How to remove SearchScopes [Virus removal guide]

What is SearchScopes? SearchScopes is a potentially unwanted program (PUP). It can change Windows OS and web-browsers settings, monitor your Internet browsing activity by saving URLs visited, IP addresses, browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web sites visited.

In many cases, the SearchScopes PUP come bundled with the installers from a free hosting and file sharing sites. So, install a freeware is a a good chance that you will find a bundled PUP. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the install, choose the Custom or Advanced setup method. Next, click ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install optional software.

We strongly suggest you to complete the guide which follow below. We will show you how to remove any unwanted software and thereby uninstall SearchScopes PUP from your computer forever.

How to remove SearchScopes (Virus removal guide)

Fortunately, we have an effective way which will help you manually or/and automatically delete SearchScopes from your computer and bring your machine settings back to normal. Below you will find a removal tutorial with all the steps you may need to successfully delete this PUP and its components. Some of the steps will require you to reboot your PC system or exit this page. So, read this tutorial carefully, then bookmark or print it for later reference.

To remove SearchScopes, execute the following steps:

1. Delete potentially unwanted software using Microsoft Windows Control Panel
2. Delete SearchScopes PUP with Zemana Anti-Malware
3. Remove SearchScopes from browsers with Hitman Pro
4. Scan and free your system of potentially unwanted program with Malwarebytes
5. Remove SearchScopes potentially unwanted program from Google Chrome
6. Delete SearchScopes from IE
7. Remove SearchScopes PUP from Mozilla Firefox
8. Use AdBlocker to stay safe online
9. Finish words

Delete potentially unwanted software using Microsoft Windows Control Panel

It is of primary importance to first identify and get rid of all PUPs, adware applications and hijackers through ‘Add/Remove Programs’ (Microsoft Windows XP) or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Microsoft Windows 10, 8, 7) section of your Windows Control Panel.

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

Further, click “Uninstall a program”
It will open a list of all applications installed on your computer. Scroll through the all list, and delete any dubious and unknown apps.

Delete SearchScopes PUP with Zemana Anti-Malware

Zemana highly recommended, because it can search for security threats such ad supported software and potentially unwanted programs that most ‘classic’ antivirus apps fail to pick up on. Moreover, if you have any SearchScopes potentially unwanted program removal problems which cannot be fixed by this tool automatically, then Zemana Free provides 24X7 online assistance from the highly experienced support staff.

1. Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
   
   

   Zemana AntiMalware
   164112 downloads
   Author: Zemana Ltd
   Category: Security tools
   Update: July 16, 2019
   
2. Once downloading is finished, close all applications and windows on your system. Open a file location. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.
3. Further, press Next button and follow the prompts.
4. Once installation is finished, click the “Scan” button to scan for the SearchScopes related files, folders and registry keys. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your computer and the speed of your system. While the utility is checking, you may see how many objects and files has already scanned.
5. After that process is finished, Zemana will open a scan report. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Next”. When disinfection is complete, you may be prompted to reboot your personal computer.

Remove SearchScopes from browsers with Hitman Pro

Hitman Pro is a portable tool which finds and deletes undesired apps like browser hijackers, adware, toolbars, other internet browser addons and other malware. It scans your machine for the SearchScopes PUP and other security threats and prepares a list of threats marked for removal. Hitman Pro will only erase those unwanted applications that you wish to be removed.

Visit the following page to download HitmanPro. Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.

When the downloading process is finished, open the folder in which you saved it and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will start the HitmanPro tool. If the User Account Control prompt will ask you want to start the program, click Yes button to continue.

Next, click “Next” . Hitman Pro utility will begin scanning the whole system to find out the SearchScopes program and other security threats. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the Hitman Pro application is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.

As the scanning ends, Hitman Pro will show a list of all items found by the scan as displayed in the following example.

When you are ready, click “Next” button. It will open a prompt, click the “Activate free license” button. The Hitman Pro will start to remove PUP and other kinds of potential threats like malware and PUPs. Once finished, the utility may ask you to reboot your computer.

Scan and free your system of potentially unwanted program with Malwarebytes

Manual SearchScopes potentially unwanted program removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the PUP can be not completely removed. We suggest that run the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your computer of potentially unwanted program. Moreover, the free program will help you to remove malicious software, PUPs, adware and toolbars that your personal computer can be infected too.

Please go to the link below to download MalwareBytes. Save it on your Desktop.

Once downloading is done, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the MalwareBytes Free will try to update itself and when this task is complete, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the SearchScopes and other kinds of potential threats like malware and PUPs. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your computer and the speed of your computer. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is done. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and press “Quarantine Selected” button.

The MalwareBytes is a free application that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malware removal utility, we recommend you to read and follow the instructions or the video guide below.

Remove SearchScopes potentially unwanted program from Google Chrome

Reset Google Chrome settings to remove changes to web browser settings created by SearchScopes. If you are still experiencing issues with malware, you need to reset Chrome browser to its default state. This step needs to be performed only if potentially unwanted program has not been removed by the previous steps.

1. First start the Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will open the Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
3. You’ll see the list of installed addons. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
5. You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and press “Advanced” link.
6. Scroll down again and press the “Reset” button.
7. The Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the image above.
8. Next click the “Reset” button.
9. Once this task is finished, your browser’s search engine by default, home page and new tab page will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the article How to reset Chrome settings to default.

Delete SearchScopes from IE

If you find that Internet Explorer web-browser settings had been changed by the SearchScopes , then you may return your settings, via the reset web browser procedure.

First, start the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (). It will open the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as shown below.

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

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

Remove SearchScopes PUP from Mozilla Firefox

Resetting your Mozilla Firefox is first troubleshooting step for any issues with your web browser application. When using the reset feature, your personal information such as passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.

First, launch the Mozilla Firefox and click button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the internet browser. Further, click the Help button () as displayed on the image below.

In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter. It will display the “Troubleshooting Information” page like below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.

It will open the confirmation dialog box. Further, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will start a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the PUP and other security threats. Once, it is finished, click the “Finish” button.

Use AdBlocker to stay safe online

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all those undesired and harmful web-sites using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to block undesired web browser redirects, ads and pop ups in any modern browsers including MS Edge, Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer. It is named Adguard and it works very well.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.

After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to launch 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 instructions like below.

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

Each time, when you launch your personal computer, AdGuard will start automatically and block unwanted ads, as well as other harmful 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 is located on your desktop.

Finish words

Now your PC system should be free of the SearchScopes. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop up advertisements and unwanted malicious web pages) and Zemana AntiMalware (to periodically scan your PC system for new malware). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove SearchScopes potentially unwanted program from your computer, then ask for help here here.