove it.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
1. Click Tools and select Manage add-ons.
2. On the Toolbars and Extensions tab search for the Searchalgo add-on and remove it if located.
3. Automatically remove malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be used to detect and remove additional and/or third-party malware from your computer system.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, please do so.
3. Open the first tab labeled “Scanner” and select the Perform full scan option. Click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting your computer system.
4. Once the full system scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a message stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected).
CCleaner by Piriform
CCleaner can also be used to repair internet browser and computer settings, as well as stop your browser from redirecting to http://www.searchalgo.com and other unwanted websites.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.
2. Once installed, run the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, 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. Look for anything that may be suspicious or contain “Searchalgo, Updater Service, or other previously mentioned titles” in the program or file name.
4. Manually remove Searchalgo.com homepage
- In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options or click Firefox in the top left corner and click Options > Options. Under the General tab remove Searchalgo.com from the “Home Page:” field and replace it with your preferred home page URL.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove Searchalgo.com from the Home Page field and replace it with your preferred URL.
- In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings.Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove Searchalgo.com and replace it with your preferred URL.
5. Manually remove Searchalgo.com search engine
- In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove the Searchalgo.com search engine from the list of search providers by highlighting the selections and clicking remove.
- In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons > Search Providers and remove the Searchalgo.com search engine from the list.
- In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to Searchalgo.com to remove it as your search engine.
Please note, If www.searchalgo.com is set as Google Chrome’s default search engine, add (or select) a new search engine (such as Google.com) and select the new search engine as the default search engine, then remove www.searchalgo.com by clicking the X next to it.
