Searchesmia.com is a browser hijacker targeting Macs

Searchesmia.com is a browser hijacker, usually referred to as a redirect virus, that’s meant for Macs. Since their prime intent isn’t computer problems, they are classified as rather minor infections. The hijackers are not entirely harmless, however, because redirecting to sponsored sites and generating profit is their primary intention. Hijackers are pretty noticeable infections, even if they use a sly method to install. You will note your browser behaving weirdly, such as random redirects, sponsored content in search results, etc. Some users, however, might not connect the unusual behaviour with redirect virus if a browser hijacker isn’t something they’re familiar with. The situation generally becomes clear when users look into the web page they are redirected to as well as other signs via Google or another search engine.

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Besides redirecting to strange web pages, hijackers also modify browser’s settings. Another homepage/new tabs will greet you when you open your browser, and reversing these modifications may be complicated. It’s because they alter browser’s settings that hijackers are able to redirect you.

We should mention that hijackers can’t install like malware as they are neither malware nor viruses. Users provide them permission to install accidentally, but they do it themselves. These infections use software bundling, and it is basically adding hijackers, adware, and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) to free software as extra offers, which permits them to install together with the free software. It’s not hard to prevent these unwanted installations, as long as you know how to do it, and we’ll clarify in the following section.

Even if the hijacker a rather trivial infection, it would be best to uninstall Searchesmia.com. You could be exposed to unsafe content by the hijacker, including malware and scams, in addition to disrupting your regular browsing.

How Searchesmia.com installed

Browser hijackers install with freeware, as we’ve mentioned above. Software bundling is what this method is called, and it is basically attaching hijackers and other extra offers to popular freeware. In the beginning, the items are disguised and are preselected to install by default, which means users have to manually block it from installing together with the freeware. It shouldn’t be hard to stop these items from installing if you’re attentive during free software installation.

Most importantly, pick Advanced (Custom) settings during freeware installation. If you install freeware in Default mode, the extra offers will be hidden from you. Advanced settings will unhide the items, and you’ll be able to uncheck them. It is enough to just uncheck the items, and they will be prevented from installing. Preventing these unwanted installations does not take a long time as you just have to deselect a box, while eliminating already installed infections is an increasingly longer process. By paying attention when installing programs, you’ll avoid a lot of junk applications.

What does the hijacker do

You’ll notice a browser hijacker infection instantly because your Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browser will be hijacked, and odd redirects will occur. As soon as you open your browser, you will see that the hijacker’s advertised page has been set as the homepage. The browser will also have a different search engine. When you search using your browser address bar, you’ll be redirected to the hijacker’s promoted page and shown changed search results. You might note that the results include sponsored content that has nothing to do with what you searched for. The primary intent of a hijacker is generating traffic and revenue, which is why you are redirected to those sponsored pages. Bear in mind that unfamiliar redirects are not only annoying but also possibly harmful. Avoid interacting with any sponsored or advertisement content until you remove the redirect virus. You may easily end up on a harmful web page because the hijacker does not guarantee the website’s security. A sponsored page may be attempting to deceive you into participating in scams or installing malware. So even if hijackers do not directly damage the Mac, do not keep them installed.

The hijacker will also compile information about you, such as what you search for, what content you interact with, the sites you visit or frequent, your IP address, etc, it is essentially spying on you. The hijacker may later share the data with unknown third-parties, and we doubt you want that.

To put it in short, the hijacker is highly disruptive because it installs unauthorized, it makes not wanted browser modifications, redirects to weird web pages and subjects you to potentially harmful content. Even if it isn’t the most serious threat, you should delete Searchesmia.com as quickly as possible.

Searchesmia.com removal

It would be easiest to use anti-spyware software to uninstall Searchesmia.com. Spyware removal software’s aim is to deal with these kinds of threats. Manual Searchesmia.com deletion isn’t impossible, as long as you make sure all hijacker leftovers are gone. If you successfully remove Searchesmia.com, you may change your browser’s settings back to what they were.

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Searchesmia.com and related programs.

Remove Searchesmia.com from Windows 8

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel choose Programs and Features and select to Uninstall a software.

Delete Searchesmia.com from Windows 8

Uninstall Searchesmia.com from Windows 7

Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features → Uninstall a program.

Uninstall Searchesmia.com from Windows 7

Delete Searchesmia.com from Windows XP

Click Start → Settings → Control Panel. Locate and click → Add or Remove Programs.

Remove Searchesmia.com from Windows XP

Remove Searchesmia.com from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for Searchesmia.com or any other suspicious software. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash, then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

Searchesmia.com removal from MAC OS X

Step 2. Delete Searchesmia.com from your browsers

Terminate the unwanted extensions from Internet Explorer
  1. Tap the Gear icon and go to Manage Add-ons. Searchesmia.com IE gear
  2. Pick Toolbars and Extensions and eliminate all suspicious entries (other than Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Oracle or Adobe) Searchesmia.com IE toolbars and extensions
  3. Leave the window.
Change Internet Explorer homepage if it was changed by virus:
  1. Tap the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of your browser and click Internet Options. Searchesmia.com IE gear
  2. In General Tab remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Press Apply to save changes. Searchesmia.com IE toolbars and extensions
Reset your browser
  1. Click the Gear icon and move to Internet Options. Searchesmia.com IE options
  2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset. Searchesmia.com IE reset browser
  3. Choose Delete personal settings and pick Reset one more time. Searchesmia.com IE reset
  4. Tap Close and leave your browser. Searchesmia.com IE close
  5. If you were unable to reset your browsers, employ a reputable anti-malware and scan your entire computer with it.
Erase Searchesmia.com from Google Chrome
  1. Access menu (top right corner of the window) and pick Settings. Searchesmia.com Chrome menu
  2. Choose Extensions. Searchesmia.com Chrome settings
  3. Eliminate the suspicious extensions from the list by clicking the Trash bin next to them. Searchesmia.com Chrome extensions remove
  4. If you are unsure which extensions to remove, you can disable them temporarily. Searchesmia.com Chrome extensions disable
Reset Google Chrome homepage and default search engine if it was hijacker by virus
  1. Press on menu icon and click Settings. Searchesmia.com Chrome menu
  2. Look for the “Open a specific page” or “Set Pages” under “On start up” option and click on Set pages. Searchesmia.com Chrome settings
  3. In another window remove malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage. Searchesmia.com Chrome extensions remove
  4. Under the Search section choose Manage Search engines. When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search websites. You should leave only Google or your preferred search name. Searchesmia.com Chrome extensions disable
    Searchesmia.com Chrome extensions disable
Reset your browser
  1. If the browser still does not work the way you prefer, you can reset its settings.
  2. Open menu and navigate to Settings. Searchesmia.com Chrome settings more
  3. Press Reset button at the end of the page. Searchesmia.com Chrome advanced menu
  4. Tap Reset button one more time in the confirmation box. Searchesmia.com Chrome reset
  5. If you cannot reset the settings, purchase a legitimate anti-malware and scan your PC.
Remove Searchesmia.com from Mozilla Firefox
  1. In the top right corner of the screen, press menu and choose Add-ons (or tap Ctrl+Shift+A simultaneously). Searchesmia.com Firefox add ons
  2. Move to Extensions and Add-ons list and uninstall all suspicious and unknown entries. Searchesmia.com Firefox extensions
Change Mozilla Firefox homepage if it was changed by virus:
  1. Tap on the menu (top right corner), choose Options. Searchesmia.com Firefox reset confirm
  2. On General tab delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default. Searchesmia.com Firefox reset confirm
  3. Press OK to save these changes.
Reset your browser
  1. Open the menu and tap Help button. Searchesmia.com Firefox help
  2. Select Troubleshooting Information. Searchesmia.com Firefox troubleshooting
  3. Press Refresh Firefox. Searchesmia.com Firefox reset
  4. In the confirmation box, click Refresh Firefox once more. Searchesmia.com Firefox reset confirm
  5. If you are unable to reset Mozilla Firefox, scan your entire computer with a trustworthy anti-malware.
Uninstall Searchesmia.com from Safari (Mac OS X)
  1. Access the menu.
  2. Pick Preferences. Searchesmia.com Safari menu
  3. Go to the Extensions Tab. Searchesmia.com Safari extensions
  4. Tap the Uninstall button next to the undesirable Searchesmia.com and get rid of all the other unknown entries as well. If you are unsure whether the extension is reliable or not, simply uncheck the Enable box in order to disable it temporarily.
  5. Restart Safari.
Reset your browser
  1. Tap the menu icon and choose Reset Safari. Searchesmia.com Safari reset menu
  2. Pick the options which you want to reset (often all of them are preselected) and press Reset. Searchesmia.com Safari reset
  3. If you cannot reset the browser, scan your whole PC with an authentic malware removal software.

Site Disclaimer

2-remove-virus.com is not sponsored, owned, affiliated, or linked to malware developers or distributors that are referenced in this article. The article does not promote or endorse any type of malware. We aim at providing useful information that will help computer users to detect and eliminate the unwanted malicious programs from their computers. This can be done manually by following the instructions presented in the article or automatically by implementing the suggested anti-malware tools.

The article is only meant to be used for educational purposes. If you follow the instructions given in the article, you agree to be contracted by the disclaimer. We do not guarantee that the artcile will present you with a solution that removes the malign threats completely. Malware changes constantly, which is why, in some cases, it may be difficult to clean the computer fully by using only the manual removal instructions.

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