How to uninstall Encrypted-Search from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is Encrypted-Search?

The security specialists have determined that Encrypted-Search is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the family of Browser hijackers . It affects your computer and changes web-browser settings. Encrypted-Search can take over your web browser and force you to use an unwanted site as your startpage, default search engine and new tab page. When Encrypted-Search in the computer, it can gather confidential information such as search queries as well as browsing history. So if you find this PUP on the PC you need to remove it. The detailed removal guidance will help you uninstall Encrypted-Search and protect your computer from more dangerous software.

The Encrypted-Search browser hijacker takes over your internet browser’s default search engine and controls what will be shown to you whenever you do a searching. Other than the search results, it also provides a large number of intrusive advertisements on the search page. Some of these advertisements designed to mislead you into buying certain questionable products and applications. Moreover, sometimes, those ads could redirect you to scam or malicious sites.

As well as unwanted webbrowser redirects, the Encrypted-Search hijacker can collect your Internet surfing activity by saving Internet Service Provider (ISP), internet browser version and type, cookie information, web pages visited, IP addresses and URLs visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or sensitive info theft. This is another reason why the browser hijacker should be removed without a wait.

How can a browser hijacker get on your PC system

Usually, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs get into PCs as part of a bundle with free programs, sharing files and other unsafe apps which users downloaded from the Web. The PUPs creators pays software developers for distributing broser hijackers within their programs. So, additional software is often included as part of the install package. In order to avoid the installation of any browser hijackers like Encrypted-Search: choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation type and reject all additional apps in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	Encrypted-Search
Type	home page hijacker, redirect virus, PUP, search engine hijacker, browser hijacker
Affected Browser Settings	search provider, newtab page URL, startpage
Distribution	fake updaters, free programs installers, malicious pop-up ads
Symptoms	Pop up ads won’t go away. Every time you perform an Internet search, your internet browser is re-directed to another web page. Unwanted program installed without your say-so. Unwanted web-browser toolbar(s) Your browser start page or search provider keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor.
Removal	Encrypted-Search removal guide

How to remove Encrypted-Search hijacker (removal guidance)

We are presenting various methods to delete Encrypted-Search from the Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Edge and IE using only internal Microsoft Windows functions. Most of hijackers and potentially unwanted apps can be deleted via these processes. If these steps does not help to remove Encrypted-Search, then it is better to use free malware removal tools linked below.

To remove Encrypted-Search, use the following steps:

1. How to manually remove Encrypted-Search
   • Remove potentially unwanted applications through the MS Windows Control Panel
   • Remove Encrypted-Search browser hijacker from internet browsers
2. Automatic Removal of Encrypted-Search
3. How to stop Encrypted-Search redirect

How to manually remove Encrypted-Search

The useful removal steps for Encrypted-Search. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to delete the browser hijacker let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

Remove potentially unwanted applications through the MS Windows Control Panel

When troubleshooting a device, one common step is go to Microsoft Windows Control Panel and remove suspicious software. The same approach will be used in the removal of Encrypted-Search hijacker. Please use instructions based on your Microsoft Windows version.

Carefully browse through the list of installed apps and get rid of all questionable and unknown applications. We recommend to click ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed apps by date. Once you’ve found anything questionable that can be the Encrypted-Search hijacker or other potentially unwanted program, then select this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious application blocked from removal, then run Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully delete it from your personal computer.

Remove Encrypted-Search browser hijacker from internet browsers

Remove unwanted addons is a simple solution to get rid of the Encrypted-Search browser hijacker and revert back web-browser’s settings which have been changed by hijacker.

Google Chrome	Mozilla Firefox
In the top-right corner, expand the Google Chrome menu. Select ‘More tools’, then ‘Extensions’. Click ‘Remove’ to uninstall an extension. Click ‘Remove’ in the dialog box. You can also try to get rid of Encrypted-Search hijacker by reset Google 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 Encrypted-Search browser hijacker removal, you need to reset Mozilla 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 Encrypted-Search hijacker 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 Encrypted-Search

If your computer is still infected with the Encrypted-Search hijacker, then the best way of detection and removal is to run an anti malware scan on the computer. Download free malware removal utilities below and start a full system scan. It will allow you remove all components of the browser hijacker from hardisk and Windows registry.

Get rid of Encrypted-Search hijacker with Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM)

Zemana Anti-Malware is a lightweight utility which developed to use alongside your antivirus software, detecting and removing malicious software, adware and PUPs that other programs miss. Zemana AntiMalware is easy to use, fast, does not use many resources and have great detection and removal rates.

Download Zemana AntiMalware by clicking on the following link.

After downloading is finished, close all software and windows on your personal computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup as shown on the screen below.

When the installation begins, you will see the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Zemana Free on your device.

Once setup is finished, you will see window as shown on the screen below.

Now click the “Scan” button . Zemana program will scan through the whole personal computer for the Encrypted-Search hijacker. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your personal computer. While the utility is checking, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.

After the scan get finished, you can check all threats found on your computer. Next, you need to click “Next” button.

The Zemana Free will delete Encrypted-Search browser hijacker and move the selected threats to the program’s quarantine.

Get rid of Encrypted-Search hijacker and malicious extensions with Hitman Pro

Hitman Pro is a free portable program that scans your computer for adware software, PUPs and hijackers such as Encrypted-Search and helps remove them easily. Moreover, it’ll also help you delete any harmful browser extensions and add-ons.

1. Visit the following page to download the latest version of HitmanPro for Microsoft Windows. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.
   
   

   HitmanPro
   12077 downloads
   Author: Sophos
   Category: Security tools
   Update: June 28, 2018
   
2. After the download is complete, run the HitmanPro, double-click the HitmanPro.exe file.
3. If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
4. In the Hitman Pro window, click the “Next” to perform a system scan with this utility for the Encrypted-Search browser hijacker. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
5. After finished, it will display the Scan Results. You may remove threats (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Next”. Now, click the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to delete all malware found.

Use MalwareBytes AntiMalware to remove Encrypted-Search browser hijacker

Get rid of Encrypted-Search browser hijacker manually is difficult and often the hijacker is not completely removed. Therefore, we suggest you to run the MalwareBytes Anti Malware which are fully clean your PC. Moreover, this free application will allow you to remove malicious software, potentially unwanted software, toolbars and adware software that your computer may be infected too.

1. Visit the page linked below to download MalwareBytes Free. Save it on your Desktop.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware
   326468 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: April 15, 2020
   
2. At the download page, click on the Download button. Your web-browser will show the “Save as” prompt. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
3. When downloading is done, please close all software and open windows on your PC system. Double-click on the icon that’s called MBSetup.
4. This will open the Setup wizard of MalwareBytes Anti Malware onto your computer. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
5. When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes will run and show the main window.
6. Further, press the “Scan” button to start checking your computer for the Encrypted-Search hijacker. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your device and the speed of your PC. While the MalwareBytes AntiMalware tool is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware.
7. When the system scan is finished, MalwareBytes will display a list of all threats found by the scan.
8. You may delete items (move to Quarantine) by simply press the “Quarantine” button. When disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot the device.
9. Close the AntiMalware and continue with the next step.

Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.

How to stop Encrypted-Search redirect

In order to increase your security and protect your device against new annoying advertisements and malicious web sites, you need to run ad-blocker program that stops an access to malicious ads and websites. Moreover, the application may stop the open of intrusive advertising, that also leads to faster loading of webpages and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

First, visit the page linked below, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of AdGuard.

After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to start it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen like 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 guide as on the image below.

Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guide which will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you launch your PC, AdGuard will run automatically and stop undesired ads, block Encrypted-Search redirects, 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 is located on your desktop.

To sum up

We suggest that you keep Zemana Free (to periodically scan your PC for new hijackers and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you stop intrusive pop ups and harmful web-pages). Moreover, to prevent any hijacker, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to search for potentially unwanted applications.

If you need more help with Encrypted-Search related issues, go to here.