If you are reading this article, it means that you are seeing the Search encrypt unknown web-page instead of your startpage or when you open a new tab or perform an internet search you are automatically rerouted to the unwanted site. All of these problems with your machine caused by hijacker, which is often installs on the machine by certain free programs. You probably want to know how to get rid of this hijacker and delete Search encrypt home page as well as to restore your web-browser’s homepage, newtab and search engine by default. In the guide below we will tell you about how to solve your problems.
Most often, the Search encrypt hijacker affects most common web-browsers like Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. But such browser hijackers as well can infect other internet browsers by changing its shortcuts (adding ‘http://site.address’ into Target field of web-browser’s shortcut). So every time you launch the browser, it’ll display Search encrypt site. Even if you setup your startpage again, the unwanted Search encrypt web-page will be the first thing which you see when you start the web-browser.
Table of contents
In addition, the Search encrypt browser hijacker can also modify the search engine selected in the browser. When you try to search on the infected web-browser, you will be presented with search results, consisting of ads and Google (or Yahoo, or Bing) search results for your query. Among these search results can occur links that lead to unwanted and ad web-pages.
Some browser hijackers also contain adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) that can be used to display unwanted advertisements and or collect lots of user information that may be used for marketing purposes. These unwanted advertisements can be displayed in the form of pop-unders, pop-ups, in-text advertisements, video ads, text links or banners or even massive full page ads. Most of the adware is designed to show ads, but some adware is form of spyware that often used to track users to collect personal data.
We recommend you to free your computer as soon as possible. Use the step-by-step guide below that will allow to get rid of Search encrypt and unwanted software, that can be installed onto your PC along with it.
Get rid of Search encrypt search
In the step-by-step instructions below we will have a look at the hijacker and how to remove Search encrypt from Chrome, Internet Explorer, FF and MS Edge browsers for Windows OS, natively or by using a few free removal utilities and applications.
How to get rid of Search encrypt without any software
The step-by-step guide will help you remove Search encrypt . These Search encrypt removal steps work for the Chrome, IE, Firefox and Microsoft Edge, as well as every version of MS Windows operating system. Some of the steps may require you to close the web browser or reboot your PC system. So, bookmark or print it for later reference.
Uninstall suspicious and potentially unwanted software using MS Windows Control Panel
We recommend that you start the system cleaning procedure by checking the list of installed programs and remove all unknown or suspicious software. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the malicious applications such as adware and browser hijackers may be bundled with freeware. Remove the unwanted software can remove the annoying ads or browser redirect.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, press the Windows button
, then click Search 
. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click “Start” and select “Control Panel”.
It will display the Windows Control Panel as on the image below.
Next, press “Uninstall a program” 
It will display a list of all programs installed on your personal computer. Scroll through the all list, and remove any suspicious and unknown software. To quickly find the latest installed applications, we recommend sort applications by date in the Control panel.
Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to get rid of Search encrypt
Right click to a desktop shortcut for your internet browser. Choose the “Properties” option. It will open the Properties window. Select the “Shortcut” tab here, after that, look at the “Target” field. The hijacker infection can replace it. If you are seeing something like “…exe http://site.address” then you need to remove “http…” and leave only, depending on the web browser you are using:
- Google Chrome: chrome.exe
- Opera: opera.exe
- Firefox: firefox.exe
- Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe
Look at the example as on the image below.
Once is complete, click the “OK” button to save the changes. Please repeat this step for internet browser shortcuts which redirects to an annoying web-pages. When you have completed, go to next step.
Remove Search encrypt from Mozilla Firefox by resetting browser settings
Resetting your Mozilla Firefox is good initial troubleshooting step for any issues with your internet browser program, including the redirect to Search encrypt web site.
First, start the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will show the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button (
).
In the Help menu press the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as shown on the image below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Get rid of Search encrypt from Chrome
If your Google Chrome web browser is redirected to annoying Search encrypt page, it may be necessary to completely reset your browser program to its default settings.
First run the Chrome. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will open the main menu. Further, click the option named “Settings”. Another way to display the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter.
The internet browser will show the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as shown in the figure below and press the “Reset settings” button.
The Chrome will open the confirmation dialog box. You need to confirm your action, press the “Reset” button. The internet browser will start the process of cleaning. When it is done, the browser’s settings including startpage, newtab page and search engine by default back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your computer.
Delete Search encrypt homepage from IE
To restore the startpage, new tab and search engine by default you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the MS Windows was installed on your PC system.
First, run the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (
). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as shown on the screen below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown in the figure below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.
You will now need to reboot your personal computer for the changes to take effect.
Search encrypt home page automatic removal
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users can not completely get rid of browser hijacker from the infected PC. So, we recommend to check your system for any remaining malicious components with free hijacker infection removal applications below.
Remove Search encrypt home page with Malwarebytes
We suggest using the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your computer. The free tool is an advanced malware removal program developed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It’s able to help you delete browser hijackers, PUPs, malware, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your computer for free.
Download Malwarebytes Free from the link below.
326384 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once installed, the Malwarebytes will try to update itself and when this task is done, click the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the Search encrypt hijacker and other malicious software and adware. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the program is checking, you may see number of objects it has identified as threat. In order to remove all items, simply click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The Malwarebytes is a free application that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malware removal utility, we recommend you to read and follow the steps or the video guide below.
If the problem with Search encrypt is still remained
If MalwareBytes anti malware cannot delete this hijacker infection, then we suggests to run the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal utility for browser hijackers, adware, potentially unwanted applications and toolbars.
Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the link below.
225260 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
After downloading is finished, open the folder in which you saved it. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the AdwCleaner desktop icon. When the tool is launched, you will see a screen as shown below.
Further, press “Scan” button for checking your personal computer for the Search encrypt hijacker and other malware and adware. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient. When the system scan is finished, it will show a screen which contains a list of malicious software that has been detected as shown below.
In order to remove all threats, simply click “Clean” button. It will display a prompt as shown in the figure below.
You need to press “OK”. Once the cleaning process is finished, the AdwCleaner may ask you to reboot your computer. When your system is started, you will see an AdwCleaner log.
These steps are shown in detail in the following video guide.
Run AdBlocker to block Search encrypt and stay safe online
Enabling an ad blocking program such as AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, adblocker software will also protect you from harmful ads and pages, and, of course, stop redirection chain to Search encrypt and simular web sites.
- Download AdGuard program from the following link.
Adguard download
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- After the download is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- When the installation is finished, press “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop pop-up advertisements, web-pages such Search encrypt, as well as other malicious or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon named AdGuard, that is located on your desktop.
How can you prevent the Search encrypt browser hijacker
Most often Search encrypt browser hijacker infection spreads along with various free applications, as a bonus. Therefore it’s very important at the stage of installing software downloaded from the Internet carefully review the Terms of use and the License agreement, as well as to always select the Advanced, Custom or Manual installation mode. In this mode, you can turn off all unwanted add-ons, including the Search encrypt browser hijacker, which will be installed along with the desired program. Of course, if you uninstall the free programs from your system, your favorite browser’s settings will not be restored. So, to revert back the Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and MS Edge’s home page, newtab page and search provider by default you need to follow the few simple steps above.
Finish words
Now your machine should be clean of the Search encrypt search. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your system for new malicious software, browser hijackers and ‘ad supported’ software) and AdGuard (to help you block annoying pop-up ads and harmful sites). Moreover, to prevent browser hijackers, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to detect PUPs (potentially unwanted programs).
If you need more help with Search encrypt startpage related issues, go to our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
I removed this by just going to chrome settings.
It’s not difficult to remove. Use this link, it explains the process: searchencrypt.com/About/Uninstall
I will try this — I visited the Search Encrypt site. They are located in Cypress. I will not allow those “click-thru clowns” to steal from me. The only clue I had for their existence was when they posted their logo in the upper left corner of their version of the “Highjacked search list.
Fantastic, really hrlped
Thanks friends,
a simple solution to a troublesome problem (Search Encrypt in Firefox). I’ll be back as soon as I have another problem. Let me know if I can be of assistance.
L&P
George
Did all this didn’t detect anything, I’m beginning to think Search Encrypt maybe ad supported.
I tried to replicate the problem using TOR, there are no ads under TOR so its either a browser hijack or a rogue plugin.