What is SwiftSeek
SwiftSeek is a browser hijacker that subtly infiltrates your system, altering browser settings to reroute search queries to dubious destinations. Typically, it redirects these queries to finditfasts.com, a deceptive search engine that further redirects to potterfun.com, known for delivering unreliable and potentially harmful search results. This hijacker often comes bundled with seemingly innocuous browser extensions, disguising itself as a useful tool while it manipulates your browsing experience. By doing so, it aims to drive traffic to certain websites, generating revenue for its developers through increased page visits and potential ad clicks. Additionally, SwiftSeek may employ persistent methods like the “Managed by your organization” feature in Google Chrome, making it challenging for users to revert their settings. This persistence is coupled with data-tracking capabilities, potentially compromising your privacy by collecting sensitive information such as browsing history and personal credentials. To avoid unintentional installations, users should be wary of deceptive ads and bundled software, ensuring downloads are always from trusted sources.
How SwiftSeek infects computers
SwiftSeek, a notorious browser hijacker, typically infiltrates computers through deceptive means, often bundled with free software or via misleading advertisements. Users may inadvertently install SwiftSeek by downloading software from unreliable sources or by hastily clicking through installation prompts without thoroughly reviewing the terms and conditions. Once installed, SwiftSeek alters browser settings, such as the homepage and default search engine, to redirect users to its affiliated sites, often resulting in exposure to further potential security risks. This hijacker can also leverage persistent tactics, like the “Managed by your organization” feature in Chrome, to prevent users from easily restoring their browser settings. Besides altering browser configurations, SwiftSeek may track user data, including browsing history and personal information, which can be monetized by selling it to third parties. To avoid infection, it is crucial for users to download software only from reputable sources, carefully scrutinize installation processes, and employ reliable security solutions to detect and remove such threats.
- Download SwiftSeek Removal Tool
- Remove SwiftSeek from Control Panel and Applications
- Remove SwiftSeek extensions from browsers
- Reset browser search and homepage settings
- Alternative way to remove SwiftSeek search redirects
- Clean browser shortcuts from SwiftSeek
- How to protect from threats like SwiftSeek
Download Removal Tool for Windows
To remove SwiftSeek completely, we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5. It detects and removes all files, folders, and registry keys of SwiftSeek and several millions of other adware, hijackers, toolbars. The trial version of Spyhunter 5 offers virus scan and 1-time removal for FREE.
Download Removal Tool for Mac
To remove SwiftSeek completely, we recommend you to use SpyHunter for Mac. It can help you remove files, folders, and registry keys of SwiftSeek and uninstall hijackers, toolbars, and unwanted add-ons from the Safari browser. The trial version of SpyHunter for Mac offers virus scan and 1-time removal for FREE.
Remove SwiftSeek manually for free
Here is a manual step-by-step tutorial for full SwiftSeek removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of the SwiftSeek an installer on operating systems with the latest updates and browser versions.
Note: SwiftSeek can be installed as Google Chrome extension as Administrator (you may see Installed by enterprise policy or Your browser is managed by your organization inscription near it), and this will not allow removal. Therefore, before starting removal process, perform these actions:
- Start the Command Prompt by clicking the Start menu button and typing command prompt (or just searching for “command prompt” in Windows 10 search field). Right click on the Command Prompt result and choose Run as Administrator.
- Type in and execute the following commands:
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
gpupdate /force
Remove SwiftSeek from Control Panel or Applications
To start removing SwiftSeek you should uninstall it using Control Panel. It can be present by different names – “SwiftSeek”. It should uninstall correctly, however, we recommend you to use IObit Uninstaller to clean leftover items after uninstalling. Here are instructions for Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows 11, or Mac.
Remove SwiftSeek from Windows XP:
- Click on Start button.
- Choose Control Panel.
- Click Add or Remove Programs.
- Find SwiftSeek or other suspicious program.
- Click Uninstall.
Remove SwiftSeek from Windows 7:
- Click Start button.
- Then go to Control Panel.
- Click Uninstall a Program.
- Find SwiftSeek or other suspicious program and click Uninstall.
Remove SwiftSeek from Windows 8:
- Hover mouse pointer to the bottom-right corner to see Menu.
- Click Search.
- After that click Apps.
- Then Control Panel.
- Click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
- Find SwiftSeek or other suspicious program, click Uninstall.
Remove SwiftSeek from Windows 10:
There are 2 ways to uninstall SwiftSeek from Windows 10
Way one
- Click on the Start button.
- In opened menu choose Settings.
- Click on the System tile.
- Click Apps & features and locate SwiftSeek or other suspicious program in the list.
- Click on it and then click Uninstall button near it.
Way two (classic)
- Right-click on the Start button.
- In opened menu choose Programs and Features.
- Locate SwiftSeek or other suspicious program in the list.
- Click on it and then click Uninstall button above.
Remove SwiftSeek from Windows 11:
- Right-click on the Start button.
- In opened menu choose Settings.
- Click on the Apps tab on the left side.
- Click Apps & features and locate SwiftSeek or other recently installed suspicious program in the list.
- Click on 3-dots icon near it and then click Uninstall button near it.
- Depending on the type of application (Windows Store app or classic Win32 app) it will be removed immediately or you will need to confirm the action and go through standard uninstall procedure.
- In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
- SwiftSeek might have an Uninstaller.
- Otherwise, drag SwiftSeek from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
- Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.
- Reboot your computer.
- While it starts booting press F8 button.
- This will open Advanced Boot Options menu.
- Choose Safe Mode and wait until Windows loads.
- Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program and remove SwiftSeek or other suspicious program
- Download free AppCleaner.
- Drag SwiftSeek from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
- Choose files and folders you want to remove along with SwiftSeek.
- Click Delete button.
- Start Google Chrome browser
- In address box type (or copy-paste)
chrome://extensions
. - Find SwiftSeek extension.
- Click the Remove button to remove them.
- Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.
- Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
- In address box type (or copy-paste)
about:addons
. - Find SwiftSeek extension.
- Click three-dots icon near it and choose Remove in the menu.
- In opened dialog window click Remove button to confirm the action.
- Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.
- Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
- Click Extensions tab.
- Find SwiftSeek extension.
- Click Uninstall button to remove it.
- Start Microsoft Edge browser.
- In address box type (or copy-paste)
edge://extensions
. - Find SwiftSeek extension.
- Click Remove link under the name of extension.
- In opened dialog window click Remove button to confirm the action.
- Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
- In opened menu Manage Add-ons.
- Select Toolbars and Extensions.
- Click Disable SwiftSeek or other suspicious extensions.
- Also disable other suspicious extensions from the list.
- Start Opera browser.
- Go to Tools > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
- Find SwiftSeek or other suspicious extensions.
- Click Uninstall button.
- Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.
- Start Google Chrome browser
- In address box type (or copy-paste)
chrome://settings
. - On the left panel expand Advanced options.
- Choose Reset and clean up.
- Click on Restore settings to their original defaults link and confirm by clicking Reset button.
- Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
- In address box type (or copy-paste)
about:support
. - Click Refresh Firefox… button.
- Click Refresh Firefox button in opened dialog window to confirm.
- Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
- Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
- Click Remove All Website Data button.
- In opened window click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
- Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
- Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
- In the menu click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
- Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
- Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.
- Start Microsoft Edge browser
- Click on 3-dots icon in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
- On the left panel find and click Reset settings option.
- Click on Restore settings to their default values link and confirm by clicking Reset button.
- Start Internet Explorer.
- Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
- In opened menu choose Internet options.
- Click Advanced tab.
- Click Reset button.
- Choose Delete personal settings and click Reset.
- Start Opera browser and click on Opera icon in the top-left corner.
- Choose Settings and click Advanced on the left side and choose Browser.
- Scroll down to the very bottom and click on Restore settings to their original defaults link.
- Confirm by clicking Reset button.
Remove SwiftSeek from Mac:
Cannot uninstall SwiftSeek in Windows
In some cases, SwiftSeek won’t uninstall and gives you the message, that “You do not have sufficient access to uninstall SwiftSeek. Please, contact your system administrator” when you try to remove it from Control Panel or “Access denied” error when removing the SwiftSeek folder and files. This happens because the process or service does not allow you to do it. In this case, I will recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 or Malwarebytes or uninstall SwiftSeek in Safe Mode. To boot in Safe Mode do the following:
>> See detailed instructions and video tutorial on how to boot in Safe Mode
Cannot uninstall SwiftSeek in MacOS
If you can’t uninstall SwiftSeek using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of SwiftSeek. Follow instructions below:
Remove malicious add-ons from your browsers
Uninstalling SwiftSeek from Control Panel or Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It sometimes has a browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove SwiftSeek extension from your browsers manually.
Google Chrome:
Mozilla Firefox:
Safari:
Microsoft Edge:
Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):
Note: There is no feature to remove browser extensions from browser in latest version of Internet Explorer. To remove SwiftSeek from Internet Explorer, please, perform instructions for uninstalling program from Control Panel. To disable SwiftSeek, please, do the following:
Opera Browser:
Generally, SwiftSeek does not install in Opera browser however you can always double check. Do the following:
Reset browsers settings (homepage, default search)
SwiftSeek installs a search engine (boyu.com.tr) that hijacks your browsers. Here is the instruction to reset your browser’s homepage, new tab, and search engine to default values.
Google Chrome:
Mozilla Firefox:
Reset Safari:
Microsoft Edge:
Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):
Opera Browser:
Alternative way to remove adware browser extensions and reset browser settings
For safe and effective browser extension removal use avast! Browser Cleanup utility. Run it with administrator privileges and remove all extensions with bad rating including related to SwiftSeek. You can also reset your browser settings for each of your browsers: Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox.
Cleaning browsers shortcuts
You can clean your browser shortcuts manually right-clicking on your browser icon, choosing “Properties” and removing hijacker address from “Target” field (leave just the path to your browser). However it is easier to use free Shortcut Cleaner from BleepingComputer. Download it here – its FREE:
How to protect from threats, like SwiftSeek, in future
Be careful surfing the internet and downloading software, as programs like SwiftSeek may become a real headache as they are hard to remove and break your privacy. To keep safe from such threats we recommend you always use antivirus and one of the anti-malware programs available on the market. One of the best anti-virus programs is SpyHunter 5. It can protect your PC from threats like SwiftSeek.