What is Search.searchcounn.com?
Search.searchcounn.com may look like your average obscure search engine, but our cyber security experts have concluded that it is much more than that. It is a browser hijacker set to replace your browser's homepage address secretly. Therefore, you should remove it as soon as the opportunity arises because if you use it for searching the web, then this hijacker will present you with customized search results that can include advertisements and promotional links. These ads and links can come from unvetted sources and can subject you to potentially malicious content.
What does Search.searchcounn.com do?
Search.searchcounn.com works like a regular search engine, but it is distributed in a highly malicious manner that involves secretly replacing your browser’s homepage address. It features a toolbar on its main page that features links to various websites. It also features advertisements and suggested search queries. According to our malware analysts, this fake search engine uses a custom Yahoo search engine to process the search queries you enter in its search box. However, the problem is that Search.searchcounn.com’s secretive developers can customize the search results to accommodate promotional links that may not be entirely legitimate most of the time. The advertising partners of this secretive company are unknown, so there no way to be sure of their legitimacy.
Our cyber security experts took a look at this hijacker’s privacy policy and, as it turns out, it was configured to gather certain anonymous information about you. They say that it can obtain information such as your browser type, operating system type, Internet protocol (IP) address, geographic location, Internet service provider, browsing history, and entered search queries. This hijacker’s developers use this information to customize and personalize the ads you see in an effort to generate more advertising income because this hijacker is all about making money.
Where does Search.searchcounn.com come from?
Truth be told, the origins of this hijacker are unknown. It was digitally signed by Polarity Technologies LTD which seems to be a fake company. Nevertheless, we know that the developer is an established one as we have encountered dozens of its previously released browser hijackers that include Search.searchlttrn.com, Search.yourpackagesnow.com, Search.searchwfaa.com, and many others. As you can see, Search.searchcounn.com plays a small part in a massive web monetization campaign, and new hijackers similar to it may soon be on the way.
If you want to prevent your PC from getting infected with hijackers such as this one, then you should invest in an anti-malware application. Also, you should practice safer browsing because this hijacker is being distributed on freeware sharing websites that offer free bundled software. Little do the users know that the bundles can contain browser hijackers such as Search.searchcounn.com. Research has shown that the bundles install this hijacker without your knowledge or approval and you cannot deselect the installation.
How to remove Search.searchcounn.com
In conclusion, Search.searchcounn.com is a search engine that was classified as a browser hijacker due to the way it is distributed. Our malware analysts are of the opinion that the modified search results it presents can feature links to malicious websites that can compromise your computer’s security with malware downloads. You can use the guide below to remove this hijacker and repalce the homepage address.
Replace the homepage address
Google Chrome
- Press Alt+F keys.
- Select Settings.
- Click Set pages and enter a new address.
- Click OK.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Press Alt+T keys.
- Select Internet Options.
- Enter a new URL in the home page address line.
- Click OK.
Mozilla Firefox
- Press Alt+T and click Options.
- Select General.
- In the Home Page box, enter a new address box.
tested removal of Search.searchcounn.com*
0 Comments.