What is this threat

Search Awesome is a browser extension that inserts advertisements into your search results. It’s classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) but creators advertise it as useful service that allows you to see what your social media contacts have shared in regards to what you are searching for. When it first installs, it asks to gain access to your social media accounts and then starts gathering certain data about you and your browsing habits. It will also modify your browser’s settings so that when you search for something via some search engine, you will encounter sponsored content. It will try to redirect you to sponsored content because that is how it makes money. More visitors for a site means owners can make more money from advertisements. While the PUP is relatively harmless by itself, you should be aware that it could lead you to malicious sites. Thus, you need to delete Search Awesome. You also need to pay more attention to how you install freeware because the PUP was attached to one that you installed, and you did not notice.

How does the extension spread?

These kinds of unwanted programs are usually added to freeware as extra offers because much less people would install it otherwise. They are added to freeware as optional offers but if you want to prevent them from installing, you need to manually deselect them. Users who usually rush and use Default settings will not be able to see anything added because those settings do not show you. Instead of Default, we recommend you use Advanced or Custom settings. Everything that has been added will appear there and if you notice something, make sure you uncheck every single one of the added offers. Keep in mind that they use such a sneaky method to install for a reason.

searchawesome-net

Why uninstall Search Awesome?

The extension will ask that you grant it access to your social media so that it could see what your contacts have shared and the offer that content when you search for something. Once the extension has been added, it will add sponsored content into your search results so that you could be redirected. It will also change certain browser’s settings without permission and you will be stuck with those changes until you remove Search Awesome add-on. We recommend you deal with the issue right aware because you could end up being redirected to dangerous pages. The search results that you will be provided with may not be relevant to you because the intent is to redirect you to sponsored websites. You need to be careful because those redirects could end up leading you to something malicious. Thus, delete Search Awesome.

Search Awesome removal

To be able to uninstall Search Awesome fully, you may need to obtain anti-spyware software. The program would locate and make sure to remove Search Awesome for you. If you go with manual Search Awesome removal, you will need to find the hijacker yourself, which may be difficult to do.

Offers

More information about SpyWarrior and Uninstall Instructions. Please review SpyWarrior EULA and Privacy Policy. SpyWarrior scanner is free. If it detects a malware, purchase its full version to remove it.

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Search Awesome and related programs.

Remove Search Awesome 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 Search Awesome from Windows 8

Uninstall Search Awesome from Windows 7

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

Uninstall Search Awesome from Windows 7

Delete Search Awesome from Windows XP

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

Remove Search Awesome from Windows XP

Remove Search Awesome from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for Search Awesome 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.

Search Awesome removal from MAC OS X

Step 2. Delete Search Awesome from your browsers

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