What is Search.searchgstt.com?
Search.searchgstt.com is one undesirable search engine that you should not use. Our malware analysts have classified it as a browser hijacker because its developers are known to distribute it through malicious software bundles that install it on computers without the user’s knowledge or consent. Consequently, you ought to remove it from your PC if it has somehow gotten onto your PC. Researchers say that this hijacker might feature promotional links in its search results and also gather some anonymous information about you in order to show customized promotional links to generate more ad revenue.
How does Search.searchgstt.com work?
At first, you might think that Search.searchgstt.com is a reliable new search engine, but the fact of the matter is that this hijacker is capable of presenting search results only because it redirects them to Yahoo. Still, the results can be modified to include promotions that come from an unreliable source. There is no way of knowing what kind of content you may be presented with as it can change constantly. There is a real possibility that this hijacker will present you with shady content that can jeopardize your computer’s security.
Our cyber security experts have concluded that Search.searchgstt.com will replace your browser’s homepage address if you use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer. It will also replace the new tab page of Chrome. This hijacker’s developers want you to use it as a regular search engine and click promoted links so that they could make money.
Another thing to note is that Search.searchgstt.com has been set to gather anonymous information about you to somewhat personalize the promoted links in order to generate more advertising revenue. Researchers say that this particular hijacker was set to automatically collect information such as your browsing history, search terms, Internet Protocol (IP) address, Internet Service Provider (ISP) domain name, browser type, operating system type, and so on. The hijacker collects this information using browser cookies, web beacons, pixels, and other information gathering technologies. While collecting this information is not illegal, you should keep in mind that it is obtained by a malicious search engine for the selfish needs of its creators who want to make money.
Where does Search.searchgstt.com come from?
This hijacker was created by Polarity Technologies, a company dedicated to making browser hijackers. Among its many other releases, we find hijackers such as Search.searchutilities.co, Search.searchvzc.com, Search.searchtcn.com, and many others. Most of them look and work similarly as this developer produces clones of the same hijacker with some minute differences. While there is no concrete information on how this particular hijacker is distributed, researchers say that the creators should distribute it in the same way it distributes most of its other hijackers. They use bundled software installers to install Search.searchgstt.com onto your browser secretly. The bundles might not disclose that they have additional content or even allow you to deselect it. Therefore, bundled installers can be set to install this hijacker by default, and you might not be able to opt out.
How do I remove Search.searchgstt.com?
We hope you found this description informative. There is no doubt that this particular search engine is malicious as it is distributed using deceptive distribution tactics and that its search results are bound to feature additional promotional links that come from unreliable sources. On top of that, the hijacker is set to keep tabs on you to customize the ad campaign. If you want to revert to using your old search engine, please check the guide below for your particular browser to remove this hijacker and set a new search engine.
Search Engine Replacement Guide
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Lunch the browser.
- Press Alt+T and click Internet Options.
- Erase http://search.searchdp.com
- Enter a new URL.
- Click OK.
Google Chrome
- Lunch the browser.
- Press Alt+F keys.
- Select Settings.
- Click Set pages.
- Erase http://search.searchdp.com/
- Enter a new URL
- Click OK.
Mozilla Firefox
- Lunch the browser.
- Press Alt+T.
- Click Options and select General.
- Erase Search.searchdp.com and enter a new address.
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