Search1.me Virus Removal Guide

Written by Valdis Koks

Search1.me search hijacker is a kind of malware that infuses into your computer system, and then modifies the search engine settings in your internet browser to one which it wants. It also makes different unwanted changes that may cause personal information leakages, as well as to various other malware injection. In this article, you will see the guide of Search1.me hijacker removal in a couple of methods, and additionally the method of making your web browser like new.

icon hijacker - Do I really need it?

Search1.me info

Name Search1.me extension
Type Browser hijacker1
Short Description The unwanted software that amends important browser settings without the user’s permission.
Symptoms The Search1.me hijacker replaces the browser parameters set by the users and replaces these settings with its own values.
Distribution Method Bundling with Freeware or Shareware, misleading pop-up ads produced by adware.
Detection Tool Inspect If Your System Has Been Affected by the Search1.me hijacker.

The methods of injection of Search1.me search hijackers are diverse. The majority of them belong to the malware dispersing through the malvertising or malevolent web links of different websites. Frequently, your system may be contaminated with this virus through the trojan-downloader, which is put to use to distribute various other malware. There is a solitary form of this unwanted program – web browser plugin that may build into any browser which supports the add-on installation2.

You will not likely mount this plugin by yourself, because their names are highly dubious, and also the usefulness is really controversial. The “creators” of Search1.me hijacker typically specify that it can save the .doc/.docx documents from the sites already to .pdf format, or to save the whole website on your disk. It is rather tough to imagine if someone may be needed in such functions in 2022, when the Internet access is not time-limited as well as every computer has the ability to start the needed .docx documents at Google Docs.

Nonetheless, besides their uselessness, they may effortlessly be located in the Chrome Web Store. Of course, virus experts sound the alarm concerning such spam right into the legitimate source of browser extensions, asking for the Google response – eliminating these extensions from their place. But they are still not hurrying to repair that safety issue.

Icon - Your PC hijacker

Is the Search1.me virus?

At the first sight, you may believe that these redirects are only irritating, but not hazardous. Because of this factor a number of people are just playing for time rather than removing this malware, getting much more chances of being infected with numerous other malware, which are much more major than Search1.me is.

Besides the modified search engine or search results, you may additionally see various promotions even on those websites that do not have any kind of ads on it by default. And you can unintentionally misclick while turning off the advertisement, and start the downloading of an unfamiliar file, which may be a virus, or a potentially undesirable application, and even ransomware – whatever the maintainers of this hijacker want.

If your web browser is damaged as a result of the Azorult trojan activity, the system may begin malfunctioning quickly – this symptome is just one of the most common in case of trojan injection.

Icon - remove Search1.me hijacker

How to remove Search1.me?

First, let me say several words about prevention the Search1.me malware infiltration. It is extremely easy to discuss the techniques of securing your personal computer from such annoying things as browser hijackers, but it is very simple to be caught on this lure perhaps even being a skilled user. As it was discussed above, this unwanted program can hide after the attractive (at the first sight) ad, or in packs with various other adware you may get in dozens of manners. However, despite the usual difficulty of the penetration methods, it is really easy to prevent the Search1.me hijacker presence in your system:

  • Do not follow the dubious links;
  • Restrict the usage of pseudo-free software (one which is offered as free, but has an additional unwanted programs in its pack);
  • Leave the habit of clicking advertisements on the web. If you need to buy something, it is better to google it;
  • Avoid downloading the files from dubious sources, like forums or file sharing websites.
Search1.me may remain persistent on your system and may re-infect it. We recommend you to download Trojan Remover and run free scan to get rid of all infected files on your device. This saves you a lot of time and efforts compared to the manual malware removal.

Preparation before removing Search1.me.

Before starting the actual uninstall procedure, we recommend that you do the following introductory milestones.

  • Ensure you have this manual tutorial constantly prepared to utilize.
  • Execute a backup of all of your information, consisting of the stored logins, passwords and various other qualifications. You need to support your information with a cloud back-up service and make certain your files are protected from any kind of kind of loss, even from the most extreme infections.
  • Wait till the lasting backup process is over.

Step 1: Uninstall Search1.me and related software from Windows

Right here is a method in couple of simple stages that must have the ability to uninstall most applications. Either you use Windows 11/10 or 7, these milestones will work well. Moving the app or its folder to the Trash can be a very wrong idea. In case you do that, remnants of the app may remain, and that can cause the unstable performance of your system, malfunctions with the file type associations and other unpleasant behavior. The effective solution to get an app off your device is to remove it manually. To do that:

1. Keep holding the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will soon arrive.

Windows keyboard R

2. In the field that appeared, type in “appwiz.cpl” -1  and choose OK – 2.

Run appwiz.cpl

 

3. This will open a window with all the apps available on the device. Choose the app that you want to get rid of, then choose “Uninstall

Follow the steps above and you will successfully get rid of most unwanted apps.

Step 2: Get rid of Search1.me from all your available browsers.

Mozilla FirefoxGoogle ChromeInternet ExplorerMicrosoft Edge

1. Launch Mozilla Firefox. Go to its menu window

2. Choose the “Add-ons” icon in the menu.

3. Find the unwanted extension and select “Remove

Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Remove

4. Upon deleting the extension, reload Mozilla Firefox, closing it with the help of a red “X” button in the upper right corner and start it again.

1. Launch Google Chrome and go to its drop menu

Google Chrome drop menu click

2. Click on “Tools” and then in the extended menu select “Extensions

Google Chrome Tools select Extensions

3. In the “Extensions” menu find the unwanted extension and apply the “Remove” button related to it.

Google Chrome Extensions Remove

4. As soon as the extension is deleted, reload Google Chrome by closing it by means of the red “X” button at the top right corner and launch it again.

1. Launch Internet Explorer

2. Click on the gear icon marked ‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and choose ‘Manage Add-ons’

Manage-add-ons

3. In the “Manage Add-ons” window, locate the extension you want to delete and then click “Remove”. A pop-up window will come up to inform you that you are about to delete the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and choose “Remove”.

Internet Explorer extension removal

4. Once the unwanted extension is deleted, reload Internet Explorer by shutting it down from the red “X” button located at the top right corner and launch it again.

1. Launch Edge

2. Access the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.

3. From the drop menu choose “Extensions”.

Microsoft Edge menu Extensions

4. Locate the suspected dangerous extension you want to delete and then click on the Remove button.

Microsoft Edge Extensions Remove

Step 3: Clean any registries that could be added by Search1.me on your device.

The usually attacked registries of Windows machines are the following:

  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

You can access them by going to the Windows registry editor and getting rid of any values added by Search1.me. Follow the steps below:

  1. Start the Run Window command once again, type “regedit” and click OK.Window command regedit
  2. As soon as you open it, you can freely go to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are displayed above.Window command Run and RunOnce keys
  3. You can delete the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and deleting it.Window command regedit delete the value virus

Tip: To locate a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and select “Modify” to find which file it is set to run. If this is the malware file location, delete the value.

IMPORTANT!
Before starting “Step 4”, please boot back into Normal modein case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use Loaris Trojan Remover successfully.

 

Step 4: Scan for Search1.me with Loaris Trojan Remover

1. Click on the “Download” button to proceed to Loaris Trojan Remover download.

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by Trojan Remover. Click on the corresponding links to check License AgreementPrivacy Policy.

2. Click “Install” to start.

Loaris Trojan Remover Install

There were 4 scan types suggested:

  • Standard Scan.
  • Full Scan.
  • Custom Scan.
  • Removable Scan.

 

3. After the installed has finished, click on the ‘Scan’ tab. Click on ‘Full Scan’.

Loaris Trojan Remover Full Scan

4. Once the scanning is started, Loaris will initiate the thorough analysis of your device and may soon identify specific threats currently slowing down the performance of your system. Make sure to wait until the scanning is completed to let the software fully evaluate the safety of your workstation.

Loaris Trojan Remover - scan in process

5. After Loaris Trojan Remover has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Apply’ button. There were options to move the files to quarantine, ignore or delete them.

Loaris Trojan Remover - show viruses

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

 

  1. About browser hijackers on Wikipedia
  2. Possible danger of free browser extensions

About the author

Valdis Koks

Security engineer, reverse engineering and memory forensics

1 Comment

  • UltraSurf Security, Privacy & Unblock VPN
    This is the extension that directs you to search1.me instead of the Google search engine, be aware don’t install it or delete it if you already have it.

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