Toolbars&Hijackers

Searchmine.net (a.k.a. SearchMine) is low-quality search engine related to notorious webcrawler.com developed by InfoSpace Holdings LLC, that provides irrelevant search results filled with ads and sponsored content. Hijacker replaces default browser settings, such as the search engine, the home page, new tab, with new values. All user's searches will be redirected to http://www.webcrawler.com, that delivers results drastically different from familiar Google.com, Yahoo.com, Bing.com. WebCrawler is offering search solutions to monetize audience via a search-based advertising revenue stream and shares revenue with software developers and website owners, that compulsively spread Searchmine.net and other similar malware. The main danger of such services is the loss of online privacy and using gathered data by the malware to send ads and pop-ups.

Ecosia.org or Ecosia is contradictory search engine and browser add-on, that can override default settings of search, homepage and new tab in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari on Windows or Mac OS. On their website, it is stated, that Ecosia is Germany-based internet search engine. It donates 80% of revenue to ecological companies focusing on planting trees. From a technical point of view, this is Bing-affiliated search, that provides results almost identical to Bing.com. The search engine is accompanied by extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox with more than 2 million users. It is difficult to verify whether the statements of developers are true or false, but actions of Ecosia fall into the category of browser hijackers. Many users complained that Ecosia.org appeared in browsers out of nowhere, without their agreement.

Mapsnow.co and Maps Now are, accordingly, unwanted search engine and browser add-on, that modifies and controls browser's settings in Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox on Windows or Mac. Hijacker overrides default or user-installed values of search engine, home page and new tab with www.mapsnow.co website, that, in its turn, redirects search queries to search.yahoo.com. Developers of Maps Now application claim, that it provides quick and convenient access to maps and directions from the start page of your browser. However, in fact, it creates third party search page, with links to well-known online maps, such as Google Maps, Bing Maps and MapQuest. Sole purpose of this extension is to earn on advertising revenue from redirecting to other search engine, and probably, from promoting other websites and programs.

Goto-searchitnow.global.ssl.fastly.net is intermediary domain, used by search hijackers to redirect user's queries from well-known search engines to Searchitnow.info and vice versa. Goto-searchitnow.global.ssl.fastly.net can be seen in Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox on Mac. Probably, it is used to drive traffic through faster cloud servers. If your searches are compromised like this, it means there is an adware module installed on your Mac. It can be presented by application, add-on, malicious device profile or just virus file and process.

Easy Speed Test Access or Search.easyspeedtestaccess.com is nasty browser hijacker and adware, that modifies search engine, homepage and new tab settings in Safari, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. It can infect both Windows and Mac computers. Virus gets access to browsers data by installing extension, users themselves download it from phishing or advertising pages. Add-ons can be called: Easy Speed Test Access, Speed Test, Super Speed Tester, etc. After infiltration, hijacker sets search.easyspeedtestaccess.com as default search and opens it as homepage or new tab at every start. Page looks like typical third-party search engine, with toolbar, quick links to shopping sites and social networks and, in this case, to websites, that provide internet speed testing functionality. Search queries are redirected to search.yahoo.com.

Search Encrypt or Searchencrypt.com is internet search engine, that, according to its developers, prioritises users's privacy while web search. Company, that developed this site is based in Limassol, Cyprus. Search Encrypt uses AES-256 encryption to encode search terms, and creates short-living key to encrypt user's queries. Searchencrypt.com can be used independently, or along with Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox add-ons called Search Encrypt and Privacy Toolkit. Although, website seems to be legitimate, many users complain, that extensions are installed without their consent. Search Encrypt gets its revenue from ads, and advertising policy, as well as encryption technology are not transparent. These facts give a birth to concerns about its safety and privacy. In this tutorial we show how to completely remove Search Encrypt and restore preferred homepage and search engine settings.

MacSecurityPlus is advertising virus, that hits Mac systems. It aims Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers and wants to control these apps to display ads, pop-ups and get access to private user's data. MacSecurityPlus does not have any interface, but its activity can be spotted in Activity Monitor. It also generates fake system alerts and causes legal system messages to force users to grant access to browsers for MacSecurityPlus. As a result of virus activity, users may experience unstable browsers operation, modification of browser settings, such as default search engine and homepage, and annoying, unusual advertising. In addition to that, MacSecurityPlus access to browsing data (history, cookies, caches, bookmarks), opens gate to affected computer for advertisers of all kinds.

Search.yourmapsnow.com or Your Maps Now is misleading browser hijacker, that replaces default search engine and homepage in Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox on Windows or Mac. Often, it is accompanied with browser extension or application called "Your Maps Now". This add-on sneaks in browsers and takes control over main browser settings. Of course, it installs without user permission using the deceptive tactic. After installation, user search queries are redirected to query.yourmapsnow.com and then to search.yahoo.com. This allows the hijacker to collect private browser data and share it with advertising companies. The homepage also changes to Search.yourmapsnow.com and, besides search, provides quick links to main map resources such as Google Maps and Bing Maps. Page looks similar to normal search engine page, and some users don't even see the difference until they start searching for something.