Probably you are one of those people, who are facing SongsCenter Search and its unwanted changes to browser settings, may think that there is something wrong with your personal computer. The constant start page and search engine redirects may cause the difficulty of browsing the Internet. Your attempts to revert back your previous internet browser’s default search provider, home page and newtab page are commonly in vain because returning the Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge and FF settings to default states becomes impossible unless you fully get rid of SongsCenter Search hijacker from your computer.
In addition, the SongsCenter Search hijacker can also modify the search provider selected in the web-browser. When you try to search on the affected browser, you will be presented with search results, consisting of ads and Google (or Yahoo, or Bing) search results for your query. Among these search results can occur links that lead to undesired and ad web sites.
Often, the machine that has been affected by SongsCenter Search hijacker, will be also infected with adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) which opens a huge number of various advertisements. It can be pop-ups, text links in the web-sites, banners where they never had. What is more, the ad supported software can replace the legitimate advertisements with malicious ads that will offer to download and install malicious software and undesired applications or visit the various dangerous and misleading web pages.
Therefore it is very important to clean your computer of browser hijacker as quickly as possible. Follow the step-by-step tutorial below to remove SongsCenter Search homepage, as well as other malicious software and ad supported software, which can be installed onto your computer along with it.
How to remove SongsCenter Search redirect
There are several steps to deleting SongsCenter Search , because it installs itself so deeply into Microsoft Windows. You need to remove all suspicious and unknown apps, then delete harmful extensions from the Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, IE and Chrome and other web browsers you’ve installed. Finally, you need to reset your web browser settings to remove any changes SongsCenter Search browser hijacker has made, and then scan your computer with Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM), MalwareBytes or AdwCleaner to ensure the hijacker is fully removed. It will take a while.
To remove SongsCenter Search, use the following steps:
- How to manually remove SongsCenter Search
- How to automatically remove SongsCenter Search hijacker infection
- How to block SongsCenter Search redirect
- How can you prevent your computer from the attack of SongsCenter Search browser hijacker infection
- To sum up
How to manually remove SongsCenter Search
Read this section to know how to manually remove the SongsCenter Search browser hijacker. Even if the guide does not work for you, there are several free malicious software removers below that can easily handle such browser hijacker infections.
Remove dubious software using Microsoft Windows Control Panel
In order to remove potentially unwanted programs such as this browser hijacker, open the MS Windows Control Panel and click on “Uninstall a program”. Check the list of installed software. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware, hijacker or PUPs. If yes, delete them off. Even if they are just a apps which you do not use, then removing them off will increase your machine start up time and speed dramatically.
Make sure you have closed all web browsers and other applications. Press CTRL, ALT, DEL keys together to open the Windows Task Manager.
Click on the “Processes” tab, look for something questionable that is the hijacker infection which redirects your web-browser to intrusive SongsCenter Search web-page then right-click it and select “End Task” or “End Process” option. In most cases, malware masks itself to avoid detection by imitating legitimate Windows processes. A process is particularly suspicious: it is taking up a lot of memory (despite the fact that you closed all of your programs), its name is not familiar to you (if you’re in doubt, you can always check the application by doing a search for its name in Google, Yahoo or Bing).
Next, delete any undesired and suspicious apps from your Control panel.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Now, press the Windows button, type “Control panel” in search and press Enter. Select “Programs and Features”, then “Uninstall a program”.
Look around the entire list of software installed on your personal computer. Most likely, one of them is the browser hijacker that responsible for browser redirect to the unwanted SongsCenter Search site. Choose the dubious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and delete it.
Windows Vista, 7
From the “Start” menu in Microsoft Windows, select “Control Panel”. Under the “Programs” icon, choose “Uninstall a program”.
Choose the dubious or any unknown apps, then click “Uninstall/Change” button to remove this unwanted program from your system.
Windows XP
Click the “Start” button, select “Control Panel” option. Click on “Add/Remove Programs”.
Choose an unwanted program, then press “Change/Remove” button. Follow the prompts.
Get rid of SongsCenter Search from Internet Explorer
The Microsoft Internet Explorer reset is great if your web browser is hijacked or you have unwanted plugins or toolbars on your browser, which installed by a malware.
First, open the IE, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will open the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the internet browser, then press the “Internet Options” as shown in the following example.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” dialog box. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button like below.
After the procedure is done, press “Close” button. Close the IE and restart your PC system for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web-browser’s search provider, new tab page and start page to default state.
Get rid of SongsCenter Search from Firefox by resetting internet browser settings
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 displayed in the following example.
A small menu will appear, press the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, press “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your FF web browser settings to its original state.
Get rid of SongsCenter Search from Google Chrome
Run the Reset internet browser utility of the Chrome to reset all its settings like startpage, search engine by default and new tab to original defaults. This is a very useful tool to use, in the case of web-browser hijacks like SongsCenter Search.
- First, launch the Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the plugin labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, press “Advanced” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Chrome will display the reset settings dialog box as shown on the screen above.
- Confirm the web-browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
How to automatically remove SongsCenter Search hijacker infection
Many antivirus companies have created programs that help detect and delete browser hijacker infection, and thereby restore internet browsers settings. Below is a a few of the free programs you may want to use. Your system can have a lot of potentially unwanted software, ‘ad supported’ software and browser hijacker infections installed at the same time, so we suggest, if any unwanted or malicious program returns after restarting the PC, then run your system into Safe Mode and run the anti-malware utility again.
How to automatically remove SongsCenter Search with Zemana Anti-Malware
Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) is a free program for Windows OS to detect and delete potentially unwanted apps, ad supported software, harmful web browser add-ons, browser toolbars, and other undesired programs such as hijacker which cause a redirect to SongsCenter Search web site, installed on your system.
Click the link below to download Zemana Free. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.
164107 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
When downloading is finished, start it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana will try to update itself and when this task is done, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the hijacker infection that cause SongsCenter Search web-page to appear.
When a threat is detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly. Review the scan results and then click “Next” button.
The Zemana AntiMalware will remove browser hijacker infection responsible for SongsCenter Search redirect and move items to the program’s quarantine.
How to automatically delete SongsCenter Search with Malwarebytes
We suggest using the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your computer of the browser hijacker infection. The free tool is an advanced malicious software removal program designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you delete hijacker infections, potentially unwanted applications, malicious software, ad supported software, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your system for free.
Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM). Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
326460 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When the downloading process is done, close all windows on your PC. Further, launch the file called mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as on the image below, press the “Yes” button.
It will display the “Setup wizard” which will help you install MalwareBytes on the computer. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is complete successfully, click Finish button. Then MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will automatically run and you may see its main window as shown below.
Next, press the “Scan Now” button to look for SongsCenter Search hijacker infection and other internet browser’s malicious add-ons. Depending on your PC, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
After the scan get finished, MalwareBytes Free will produce a list of undesired and adware apps. When you are ready, press “Quarantine Selected” button.
The MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will delete hijacker infection responsible for changing your browser settings to SongsCenter Search and add items to the Quarantine. When disinfection is complete, you may be prompted to restart your PC system. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to remove hijackers, ‘ad supported’ software and other malicious software.
Get rid of SongsCenter Search from web-browsers with AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a free removal tool that can be downloaded and run to remove hijackers, ad supported software, malicious software, potentially unwanted apps, toolbars and other threats from your personal computer. You can use this tool to scan for threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security application.
Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of AdwCleaner for MS Windows. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
225298 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
Once the download is finished, open the directory in which you saved it. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the AdwCleaner desktop icon. Once the tool is opened, you will see a screen as shown in the figure below.
Further, press “Scan” button to scan for SongsCenter Search browser hijacker and other internet browser’s malicious extensions. This process can take some time, so please be patient. Once that process is complete, AdwCleaner will show a list of found items like below.
Next, you need to click “Clean” button. It will show a dialog box as displayed in the figure below.
You need to press “OK”. When that process is finished, the AdwCleaner may ask you to restart your system. When your PC is started, you will see an AdwCleaner log.
These steps are shown in detail in the following video guide.
How to block SongsCenter Search redirect
If you browse the Net, you cannot avoid malvertising. But you can protect your web browser against it. Download and use an ad blocking application. AdGuard is an ad-blocking that can filter out a large amount of of the malvertising, stoping dynamic scripts from loading harmful content.
Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
26656 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
Once downloading is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen like below.
Follow the prompts. After the installation is complete, you will see a window as shown below.
You can click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you run your PC system, AdGuard will start automatically and block advertisements, SongsCenter Search redirect, as well as other harmful or misleading 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, that is located on your desktop.
How can you prevent your computer from the attack of SongsCenter Search browser hijacker infection
The SongsCenter Search browser hijacker infection spreads with a simple but quite effective way. It is integrated into the setup file of various free applications. Thus on the process of install, it will infect your internet browser and change it’s settings on the SongsCenter Search. To avoid hijacker, you just need to follow a few simple rules: carefully read the Terms of Use and the license, choose only a Manual, Custom or Advanced setup option, which enables you to make sure that the program you want to install, thereby protect your personal computer from the browser hijacker like the SongsCenter Search.
To sum up
After completing the guide outlined above, your machine should be free from hijacker related to SongsCenter Search and other malware. The Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Chrome will no longer open undesired SongsCenter Search web-page on startup. Unfortunately, if the guidance does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.