What is Search.ci-cmf.com? Security specialists has determined that the Search.ci-cmf.com is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) from the family of browser hijackers. It performs changes on popular web-browsers installed on infected PC. Particularly, it alters the user’s default start page, newtab and search engine for their Edge, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers.
The browser hijacker may also set up the Search.ci-cmf.com web-page as the Firefox, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Edge default search provider that cause search redirects via the web-page. In this way, developers of the browser hijacker infection have an opportunity to display various ads together with the search results for your query. These undesired advertisements will be summarized in the redirected page. This can bring tons of profit for authors of the hijacker infection.
While the Search.ci-cmf.com browser hijacker is active, you won’t be able to restore the Google Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer and Firefox’ settings such as newtab page, start page and search engine by default. If you try to set your start page to be Google, Bing or Yahoo, those settings will be automatically altered to Search.ci-cmf.com with the next PC restart. But this does not mean that you should just ignore it or get along with this fact. Because this is not the best option, due to the Search.ci-cmf.com you can have problems with the MS Edge, Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox, unwanted advertisements and even confidential data theft.
It is important, do not use Search.ci-cmf.com site and do not click on advertisements placed on it, as they can lead you to a more harmful or misleading web-pages. The best option is to use the steps posted below to free your personal computer of browser hijacker, remove the Search.ci-cmf.com , and thus return your previous startpage and search engine.
How to remove Search.ci-cmf.com from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
The following step-by-step guidance will help you to get rid of Search.ci-cmf.com from the Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Moreover, the steps below will allow you to remove malware like PUPs, adware and toolbars that your computer may be infected. Please do the guidance step by step. If you need assist or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your computer or shut down this site. So, read this instructions carefully, then bookmark or print it for later reference.
To remove Search.ci-cmf.com, use the following steps:
- Manual Search.ci-cmf.com startpage removal
- Use free malware removal tools to completely get rid of Search.ci-cmf.com
- Run AdBlocker to block Search.ci-cmf.com and stay safe online
- Prevent Search.ci-cmf.com hijacker from installing
- Finish words
Manual Search.ci-cmf.com startpage removal
Steps to remove Search.ci-cmf.com browser hijacker without any programs are presented below. Be sure to carry out the step-by-step guidance completely to fully remove this annoying Search.ci-cmf.com .
Delete questionable applications using MS Windows Control Panel
First method for manual browser hijacker removal is to go into the Microsoft Windows “Control Panel”, then “Uninstall a program” console. Take a look at the list of software on your PC and see if there are any suspicious and unknown programs. If you see any, you need to delete them. Of course, before doing so, you can do an Web search to find details on the program. If it is a potentially unwanted program, adware or malicious software, you will likely find information that says so.
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 show the Windows Control Panel as shown in the following example.
Further, click “Uninstall a program”
It will display a list of all apps installed on your machine. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown programs.
Delete Search.ci-cmf.com from Internet Explorer
In order to restore all internet browser new tab page, start page and search provider by default you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the MS Windows was installed on your machine.
First, start the Internet Explorer. Next, press the button in the form of gear (). It will open the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as shown in the figure below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then press the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as shown in the figure below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.
You will now need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
Get rid of Search.ci-cmf.com from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web-browser settings
If your Firefox web-browser homepage has replaced to Search.ci-cmf.com without your permission or an unknown search engine opens results for your search, then it may be time to perform the web-browser reset. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
Launch the Mozilla Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the internet browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will display the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown on the image below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will begin a task to fix your problems that caused by the Search.ci-cmf.com browser hijacker. After, it is complete, click the “Finish” button.
Remove Search.ci-cmf.com from Chrome
In this step we are going to show you how to reset Google Chrome settings. potentially unwanted programs such as the Search.ci-cmf.com can make changes to your web browser settings including home page, search provider and newtab page, add toolbars and unwanted extensions. By resetting Chrome settings you will remove Search.ci-cmf.com and reset unwanted changes caused by browser hijacker infection. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (). It will show the drop-down menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the add-on labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Google Chrome main menu again, click to “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as displayed on the image below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, press the “Reset” button.
Use free malware removal tools to completely get rid of Search.ci-cmf.com
After completing the manual removal guidance above all unwanted software and browser’s extensions which causes internet browser redirects to the Search.ci-cmf.com web page should be removed. If the problem with Search.ci-cmf.com hijacker infection is still remained, then we advise to check your computer for any remaining malicious components. Run recommended free browser hijacker removal software below.
Automatically delete Search.ci-cmf.com redirect with Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM)
We suggest using the Zemana AntiMalware. You may download and install Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) to scan for and delete Search.ci-cmf.com from your PC. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover will automatically scan and detect all threats present on the PC system.
Installing the Zemana Free is simple. First you will need to download Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) on your MS Windows Desktop from the following link.
164100 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After downloading is finished, close all software and windows on your machine. Double-click the setup file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up like below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana Free on your machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once install is complete successfully, Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen as displayed in the figure below.
Now press the “Scan” button to begin scanning your PC system for the browser hijacker that cause a redirect to Search.ci-cmf.com webpage. Depending on your computer, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. During the scan Zemana will detect threats exist on your PC.
When the scan get finished, Zemana will create a list of unwanted programs adware. When you are ready, click “Next” button. The Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) will get rid of hijacker infection responsible for redirects to Search.ci-cmf.com and add items to the Quarantine. After the clean-up is complete, you may be prompted to reboot the PC system.
Get rid of Search.ci-cmf.com start page from web-browsers with HitmanPro
If Zemana Free cannot remove this browser hijacker infection, then we recommends to use the Hitman Pro. The Hitman Pro is a free powerful, professional removal utility for malicious software, ad-supported software, potentially unwanted apps, toolbars as well as browser hijacker infection responsible for redirecting user searches to Search.ci-cmf.com. It completely removes all traces and remnants of the infection.
Hitman Pro can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
Once the downloading process is done, open the file location and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will start the Hitman Pro utility. If the User Account Control dialog box will ask you want to start the program, click Yes button to continue.
Next, press “Next” to perform a system scan with this utility for the hijacker infection responsible for Search.ci-cmf.com home page. Depending on your system, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the Hitman Pro application is checking, you can see count of objects it has identified as threat.
After the scanning is complete, HitmanPro will open you the results as shown in the following example.
Next, you need to press “Next” button. It will display a dialog box, click the “Activate free license” button. The HitmanPro will remove browser hijacker which changes internet browser settings to replace your search provider, newtab and start page with Search.ci-cmf.com site and add items to the Quarantine. When the cleaning procedure is done, the tool may ask you to reboot your computer.
How to remove Search.ci-cmf.com with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware
We suggest using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware. You can download and install MalwareBytes Free to detect and delete Search.ci-cmf.com from your system. When installed and updated, this free malware remover automatically finds and removes all threats present on the PC.
Download MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) on your Microsoft Windows Desktop by clicking on the link below.
326454 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When the download is finished, close all software and windows on your computer. Double-click the set up file named mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as displayed on the screen below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you set up MalwareBytes Anti-Malware on your PC system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is done successfully, click Finish button. MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown below.
Now press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the hijacker related to Search.ci-cmf.com. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient.
When the scan is finished, MalwareBytes will display a scan report. Once you have selected what you wish to remove from your PC system press “Quarantine Selected” button. The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will remove hijacker responsible for modifying your web browser settings to Search.ci-cmf.com. After finished, you may be prompted to restart the computer.
We suggest you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to remove adware, hijacker infection and other malware.
Run AdBlocker to block Search.ci-cmf.com and stay safe online
It is important to run ad blocking programs such as AdGuard to protect your system from malicious websites. Most security experts says that it is okay to block advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block Search.ci-cmf.com and other annoying pages.
- Click the link below to download AdGuard. Save it on your MS Windows desktop.
Adguard download
26655 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- Once the download is done, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- Once the install is done, press “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will assist 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 system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop pop-ups, sites like Search.ci-cmf.com, as well as other malicious or misleading websites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, which is located on your desktop.
Prevent Search.ci-cmf.com hijacker from installing
The Search.ci-cmf.com hijacker infection usually spreads bundled with another application in the same setup file. The risk of this is especially high for the various free software downloaded from the Net. The developers of the software are hoping that users will run the quick install mode, that is simply to press the Next button, without paying attention to the information on the screen and don’t carefully considering every step of the install procedure. Thus, the browser hijacker can infiltrate your system without your knowledge. Therefore, it is very important to read all the information that tells the program during installation, including the ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Software license’. Use only the Manual, Custom or Advanced setup method. This mode will allow you to disable all optional and unwanted apps and components.
Finish words
After completing the guidance outlined above, your system should be clean from hijacker infection responsible for redirecting user searches to Search.ci-cmf.com and other malware. The IE, MS Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome will no longer open annoying Search.ci-cmf.com website on startup. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step instructions does not help you, then you have caught a new browser hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help here.