2 Remove Virus

Remove Searchlma.com

About this infection

Searchlma.com is a website that may be set as your homepage by a browser hijacker. The hijacker may enter your computer via freeware bundles, and you may not even notice if you are one to rush program installation. The homepage could have also been set by a Mindspark Interactive Network created extension that offers easy access to maps.

It’s not exactly a malicious infection but it is recommended to deal with it as soon as possible because while hijackers aren’t malicious themselves, they can bring about other, more serious infections. In addition, they very annoying as they change browser’s settings without permission, and it can be difficult to reverse them later on. They then try to redirect to sponsored websites because site owners employ them to generate traffic for them. However, not all of those sites will be safe. Some may be harboring malware, which could download onto your computer.

While it may seem like a reliable extension, especially if you need its services, we recommend you delete searchlma.com. If you don’t remember installing the extension, it entered without permission, and such programs/extensions should not be allowed to remain installed on your computer.

How do hijackers spread?

Browser hijackers spread via freeware bundles. They are attached to freeware as extra offers, which you need to deselect if you don’t want them installing alongside. To do this, you will need to pay attention to how you install programs. Follow the process carefully and make sure to choose Advanced or Custom settings if given the option. Those settings will allow you to check for added offers, and if need be, deselect them. We recommend deselecting everything before you proceed with the installation because if you were not informed about their installation, they should not be allowed to set up.

Why remove searchlma.com?

The hijacker will immediately change your browser’s settings so that you have a different homepage/new tabs. The website, search.searchlma.com, provides links to map services, such as Google and Bing maps, and gas prices. The site can become your homepage no matter which browser you are using, whether it’s Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. And the changes would be irreversible unless you first get rid of the hijacker.

In addition to shortcuts to sites like Amazon and Gmail, it also presents a search engine. It you were to use it, you’d be taken to Saferbrowser Yahoo Search, where sponsored content could be inserted among the results. Like we said before, the owners of those sites probably employed the hijacker to redirect traffic so that they could earn more revenue. Do bear in mind that hijackers do not check the sites for malware, so if you were to press on a sponsored result, you may end up on a malware-ridden page, and something malicious could download without you even knowing. Hijackers don’t do direct damage but if you were to get malware, that would be a different manner.

Hijackers also collect certain information about users, such as IP addresses, sites visited, search queries, etc. They don’t usually touch personally-identifiable information but if you were to provide it yourself, they may store it. It could then be shared with unrelated third-parties.

searchlma.com removal

If you are looking for the features this extension provides, there are better options out there. Or you could just go to map websites directly. If you have decided to uninstall searchlma.com, you can do it in two ways. Manual elimination may be more difficult if you have little experience with computers because you’d have to do everything yourself. However, you can use our provided instructions to help you. They can be found below this article. If you would prefer the automatic way, obtain anti-spyware software and have it take care of everything.

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.

Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Searchlma.com and related programs.

Remove Searchlma.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.

Uninstall Searchlma.com from Windows 7

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

Delete Searchlma.com from Windows XP

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

Remove Searchlma.com from Mac OS X

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

Step 2. Delete Searchlma.com from your browsers

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