Search2.searchlson.com

Posted by Lisa Blanc on July 14, 2016

What is Search2.searchlson.com?

You might think that there is nothing wrong with Search2.searchlson.com, but you would be mistaken because it is not a search engine, but a browser hijacker. Therefore, you should remove it from your computer as soon as the opportunity arises. Our security analysts say that it comes from a known malware developer that uses dishonest and illicit distribution methods to get its browser hijackers on your computer. When it is inserted into a computer, it replaces the web browser’s homepage, new tab page and search provider. It does this to get you to view promotions and advertisementss presented as search results. Furthermore, it is set to collect information about you that is used to tailor the ads to a unique user and make more money. test test test

How does Search2.searchlson.com work?

First of all, this browser hijacker comes with a browser extension for Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. When you install this browser extension, the Setup asks whether you want to set Search2.searchlson.com as the homepage, new tab page, and/or the search provider. You have this choice only if you download it from its main website at Livesportsonlinenow.com. However, the other distribution method that we will elaborate on a bit later does not provide you with this choice.

At any rate, when you install it on Chrome, then it will change its new tab page and possibly its search provider. If you install it on Internet Explorer, then it should replace the new tab page, and if you install it on Mozilla Firefox, it should replace the homepage address and search provider. Even though the browser affects the web browsers differently, the changes it imposes are significant to your search experience. If you use this hijacker for processing your online searches, then you will have to know that its search results are modified to include commercial advertisements that are endorsed by this hijacker’s creators.

Our malware researchers have found that Search2.searchlson.com redirects the search queries to a modified Yahoo.com search engine. So the search queries get processed by Yahoo.com and this hijacker supplements them with its questionable content. The fact of the matter is that there is no way to determine whether its advertisements are safe because they are regularly changed. Therefore, we think they can include links to malicious websites that try to extort money from you or reveal your logins and passwords.

Also, like all browser hijackers, this one too has privacy issues that we want to elaborate a bit more. Our researchers say that Search2.searchlson.com has been configured to collect browsing and search history, search queries, Internet Protocol (IP) address, and so on. Also if you contact the developers via this hijacker’s distribution website and disclose relevant information about yourself, then this information will also be used for marketing and advertising purposes.

Where does Search2.searchlson.com come from?

Our security analysts say that this browser hijacker has released by a well-known malware developer that labels its browser hijackers with “by SaferBrowser.” This developer has released dozens of other hijackers that include Search.youremailnow.com, Search.yourclassifiedscenter.com, and Search.yourinterestscenter.com. It is in the web monetization business, and it creates new browser hijackers because older soon get detected and deleted by anti-malware applications.

Our researchers have also found that this developer has set up two distribution channels for Search2.searchlson.com. It has set up a dedicated promotional/distribution website at Livesportsonlinenow.com. This website claims that this supposedly legitimate search engine will keep you up to date with all sports events and has links to legitimate sports sites, but they are distractions to focus your attention away from the shady ads featured in its search results. Furthermore, researchers found that Search2.searchlson.com is also advertised via ads shown by adware-type software, and they inject its browser extension automatically when you click the ad.

How do I remove Search2.searchlson.com?

If you got this browser hijacker, accidentally want to remove it but do not know how then you have come to the right security website. Our malware analysts have tested this hijacker and found that you could get rid of it by uninstalling it from Internet Explorer via Control Panel, and from Chrome and Firefox via the browser extensions list. Please see the step-by-step removal guide below.