Safesear.ch virus - How to remove

Safesear.ch virus is a browser hijacker that aims to promote certain websites and collect information about users’ browsing habits. The program can infiltrate into Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers. It changes some of the settings there and replaces your homepage and default search provider with Safesear.ch.

Is Safesear.ch dangerous?

Safesear.ch is meant to provide users “the most streamlined search experience”. This is really vague, and it’s easy to see that Safesear.ch does nothing for the user. It’s more-or-less the same as any default new tab page: a search bar and links to some popular websites. Except, with this hijacker, you can’t set your new tab page to what you want, so it’s worse. Although Safesear.ch virus doesn’t cause direct harm to your computer, it can take you to malicious websites subsequently your PC fronts a higher risk to be infected.

Although the Safesear.ch webpage looks just like a regular search engine, it’s actually a type of adware. It displays many advertisements and sponsored links in your search results. Safesear.ch uses Yahoo to deliver the search results and ads are included in those results. While most search providers use ads to make money, hijackers tend to display a lot more ads, even exceeding the number of real results on the page. This is very annoying because you are tricked into clicking on the links you otherwise would not visit – the ads are often really poorly labeled. It might also make finding good results difficult when you have to scroll past many distracting headlines.

Safesear.ch is an adware extension and removing it will only improve your browsing experience:

Type of threat
  • Adware
  • Browser hijacker
Problems with Safesear.ch
  • Installs without a clear warning
  • Does not provide any value
  • Displays ads and collects browsing data for advertisers
How Safesear.ch spreads
  • Freeware bundlers
  • Pirated files
Uninstall Safesear.ch
  • DIsable or remove applications installed right before the browser hijacking
  • Use antivirus tools (Combo Cleaner for Mac, SpyHunter for Windows) to get rid of malware
  • Remove Safesear.ch and restore browser new tab and search provider settings

Besides that, Safesear.ch collects information about your browsing and might sell it to third parties for use in advertising. Since this search virus has access to your browser, it can easily collect data about your activities.

Safesear.ch can exist as a browser extension, or just a set of settings in your browser. It’s not the only browser search virus out there, of course – SearchEngage, ChumSearch, Snap.do, and many other sites survive of leeching off adding unnecessary ads to people’s web search results and providing no value in exchange.

"Safesear.ch search virus", on the page screenshot

How Safesear.ch is distributed

Safesear.ch virus is distributed to computers together with various free programs from the Internet, like PDF managers, free browser games, video players, etc. That is why users should be extremely careful about installing freeware. It is essential to follow every installation step and refuse to install additional tools if you never heard about them before, especially if have doubts regarding the functions they offer.

Fake and infected programs might also spread the Safesear.ch search virus, like fake Adobe PDF Readers and Flash updates, driver utilities, and pirated PDF files.

You should immediately remove the Safesear.ch virus from your browser if you noticed its redirections. Go to Control Panel -> Add and Remove programs list (Windows) or to the Applications folder (Mac OS). It is important that you remove all other programs installed with the hijacker, as some of them might redownload or reset back browser settings. Scan with Spyhunter (Windows) or Combo Cleaner (Mac OS), or another competent program, as they identify suspicious programs quite well.

You should also check browser extensions for Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. If you do not see Safesear.ch listed, you should use antimalware tools to scan your computer with them. Uninstalling the program from your computer doesn’t change your search providers. You will have to do it manually by yourself. Depending on the browser you are using, follow the instructions below:

Automatic Malware removal tools

Download Spyhunter for Malware detection
(Win)

Note: Spyhunter trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions,

Download Combo Cleaner for Malware detection
(Mac)

Note: Combo Cleaner trial provides detection of parasites and assists in their removal for free. limited trial available, Terms of use, Privacy Policy, Uninstall Instructions, Refund Policy ,

TopRemove shortcut hijack (all browsers) (optional): If your browser opens Safesear.ch virus page on startup only, try this:

  • Right click on your browser icon. Choose Properties;
    Shortcut properties
  • Open Short cut tab;
    Remove url
  • Delete Safesear.ch virus part from target field.

Remove Safesear.ch from your browser

How to remove Safesear.ch virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like Safesear.ch virus install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.
  • Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10). Open Control Panel by searching for it in the Start menu.
  • Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category). In Control Panel, select Uninstall a program.
  • Go through the list of programs and select entries related to Safesear.ch virus . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make Safesear.ch virus easier to find. Find the program that you need to uninstall.
  • Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes. Click the Uninstall button after selecting the program to uninstall. Then click Yes.
  • In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection. Spyhunter marking a program and its components as low-threat malware.

How to remove Safesear.ch virus from macOS

Delete Safesear.ch virus from your applications.
  1. Open Finder.
  2. In the menu bar, click Go.
  3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
  4. Find the Safesear.ch virus app.
  5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
  6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.
Open Applications and delete unwanted apps.

TopHow To remove Safesear.ch virus from Google Chrome:

  • Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
    Extensions
  • Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
    Remove extensions
  • Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
    Open settings
  • Select Manage Search engines
    Manage search engines
  • Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
    Delete search engines
  • Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
  • If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
    Set pages
  • Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
    Delete start pages

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Safesear.ch virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

  • Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  • Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
    Resset settings
  • Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
    Reset approve

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How To remove Safesear.ch virus from Firefox:Top

  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
    Select add-on
  • Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Safesear.ch virus related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
    Remove add-on
  • If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
    Restore default
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Safesear.ch virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
    Help button
  • ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
    Troubleshooting
  • Click on theReset Firefox button.
    Refresh firefox
  • Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
    Refresh firefox approve
If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.

How to remove Safesear.ch virus from Microsoft Edge:Top

  • Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.
Open the menu and choose Extensions.
  • Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
Press Remove for the extensions you want to remove
  • Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings
Edge new open the three-dot menu and choose settings.
  • Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.
Edge new Open Address bar settings.
  • Choose Manage search engines.
Edge new choose manage search engines.
  • Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.
Edge new choose remove for unwanted search engines.
  • Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
  • Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.
Edge new remove startup pages. (Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Safesear.ch virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings
  • Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
  • Press the Restore settings to their default values option.
Edge new restore settings.
  • Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
Edge new restore settings comfirmation. If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Safesear.ch virus from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions
  • Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
    Open preferences
  • Select Extensions and uninstall Safesear.ch virus and other suspicious extensions.
    Extensions
  • If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
    Reset homepage
(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to Safesear.ch virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.
  • Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
    Choose reset
  • Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
    Reset
If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

Removal guides in other languages

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