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Home › Browser Hijacking › How to remove Softsearches.com [Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge]

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

Myantispyware team July 7, 2017     No Comment    

If your startpage, new tab and search engine by default has been changed to Softsearches.com homepage or you get tons of advertisements popping up on your computer then it’s possible that your web browser is infected with hijacker. Browser hijacking is a form of unwanted software that can introduce changes to current settings of installed web browsers without a user permission, to redirect on harmful, unwanted and misleading web-pages. Also, if you are seeing that the existing startpage, error page, or search page has been changed to Softsearches.com web site, then you don’t need to wait . Perform the step-by-step guide below and get rid of Softsearches.com hijacker infection as soon as possible.

softsearches.com

http://www.softsearches.com/

When you perform a search through Softsearches.com, in addition to search results from Yahoo, Bing or Google Custom Search that provide links to web pages, news articles, images or videos you will also be shown a large amount of intrusive ads. The makers of Softsearches.com doing this to earn advertising money from these advertisements.

Table of contents

  1. What is Softsearches.com
  2. How to remove Softsearches.com
    1. How to get rid of Softsearches.com home page without any software
      1. Delete suspicious and potentially unwanted software using MS Windows Control Panel
      2. Clean up the internet browsers shortcuts that have been hijacked by Softsearches.com
      3. Remove Softsearches.com from Firefox by resetting web-browser settings
      4. Remove Softsearches.com redirect from Internet Explorer
      5. Remove Softsearches.com search from Chrome
    2. Scan your computer and delete Softsearches.com with free tools
      1. Automatically remove Softsearches.com with Zemana Anti-malware
      2. Delete Softsearches.com with Malwarebytes
      3. Delete Softsearches.com browser hijacker and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner
  3. Block Softsearches.com and other intrusive web-sites
  4. How does your machine get infected with Softsearches.com hijacker infection
  5. To sum up

Often, the PC which has been infected with Softsearches.com browser hijacker infection, will be also infected by adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software) that shows a ton of various ads. It may be pop-ups, text links in the web sites, banners where they never had. What is more, the ad supported software may replace the legitimate advertisements with malicious advertisements that will offer to download and install malware and unwanted applications or visit the various dangerous and misleading web pages.

In addition to that, as was mentioned earlier, some hijacker infections like Softsearches.com to also modify all web browsers shortcuts which located on your Desktop or Start menu. So, every infected shortcut will try to redirect your internet browser to undesired sites, certain of which might be harmful. It can make the whole machine more vulnerable to hacker attacks.

We recommend you to free your machine of browser hijacker as quickly as possible. Use the instructions below that will allow to delete Softsearches.com redirect and unwanted programs, which may be installed onto your machine along with it.

How to remove Softsearches.com

The answer is right here on this web page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will allow you easily to free your machine of hijacker. Moreover, you can select manual or automatic removal solution. If you are familiar with the system then use manual removal, otherwise use the free anti malware tool created specifically to remove browser hijacker like Softsearches.com. Of course, you can combine both methods. Certain of the steps below will require you to exit the web page. So, please read the guide carefully, after that bookmark or print it for later reference.




If you are using an Apple computer running Mac OS, then use the following steps How to remove browser hijacker, pop-ups, ads from Mac

How to get rid of Softsearches.com home page without any software

The useful removal tutorial for the Softsearches.com home page. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to get rid of Softsearches.com home page let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

Delete suspicious and potentially unwanted software using MS Windows Control Panel

First, you should try to identify and uninstall the program that causes the appearance of annoying advertisements or internet browser redirect, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.

Windows 10, 8.1, 8

Click the Windows logo, and then click Search windows search. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown in the figure below.

search

When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as shown below.

windows 10 control panel

Windows 7, Vista, XP

Open Start menu and select the ‘Control Panel’ at right as shown on the screen below.

windows7 start menu

Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Windows 7 or Vista) as shown on the screen below.

windows 7 control panel

Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and delete all programs which has the name similar to the site which has been set as your Google Chrome, FF, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge new tab page, home page and search engine by default. We suggest to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed applications by date. After you have found anything suspicious that may be the browser hijacker, adware or potentially unwanted programs, then choose this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious program blocked from removal, then run Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully remove it from your PC.

Clean up the internet browsers shortcuts that have been hijacked by Softsearches.com

Unfortunately, the hijacker can also hijack Windows shortcuts (mostly, your internet browsers shortcuts), so that the Softsearches.com homepage will be shown when you start the Google Chrome, FF, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge or another internet browser.

To clear the web-browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text like “http://site.address” which has been added here. You need to delete it.

clean a shorcut

When the text is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your internet browsers, as they may be infected too.

Remove Softsearches.com from Firefox by resetting web-browser settings

Resetting your FF is good initial troubleshooting step for any issues with your internet browser program, including the redirect to Softsearches.com site.

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

Firefox menu

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

FF troubleshooting info page

Follow the onscreen procedure to restore your FF browser settings to its original state.

Remove Softsearches.com redirect from Internet Explorer

The Internet Explorer reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked or you’ve unwanted extensions or toolbars on your internet browser, which installed by a malicious software.

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

reset Microsoft Internet Explorer tools menu

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

reset Internet Explorer settings

You will now need to restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

Remove Softsearches.com search from Chrome

Reset Chrome settings is a easy way to get rid of the browser hijacker, malicious and adware extensions, as well as to restore the web browser’s start page, newtab page and default search engine that have been modified by browser hijacker.

Chrome reset settings dialog

  1. First launch the Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three horizontal stripes).
  2. It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Select “Settings” option.
  3. You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Show advanced settings” link.
  4. Scroll down again and click the “Reset settings” button.
  5. The Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the image above.
  6. Next click the “Reset” button.
  7. Once this procedure is done, your web browser’s home page, new tab and search engine by default will be restored to their original defaults.
  8. To learn more, read the blog post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Scan your computer and delete Softsearches.com with free tools

In order to completely get rid of Softsearches.com, you not only need to delete it from the web browsers, but also remove all its components in your system including Windows registry entries. We suggest to download and run free removal utilities to automatically clean your PC of Softsearches.com browser hijacker infection.




Automatically remove Softsearches.com with Zemana Anti-malware

We suggest using the Zemana Anti-malware that are completely clean your personal computer of the browser hijacker. The tool is an advanced malicious software removal program designed by (c) Zemana lab. It is able to help you get rid of PUPs, hijacker infections, ‘ad supported’ software, malware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your PC for free.

Download Zemana Anti Malware by clicking on the link below.

Zemana AntiMalware
Zemana AntiMalware
159545 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019

Once downloading is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Anti-Malware will try to update itself and when this process is finished, press the “Scan” button It will scan through the whole PC system for the browser hijacker which changes internet browser settings to replace your start page, newtab and default search provider with Softsearches.com web page.

Zemana Anti Malware scan for hijacker that created to reroute your web-browser to the Softsearches.com web page

A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your PC system and the speed of your computer. When you’re ready, click “Next” button.

Zemana Anti-Malware scan is finished

The Zemana AntiMalware will remove Softsearches.com browser hijacker and other internet browser’s malicious addons.

Delete Softsearches.com with Malwarebytes

Remove Softsearches.com hijacker manually is difficult and often the browser hijacker is not completely removed. Therefore, we suggest you to use the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your computer. Moreover, the free program will help you to remove malware, potentially unwanted programs, toolbars and ‘ad supported’ software that your PC can be infected too.

Download Malwarebytes Free on your PC by clicking on the link below. Save it on your desktop.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
317663 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020

When downloading is done, close all windows on your computer. Further, launch the file called mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown below, press the “Yes” button.

malwarebytes uac

It will display the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Malwarebytes on the PC system. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.

malwarebytes setup wizard

Once installation is done successfully, press Finish button. Then Malwarebytes will automatically start and you can see its main window as on the image below.

Malwarebytes Windows10

Next, press the “Scan Now” button . This will begin scanning the whole personal computer to find out hijacker which designed to reroute your browser to the Softsearches.com web-page. Depending on your personal computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a malicious software, adware or PUPs are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is finished.

malwarebytes Microsoft Windows 10 find browser hijacker that causes web browsers to open intrusive Softsearches.com web site

Once that process is finished, a list of all threats found is produced. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and press “Quarantine Selected” button.

Malwarebytes MS Windows10 scan results

The Malwarebytes will remove Softsearches.com browser hijacker infection and other security threats. After the clean-up is complete, you can be prompted to restart your PC. We suggest you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the Malwarebytes to remove browser hijacker infections, ad supported software and other malware.

Delete Softsearches.com browser hijacker and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner

AdwCleaner is a free portable application that scans your computer for ad-supported software, PUPs and browser hijackers like Softsearches.com and helps remove them easily. Moreover, it will also help you remove any harmful 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.

AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner download
220760 downloads
Version: 8.3.2
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 28, 2022

Once the download is finished, open the file location and double-click the AdwCleaner icon. It will launch the AdwCleaner utility and you will see a screen as shown below. If the User Account Control dialog box will ask you want to open the application, click Yes button to continue.

adwcleaner uac

Next, press “Scan” It’ll scan through the whole personal computer for the browser hijacker that causes browsers to display intrusive Softsearches.com web page. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the utility is scanning, you may see count of objects it has identified as being infected by malware.

adwcleaner Microsoft Windows 10 detect Softsearches.com browser hijacker infection and other malicious software and adware

When it has completed scanning your PC is done, it’ll show a scan report as shown in the figure below.

adwcleaner MS Windows10 scan finished

Review the report and then click “Clean” button. It will open a dialog box. Click “OK” button. The AdwCleaner will delete Softsearches.com hijacker and other web browser’s harmful extensions and move items to the program’s quarantine. Once the clean up is complete, the tool may ask you to restart your system. After reboot, the AdwCleaner will open the log file.

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

Block Softsearches.com and other intrusive web-sites

By installing an ad-blocker program like AdbGuard, you are able to block Softsearches.com, autoplaying video ads and remove lots of distracting and undesired ads on sites.

Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.

Adguard
Adguard download
25672 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018

When downloading is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as on the image below.

adguard installer

Follow the prompts. Once the setup is finished, you will see a window like below.

adguard installation is competed

You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC system, AdGuard will start automatically and block pop-up advertisements, web-pages such Softsearches.com, as well as other malicious or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which can be found on your desktop.

How does your machine get infected with Softsearches.com hijacker infection

The browser hijacker usually gets onto computer by being attached to free software which downloaded from the Net. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, the Softsearches.com hijacker infection will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your personal computer. In the Setup wizard, you should choose the Advanced, Custom or Manual installation mode to control what components and optional programs to be installed, otherwise you run the risk of infecting your PC with an infection like the Softsearches.com hijacker.

To sum up

Now your personal computer should be clean of the Softsearches.com home page. Delete AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop up advertisements and undesired malicious web-pages) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your personal computer for new malware, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijacker infections, malicious programs and adware are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Softsearches.com redirect from your internet browser, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.

 

Browser Hijacking

Author: Myantispyware team

Myantispyware is an information security website created in 2004. Our content is written in collaboration with Cyber Security specialists, IT experts, under the direction of Patrik Holder and Valeri Tchmych, founders of Myantispyware.com.

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