Remove Searchenger2016.com “Virus” from Chrome/Firefox

I wrote this article to help you remove Searchenger2016.com. This Searchenger2016.com removal guide works for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Searchenger2016.com is a search engine and entertainment platform. The website maintains a section for articles on different topics, including arts, health, business, science, computers, games, news and sports. Although Searchenger2016.com provides convenient services, experts advise users not to take advantage of them. The website is exploited by a malicious browser hijacker. The shady program will alter your DNS settings without permission. As a result, your system will become more susceptible to malware attacks.

What malicious tasks does the hijacker behind Searchenger2016.com carry out?

The furtive program installs a rogue browser extension or add-on. It resets the homepage and default search engine to searchenger2016.com. You will be unable to revert back to your custom settings. By attaining control over the web browser, the hijacker gets the ability to render the search results. It will insert supported websites amid the pages which genuinely match your queries. The sponsored content is dodgy. Any of the fake search results could lead to corrupted websites, spreading malware.

Remove Searchenger2016.com
The Searchenger2016.com Virus

Altering your search result pages is not the only way for the hijacker behind Searchenger2016.com to redirect you to supported websites. The clandestine program uses another, more aggressive method, to promote third party content. It generates pop-up advertisements, featuring bargain offers for a variety of consumer goods. The ads come in different formats, like banners, in-text links, coupons, freebies, contextual, floating, transitional, interstitial, comparison, inline and full-page windows. The product palette is just as diverse. It includes technological devices, household appliances, furniture, gardening equipment, decorations, garments, accessories, toys and others. The origin of the featured deals is not disclosed or accounted for. Clicking on an ad is risky. You should steer clear of them.

The Searchenger2016.com hijacker also poses a threat to your personal security. The shady tool is set to monitor your browsing sessions and collect information on you. It will record your history, cookies and keystrokes. The information the hijacker can gather on you includes your IP address, country of origin, zip code, email, telephone number, physical address, date of birth, user names, passwords and other personal data you have revealed through your online accounts. The gathered information will be sold without your knowledge or consent. It could fall into the hands of cyber thieves.

How is the hijacker behind Searchenger2016.com distributed?

The insidious program is accustomed to using a couple of distribution techniques. The first method is bundling. The Searchenger2016.com hijacker finds refuge in the setup files of unlicensed programs, like freeware, shareware and pirated utilities. It tries to get installed in parallel with the host program by including itself in its terms and conditions as a bonus application. You should not accept additional software. There is no guarantee about its reliability. To make sure you do not miss the option, choose the custom or advanced mode when launching the wizard.

The other propagation vector the Searchenger2016.com hijacker uses is spam email campaigns. The secluded tool latches onto an attachment from the letter. Opening the file would prompt its download and install. The person behind the fake message can make it seem genuine. The spammer could write on behalf of an existing company or entity. Devising a convincing message is not that difficult. All the sender needs to do is write in a formal style, include the logo of the organization in the letter and copy its contacts. To stay safe, do a check on your electronic letters. The best sign is the email address. The account should be a third party contact form, listed on the official website of the corresponding entity.

Searchenger2016.com Uninstall

STEP-1 Before starting the real removal process, you must reboot in Safe Mode. If you know how to do this, skip the instructions below and proceed to Step 2. If you do not know how to do it, here is how to reboot in Safe mode:

For Windows 98, XP, Millenium and 7:
Reboot your computer. When the first screen of information appears, start repeatedly pressing F8 key. Then choose Safe Mode With Networking from the options.
Safe Mode with Networking
For Windows 8/8.1
Click the Start button, next click Control Panel —> System and Security —> Administrative Tools —> System Configuration.‌
Windows 8 Safe Mode with Network
Check the Safe Boot option and click OK. Click Restart when asked.
For Windows 10
Open the Start menu and click or tap on the Power button.
win10 safemode 1
While keeping the Shift key pressed, click or tap on Restart.
win10 safemode 2

STEP-2Please, follow the steps precisely to remove Searchenger2016.com from the browser:

Remove From Mozilla Firefox:

Open Firefox, click on top-right corner , click Add-ons, hit Extensions next.
firefox extensions
Look for suspicious or unknown extensions, remove them all.

Remove From Chrome:

Open Chrome, click chrome menu icon at the top-right corner —>More Tools —> Extensions. There, identify the malware and select chrome-trash-icon(Remove).
chrome extensions

Remove From Internet Explorer:
Open IE, then click IE gear icon on the top-right corner —> Manage Add-ons.
ie gear
Find the malicious add-on. Remove it by pressing Disable.

STEP-3

Right click on the browser’s shortcut, then click Properties. Remove everything after the .exe” in the Target box.

ff shortcut

STEP-4

Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.

appwiz

Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.

STEP-5

Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.

task manager

Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.

STEP-6

Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.

msconfig

Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.

Still can not remove Searchenger2016.com from your browser? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.

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