How to get rid of Search1.me redirect from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is Search1.me?

Search1.me is a web-site that is promoted by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) belonging to the category of browser hijackers. Browser hijacker is a part of software that is created to take over the web-browser and control user’s surfing preferences. It commonly aims at Chrome internet browser, but it’s possible that it can hijack other browser too. Browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs can sneak into the computer unnoticed due to the fact that it’s actively being promoted in free programs. We suggest that you remove Search1.me as soon as you notice the changes it has made to your new tab page, homepage and default search engine.

Browser hijackers take over your browser’s default search provider and control what will be displayed to you whenever you do a searching. Other than the search results, it also provides tons of annoying advertisements on the search page. Some of these advertisements designed to trick you into buying certain questionable products and applications. Moreover, sometimes, those ads could redirect you to misleading or malicious web sites.

In addition to the above, Browser hijackers are able to collect a wide variety of user data that can be later sold to third parties. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe. And of course you completely do not know what will happen when you click on any ads on the Search1.me webpage.

How can a browser hijacker get on your computer

Browser hijackers and PUPs gets onto computers by being attached to various freeware. This means that you need to be very careful when installing programs downloaded from the Internet. Be sure to read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only the Manual, Advanced or Custom installation type, switch off all additional modules and apps are offered to install.

Threat Summary

Name	Search1.me
Type	startpage hijacker, search provider hijacker, browser hijacker, PUP, redirect virus
Affected Browser Settings	newtab URL, homepage, search provider
Distribution	malicious pop-up ads, freeware installers, fake updaters
Symptoms	Unwanted advertising links appear on web pages that you are visiting. Every time you perform an Internet search, your web-browser is re-directed to another web page. New entries appear in your Programs folder. Unexpected icons on your desktop. Your computer settings are being changed without your request.
Removal	Search1.me removal guide

How to remove Search1.me from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

There are present several free malware removal tools. Also it is possible to remove Search1.me redirect manually. But we recommend to combine all these methods below into the one removal algorithm. Follow the steps of the tutorial. Certain of the steps will require you to reboot your PC system or close this web-site. So, read this guide carefully, then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for later reference.

To remove Search1.me, perform the following steps:

1. How to manually remove Search1.me
   • Delete Search1.me related software through the Control Panel of your computer
   • Remove Search1.me from browsers
2. Automatic Removal of Search1.me
3. How to stop Search1.me redirect

How to manually remove Search1.me

The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, which will help you manually get rid of Search1.me redirect from the Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge and Firefox.

Delete Search1.me related software through the Control Panel of your computer

Some potentially unwanted software, browser hijacking applications and adware can be removed by uninstalling the free programs they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed software in Microsoft Windows Control Panel. Use the “Uninstall” command in order to delete them.

Make sure you have closed all web-browsers and other apps. Next, delete any unrequested and suspicious applications from your Control panel.

Windows 10, 8.1, 8

Now, click the Windows button, type “Control panel” in search and press Enter. Choose “Programs and Features”, then “Uninstall a program”.

Look around the entire list of programs installed on your computer. Most probably, one of them is the browser hijacker which redirects your browser to the Search1.me web site. Select the questionable program or the application 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”.

Select the dubious or any unknown programs, then press “Uninstall/Change” button to uninstall this undesired program from your computer.

Windows XP

Click the “Start” button, select “Control Panel” option. Click on “Add/Remove Programs”.

Select an unwanted application, then press “Change/Remove” button. Follow the prompts.

Remove Search1.me from browsers

Remove unwanted extensions is a simple solution to remove Search1.me redirect and restore web-browser’s settings that have been modified by browser hijacker.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Chrome menu. In the menu go to ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to remove Search1.me redirect by reset Chrome settings.	Click on ‘menu’ button and select ‘Add-ons’. Go to ‘Extensions’ tab. To uninstall an add-on, click on ‘Remove’ button next to it. If you are still experiencing issues with Search1.me redirect removal, you need to reset Firefox browser.
Internet Explorer	Safari
Click ‘Tools’ button in the top-right corner. Select ‘Manage add-ons’. In the drop-down menu under ‘Show’, select ‘All add-ons’. To delete an add-on, double-click it; in the new window click ‘Remove’. Another method to remove Search1.me from Internet Explorer is reset Internet Explorer settings.	On the top menu select ‘Safari’, then ‘Preferences’. Select ‘Extensions’ tab. Select an extension you want to delete and click ‘Uninstall’ button next to it.

Automatic Removal of Search1.me

Spyware, adware, potentially unwanted apps and hijackers can be difficult to remove manually. Do not try to remove this programs without the aid of malware removal utilities. In order to fully remove Search1.me from your PC, use professionally designed utilities such as Zemana Free, MalwareBytes AntiMalware and HitmanPro.

Run Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) to delete Search1.me redirect

You can download and use the Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) for free. This anti malware utility will scan all the Microsoft Windows registry items and files in your computer along with the system settings and internet browser addons. If it finds any malware, adware or malicious extension that is created to redirect your browser to the Search1.me web-page then the Zemana Anti Malware will remove them from your personal computer completely.

Please go to the following link to download the latest version of Zemana Free for Microsoft Windows. Save it to your Desktop.

After the download is complete, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Free will try to update itself and when this task is done, press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the browser hijacker that causes the Search1.me web-site to appear.

While the Zemana program is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat. Review the results once the tool has done the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Next” button.

The Zemana Anti-Malware will remove Search1.me browser hijacker and other web-browser’s harmful extensions.

Get rid of Search1.me redirect from web browsers with HitmanPro

HitmanPro is a free removal tool that may be downloaded and use to remove hijackers, adware software, malicious software, PUPs, toolbars and other threats from your PC. You can run this utility to search for threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.

1. Visit the following page to download Hitman Pro. Save it directly to your Windows Desktop.
   
   

   HitmanPro
   11608 downloads
   Author: Sophos
   Category: Security tools
   Update: June 28, 2018
   
2. After the downloading process is complete, start the Hitman Pro, double-click the HitmanPro.exe file.
3. If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
4. In the Hitman Pro window, press the “Next” to locate hijacker responsible for redirects to Search1.me. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your personal computer and the speed of your computer. While the tool is scanning, you can see count of objects and files has already scanned.
5. Once Hitman Pro completes the scan, HitmanPro will show a scan report. When you’re ready, click “Next”. Now, press the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to remove all malware found.

How to remove Search1.me with MalwareBytes

Manual Search1.me homepage removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the browser hijacker can be not completely removed. We recommend that run the MalwareBytes that are fully free your PC of hijacker. Moreover, this free application will help you to remove malware, PUPs, adware and toolbars that your PC system can be infected too.

1. Click the following link to download the latest version of MalwareBytes AntiMalware for Microsoft Windows. Save it directly to your Microsoft Windows Desktop.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware
   322241 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: April 15, 2020
   
2. At the download page, click on the Download button. Your internet browser will open the “Save as” prompt. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
3. After the downloading process is finished, please close all applications and open windows on your PC system. Double-click on the icon that’s called MBSetup.
4. This will launch the Setup wizard of MalwareBytes Free onto your personal computer. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
5. When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes Free will launch and display the main window.
6. Further, click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) program will scan through the whole computer for the browser hijacker that created to redirect your browser to the Search1.me website. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Free is checking, you may see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.
7. When MalwareBytes is done scanning your personal computer, it will display the Scan Results.
8. Next, you need to click the “Quarantine” button. Once disinfection is complete, you may be prompted to restart the computer.
9. Close the Anti Malware and continue with the next step.

Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.

How to stop Search1.me redirect

If you want to remove intrusive advertisements, web browser redirects and pop ups, then install an ad-blocking application like AdGuard. It can stop Search1.me redirects, advertisements, pop-ups and stop websites from tracking your online activities when using the Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer and Chrome. So, if you like browse the Net, but you don’t like annoying advertisements and want to protect your PC from malicious web-pages, then the AdGuard is your best choice.

Please go to the following link to download the latest version of AdGuard for Microsoft Windows. Save it directly to your Windows Desktop.

After downloading it, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown in the figure below.

Follow the prompts. Once the installation is done, you will see a window as shown in the following example.

You can press “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will help 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 computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block Search1.me redirect, as well as other malicious 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, that is located on your desktop.

To sum up

Once you’ve done the few simple steps shown above, your computer should be free from the browser hijacker related to Search1.me and other unwanted software. The Google Chrome, Firefox, IE and MS Edge will no longer open the Search1.me web-page. Unfortunately, if the step-by-step instructions does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help here.