How to remove Search.searchqpt.com [Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge]

The Search.searchqpt.com browser hijacker may also modify the default search engine to http://query.searchqpt.com that will virtually block the possibility of finding information on the Net. The reason for this is that the Search.searchqpt.com search results may display a large number of advertisements, links to unwanted and ad web pages. Only the remaining part is the result of your search request, loaded from the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Bing.

Although, Search.searchqpt.com browser hijacker is not a virus, but it does bad things, and it modifies current settings of internet browsers. Moreover, an adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) can be additionally installed on to your PC system with this hijacker infection, which will open a large number of ads, hindering or completely blocking the work in the internet browser. Often such these ads may recommend to install other unknown and unwanted applications or visit harmful web sites.

So, it’s very important to clean your system as soon as possible. The steps, which is shown below, will allow you to remove Search.searchqpt.com homepage from the Chrome, Firefox, IE and Edge and other web-browsers.

Delete Search.searchqpt.com

Without a doubt, the PC infection is harmful to your computer. So you need to quickly and completely remove this malicious software. To remove this hijacker, you can use the manual removal which are given below or free malware removal utility such as Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner (both are free). I note that we recommend that you use automatic removal that will allow you to delete Search.searchqpt.com startpage easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you are well versed in machine or in the case where browser hijacker is not removed automatically.

How to manually remove Search.searchqpt.com

The step-by-step instructions will help you remove Search.searchqpt.com . These Search.searchqpt.com removal steps work for the Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, as well as every version of Windows operating system. Some of the steps may require you to close the web-browser or reboot your computer. So, bookmark or print it for later reference.

Uninstall suspicious and potentially unwanted programs using Windows Control Panel

The best way to begin the system cleanup is to delete unknown and suspicious applications. Using the Windows Control Panel you can do this quickly and easily. This step, in spite of its simplicity, should not be ignored, because the removing of unneeded programs can clean up the Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and MS Edge from advertisements hijackers and so on.

Press Windows button , then click Search . Type “Control panel”and press Enter. If you using Windows XP or Windows 7, then click “Start” and select “Control Panel”. It will display the Windows Control Panel like below.

Further, press “Uninstall a program”
It will display a list of all programs installed on your system. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown programs.

Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to delete Search.searchqpt.com startpage

Click the right mouse button to a desktop shortcut that you use to run your browser. Next, select the “Properties” option. Important: necessary to click on the desktop shortcut for the web browser which is redirected to the Search.searchqpt.com or other unwanted web site.

Further, necessary to look at the text which is written in the “Target” field. The PC infection can rewrite the contents of this field, which describes the file to be start when you start your browser. Depending on the web browser you are using, there should be:

• Google Chrome: chrome.exe
• Opera: opera.exe
• Firefox: firefox.exe
• Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe

If you are seeing an unknown text like “http://site.addres” which has been added here, then you should remove it, as shown on the image below.

Next, click the “OK” button to save the changes. Now, when you run the internet browser from this desktop shortcut, it does not occur automatically redirect on the Search.searchqpt.com site or any other unwanted web-pages. Once the step is finished, we recommend to go to the next step.

Delete Search.searchqpt.com startpage from Chrome

Run the Reset browser utility of the Chrome to reset all its settings like start page and search provider by default to original defaults. This is a very useful tool to use, in the case of internet browser hijacks like Search.searchqpt.com.

1. First, start the Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three horizontal stripes).
2. It will display the Chrome main menu, click the “Settings” menu.
3. Next, press “Show advanced settings” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
4. On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, press the “Reset settings” button.
5. The Chrome will open the reset settings dialog box as shown on the screen above.
6. Confirm the web-browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
7. To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Remove Search.searchqpt.com from Firefox by resetting internet browser settings

If the Firefox web-browser program is hijacked, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring FF settings such as homepage and search engine by default to its default state. It will save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, and open tabs.

Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as shown on the image below.

A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button like below.

Follow the onscreen procedure to return your Firefox web-browser settings to its original state.

Remove Search.searchqpt.com search from Microsoft Internet Explorer

By resetting Internet Explorer browser you revert back your web browser settings to its default state. This is first when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by browser hijacker such as Search.searchqpt.com.

First, run the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as on the image below.

In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then press “Reset” button.

You will now need to reboot your system for the changes to take effect.

Search.searchqpt.com automatic removal

The browser hijacker can hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and remove completely. This may lead to the fact that after some time, the hijacker infection again infect your personal computer and modify current settings of web browsers to Search.searchqpt.com. Moreover, I want to note that it is not always safe to get rid of browser hijacker manually, if you do not have much experience in setting up and configuring the operating system. The best method to detect and remove browser hijackers is to use free malware removal software.

How to automatically get rid of Search.searchqpt.com with Malwarebytes

You can remove Search.searchqpt.com startpage automatically with a help of Malwarebytes Free. We recommend this free malware removal utility because it can easily get rid of browser hijackers, adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software), PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.

Download Malwarebytes from the link below.

Once downloaded, close all programs and windows on your personal computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named mbam-setup as on the image below.

When the setup starts, you will see the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Malwarebytes on your system.

Once setup is finished, you will see window as on the image below.

Now press the “Scan Now” button to start checking your PC system for the hijacker which cause a redirect to Search.searchqpt.com. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.

When the scan is complete, make sure all entries have “checkmark” and click “Quarantine Selected” button.

The Malwarebytes will start removing Search.searchqpt.com browser hijacker infection related files, folders, registry keys. Once disinfection is complete, you may be prompted to restart your machine.

The following video explains few simple steps on how to remove browser hijacker with Malwarebytes Anti-malware.

Scan your machine and delete Search.searchqpt.com startpage with AdwCleaner

AdwCleaner is a free portable application that scans your computer for adware, PUPs and browser hijackers such as Search.searchqpt.com and helps delete them easily. Moreover, it will also help you remove any malicious internet browser extensions and add-ons.

Download AdwCleaner tool by clicking on the link below. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.

After downloading is done, open the directory in which you saved it and double-click the AdwCleaner icon. It will start the AdwCleaner tool and you will see a screen as shown on the screen below. If the User Account Control prompt will ask you want to display the program, click Yes button to continue.

Next, click “Scan” for scanning your PC system for the Search.searchqpt.com hijacker and other malware and adware.

When it has finished scanning is finished, it will display a list of all items detected by this utility as shown on the image below.

You need to press “Clean” button. It will display a dialog box. Click “OK” to start the cleaning procedure. When the cleaning process is done, the AdwCleaner may ask you to restart your computer. After reboot, the AdwCleaner will open the log file.

All the above steps are shown in detail in the following video instructions.

Stop Search.searchqpt.com search and other unwanted web pages

Using an ad blocker program like AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad-blocking programs will also protect you from malicious ads and sites, and, of course, block redirection chain to Search.searchqpt.com and simular sites.

Installing the AdGuard ad-blocker program is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

Once the download is finished, double-click the downloaded file to start it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as on the image below.

Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick guide as shown in the figure below.

Click “Skip” button to close the indows and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick guide that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your personal computer, AdGuard will start automatically and block ads, web sites such Search.searchqpt.com, as well as other harmful or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which is located on your desktop.

Where the Search.searchqpt.com browser hijacker infection comes from

Most often Search.searchqpt.com hijacker infection gets on your machine as a part of various freeware, as a bonus. Therefore it’s very important at the stage of installing software downloaded from the Internet carefully review the Terms of use and the License agreement, as well as to always choose the Advanced, Custom or Manual installation mode. In this mode, you can turn off all unwanted add-ons, including the Search.searchqpt.com hijacker, which will be installed along with the desired application. Of course, if you uninstall the free applications from your machine, your favorite internet browser’s settings will not be restored. So, to recovery the FF, Google Chrome, IE and Microsoft Edge’s home page, newtab page and search provider by default you need to follow the step-by-step guide above.

Finish words

Once you have complete the step-by-step instructions above, your computer should be clean from browser hijacker, adware and malware. The Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, IE and Microsoft Edge will no longer display Search.searchqpt.com annoying home page on startup. Unfortunately, if the tutorial does not help you, then you have caught a new browser hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.