SearchAssistant.co

Posted by Max Lehmann on August 3, 2016

What is SearchAssistant.co?

You may be given the impression that SearchAssistant.co is a reliable, legitimate search engine that has a fun customizability feature, but the truth is that it is a browser hijacker, dedicated to hijacking your browser’s settings and replacing its search engine. You should remove it regardless of whether you installed in intentionally or not. Indeed, the primary reason it has been classified as a hijacker is that it can enter your computer without your knowledge or consent. Furthermore, it can feature promoted links in its search results, and they may not always be legitimate. test test test

What does SearchAssistant.co do?

At first glance, SearchAssistant.co is just another search engine, but there is more to it than meets the eye. It comes with a browser add-on named Search Assistant and it is compatible with Google Chrome. This extension manages the hijacking process and is set to keep SearchAssistant.co as your search engine. The developers promote Search Assistant as a unique extension that enables you to customize your homepage window while ignoring the fact that the user can do this by downloading themes from the Chrome Web Store. It is evident as they that this extension is useless and serves a more sinister purpose.

SearchAssistant.co is part of a campaign to generate advertising revenue. Period. Its developers try to deceive you and make you think that the change of search engine will not put you and your computer in harm’s way. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Even though it redirects the entered search queries to Google.com, there is nothing that can prevent the developers from injecting additional links into the search results. This can prove detrimental to your computer and your privacy as this fake search engine can promote spyware and other malware containing websites.

We would like to point out that another feature that this hijacker possesses. According to SearchAssistant.co’s privacy policy, it can collect usage and other information that includes the date and time you visited the site, date and time you have searched, IP address, Media access control (MAC) data, operating system information, and entered search terms. All of this information is stored analyzed and used to customize the promotional campaign and even tailor it to unique users to increase profits. If you find this unacceptable as we do, then you should remove this hijacker as soon as you can.

Where does SearchAssistant.co come from?

Our security experts have discovered that this browser hijacker can enter your computer using deceptive means. We have received information that Search Assistant being bundled with third-party software and malicious installers install it without your knowledge or authorization. Furthermore, we have found that links to these bundled installers are promoted using pop-up advertisements. This deceptive distribution method, in particular, is the primary reason our security experts have classified SearchAssistant.co as a browser hijacker. In addition to bundling this extension with malicious installers, it is also featured on the Chrome Web Store and has a dedicated website at Searchassistant.co from which you can install Search Assistant as well. When you download this extension form a legitimate source, it clearly states that it can “Read and change all your data on the websites that you visit,” “Change your search settings to: searchme.com,” “Manage your apps, extensions, and themes.” When it is installed automatically, the installer does not give you to the opportunity to familiarize with its features.

How to remove SearchAssistant.co

We hope that you found this short description enlightening. Sometimes it is hard to discern whether something is reliable and our researchers have concluded that SearchAssistant.co is a malicious search engine that will not serve your interests and improve your browsing experience, but rather help its secretive developers and their partners to make money. Feel free to use the removal instructions below.