What is Safeforsearch.net?
If your browser’s homepage was changed to Safeforsearch.net without your authorization, then you should know that your browser has been infected with a browser hijacker. Therefore, you may want to remove it. Replacing the homepage address and other settings without the user’s knowledge is considered a malicious action and, thus, we regard Safeforsearch.net as malware. Apart from that, this hijacker can show ad-supported search results that can jeopardize your computer’s security as some of them can redirect you to infected, scan or phishing websites. It can also collect information about you to customize the advertising campaign. To find out more about this hijacker, read this article.
What does Safeforsearch.net do?
Safeforsearch.net is set as the default search engine by its accompanying browser extension called safe4search that is available for Google Chrome only. Thus, if you use any other browser, then this hijacker will not infect it. In addition to replacing the homepage, this hijacker will also replace the new tab page. If you use Safeforsearch.net as a regular search engine, then all of the search terms you enter into its search box are redirected to http://www.blpsearch.com/search?sid=692&aid=408&src=hmp&p=buy which, in turn, redirects them to a modified Yahoo search engine that provides you search results.
However, the results are ad-supported which would not be a problem if Safeforsearch.net was entirely legitimate. Researchers say that this hijacker can promote some shady websites that can compromise your computer’s security. If you click a deceptive link, then you can get redirected to a malicious website that features potentially unwanted programs or malware. Alternatively, you can get redirected to scan websites that try to sell you non-existing products or phishing websites that collect information about you. Safeforsearch.net too can collect some anonymous information about you for geotargeting purposes. It can obtain information such as your IP address, ISP, browser version, operating system type, search history, entered search terms, and so on.
Where does Safeforsearch.net come from?
Like most browser hijackers, Safeforsearch.net comes from an unknown company to avoid dealing with the blowback that can come from users. Our malware researchers have found that Safeforsearch.net is promoted on various websites that get redirect you to this hijacker’s promotional page that says the following:
RECOMMENDED
DISABLE SEARCH TRACKING
Google tracks your searches and likely has a large amount of personal data about you. This sensitive information is tied together to create a detailed profile about your online activities.
We HIGHLY recommend you enable SearchShield to block all tracking immediately.
If you agree to install the extension, then you will be redirected to the Google Chrome Store that is used to distribute this hijacker. It is rather ironic that an application that claims that Google tracking you is uploaded to the Chrome Store. Hence, it uses Google’s services and then slanders the company for its business model.
How do I remove Safeforsearch.net?
As you can see, Safeforsearch.net is just another browser hijacker set to replace your browser’s homepage address and other settings like thousands of other hijackers. Apart from that, it makes its developers money by showing ad-supported search results, but some of the promoted links can be malicious. Furthermore, it can collect some information about you to customize the promoted links and search results that you get. All in all, it offers a package of everything you do not need and ought to avoid. Therefore, we recommend that you remove it from your PC as soon as you can.
Removal Instructions
- Launch Google Chrome.
- Hold down Alt+F keys.
- Click More tools.
- Click Extensions.
- Locate safe4search.
- Click the Remove button.
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