How to get rid of Searchways.net redirect from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is Searchways.net?

According to cyber security researchers, Searchways.net is a website that is promoted by Browser hijackers. Browser hijacker is a kind of software that is developed to change the web-browser settings without the knowledge or permission of the computer user, and it usually redirects the affected system’s web-browser to certain advertisement-related webpages. A browser hijacker alters the default web browser search provider or start page, generates multiple pop-up ads, redirects user web searches to its own web site, initiates numerous popups and installs multiple toolbars on the browser. If your web-browser has been affected by a browser hijacker you may need to follow manual steps or use a malware removal tool to revert changes made to your web-browsers.

Typically, browser hijackers and PUPs promote specially created web-sites by setting their address as the homepage or search engine of the affected web-browser. In this case, the browser hijacker changes the browser settings to Searchways.net. That is, in other words, a browser hijacker is created for the sole purpose of forcing the user to visit a special address such as Searchways.net when the user opens the start page or uses the search engine. Therefore, the only way to get rid of a browser redirect to this unwanted website is to completely get rid of the browser hijacker associated with it. The reason for this is that PUPs and browser hijackers often block the ability to change browser settings, thus preventing the user from restoring the startpage and search engine.

And finally, the hijacker has the ability to collect your personal information such as what web-sites you are opening, what you’re looking for the Web and so on. This information, in the future, may be sold to third parties.

How can a browser hijacker get on your PC

Usually, PUPs and browser hijackers get into computers as part of a bundle with free applications, sharing files and other unsafe software that users downloaded from the Net. PUPs makers pays software developers for distributing broser hijackers within their apps. So, third-party programs is often included as part of the setup file. In order to avoid the installation of any hijackers: select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation method and uncheck all third-party applications in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	Searchways.net
Type	homepage hijacker, redirect virus, search engine hijacker, PUP, browser hijacker
Affected Browser Settings	search engine, startpage, new tab page URL
Distribution	free applications install packages, fake update tools, shady pop-up ads
Symptoms	Pop-ups and new tab pages are loaded without your request. You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar webpages. Unexpected program installed without your say-so. Unwanted internet browser toolbar(s) Your web-browser startpage has replaced without your permission.
Removal	Searchways.net removal guide

How to remove Searchways.net from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

We can assist you delete Searchways.net redirects, without the need to take your computer to a professional. Simply follow the removal guide below if you currently have the annoying browser hijacker on your computer and want to delete it. If you’ve any difficulty while trying to delete the browser hijacker, feel free to ask for our assist in the comment section below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your browser or restart your computer.

To remove Searchways.net, execute the steps below:

1. How to manually get rid of Searchways.net
   • Remove Searchways.net associated software by using Windows Control Panel
   • Remove Searchways.net from Chrome
   • Get rid of Searchways.net from IE
   • Remove Searchways.net from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings
2. Automatic Removal of Searchways.net
   • How to get rid of Searchways.net with Zemana Anti-Malware
   • Run HitmanPro to get rid of Searchways.net from the device
   • Delete Searchways.net redirect with MalwareBytes AntiMalware
3. How to stop Searchways.net redirect

How to manually get rid of Searchways.net

Searchways is a hijacker that can modify your web browser settings and redirect you to the web sites which may contain lots of ads. Not every antivirus application can detect and remove browser hijackers easily from your computer. Follow the steps below and you can delete browser hijacker by yourself.

Remove Searchways.net associated software by using Windows Control Panel

First, go to Windows Control Panel and uninstall questionable applications, all applications you don’t remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to apps you installed just before Searchways.net appeared on your internet browser. If you don’t know what a program does, look for the answer on the Web.

Carefully browse through the list of installed apps and remove all dubious and unknown software. We suggest to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed apps by date. Once you’ve found anything questionable that may be the browser hijacker responsible for the Searchways.net redirects or other PUP (potentially unwanted program), then select it and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the dubious application blocked from removal, then run Revo Uninstaller Freeware to completely remove it from your personal computer.

Remove Searchways.net from Chrome

If your Chrome web browser is re-directed to the Searchways.net web-page, it may be necessary to completely reset your browser program to its original state.

1. First launch the Google Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will show the Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
3. You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Chrome menu once again, click 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 Google Chrome will show the reset profile settings page as on the image above.
8. Next click the “Reset” button.
9. Once this procedure is complete, your web browser’s start page, new tab page and search provider by default will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the blog post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Get rid of Searchways.net from IE

In order to restore browser settings you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, that was when the Windows was installed on your PC.

First, launch the IE, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will open the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the web browser, then press the “Internet Options” as displayed in the following example.

In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button as displayed in the following example.

Once the procedure is complete, click “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and reboot your PC system for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your internet browser’s startpage, search provider and new tab page to default state.

Remove Searchways.net from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings

If Firefox startpage or search provider are hijacked by Searchways.net, your web browser displays annoying popup advertisements, then ‘Reset Firefox’ could solve these problems. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.

First, open the Mozilla Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will show the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button ().

In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as shown in the following example.

Confirm your action, press the “Refresh Firefox”.

Automatic Removal of Searchways.net

If you are unsure how to delete Searchways.net easily, consider using automatic hijacker removal applications which listed below. It will identify the hijacker responsible for browser redirects and remove it from your personal computer for free.

How to get rid of Searchways.net with Zemana Anti-Malware

Zemana Anti-Malware is a lightweight utility that designed to run alongside your antivirus software, detecting and removing malware, adware and potentially unwanted software 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 Anti-Malware from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.

When the downloading process is finished, close all windows on your PC. Further, open the install file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as on the image below, press the “Yes” button.

It will show the “Setup wizard” which will allow you install Zemana AntiMalware on the PC system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.

Once install is done successfully, Zemana will automatically start and you can see its main window like below.

Next, click the “Scan” button to start scanning your PC system for the browser hijacker related to Searchways.net redirects. This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is checking, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.

Once the scan is done, you can check all threats found on your PC. Review the scan results and then press “Next” button.

The Zemana Anti-Malware will start to delete the browser hijacker and other detected threats. Once the clean-up is done, you can be prompted to restart your device.

Run HitmanPro to get rid of Searchways.net from the device

In order to make sure that no more malicious folders and files linked to Searchways.net are inside your device, you must run another effective malware scanner. We recommend to use HitmanPro. No installation is necessary with this tool.

Installing the HitmanPro is simple. First you’ll need to download HitmanPro on your personal computer from the link below.

Once downloading is finished, open the file location and double-click the HitmanPro icon. It will run the Hitman Pro utility. If the User Account Control dialog box will ask you want to launch the program, click Yes button to continue.

Next, press “Next” to search for Searchways.net hijacker and other web browser’s harmful extensions.

When the system scan is done, HitmanPro will open a list of detected items as shown in the figure below.

Review the scan results and then press “Next” button. It will display a dialog box, press the “Activate free license” button. The HitmanPro will start to delete browser hijacker responsible for Searchways.net redirect. When finished, the tool may ask you to restart your personal computer.

Delete Searchways.net redirect with MalwareBytes AntiMalware

We recommend using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware. You can download and install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to scan for and remove browser hijackers from your PC. When installed and updated, this free malware remover automatically identifies and deletes all threats present on the PC system.

Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of MalwareBytes AntiMalware for MS Windows. Save it on your Desktop.

When the downloading process is finished, close all windows on your PC. Further, run the file named MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown in the figure below, press the “Yes” button.

It will show the Setup wizard that will assist you setup MalwareBytes Anti-Malware on the computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.

Once installation is complete successfully, click “Get Started” button. Then MalwareBytes will automatically run and you may see its main window as on the image below.

Next, click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes application will scan through the whole personal computer for the hijacker responsible for the Searchways.net redirects. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your device. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.

Once MalwareBytes Anti-Malware has finished scanning, it will display the Scan Results. In order to remove all items, simply press “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes will remove the browser hijacker and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine. Once disinfection is finished, you can be prompted to restart your PC system. We advise you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware to remove hijackers, adware and other malware.

How to stop Searchways.net redirect

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot block any unwanted and malicious sites using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to block intrusive internet browser redirects, advertisements and pop ups in any modern web-browsers including MS Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. It’s named Adguard and it works very well.

First, visit the page linked below, then press 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 as displayed 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 guide as displayed 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 allow you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block Searchways.net, as well as other malicious or misleading web-pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which is located on your desktop.

Finish words

Once you have removed the browser hijacker using the step-by-step instructions, Internet Explorer, Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome will no longer display the Searchways.net site. 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.