What is Search.searchquickm.com? And how does it work?
Search.searchquickm.com is a bogus search engine categorized as both a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program (PUP) developed by none other than Polarity Technologies Ltd which is known to spawn these kinds of browser hijackers. Search.searchquickm.com emerges from web browsers which are infected with the Quick Maps extension.
If infected, your browsers’ settings will be altered. Your home page will be changed to http://search.searchquickm.com and your search engine will become http://query.searchquickm.com. Whenever you key in any keywords or search queries, you will be redirected to http://search.yahoo.com. However, you can’t trust its search results since Search.searchquickm.com modifies them and is only after giving you sponsored content in the form of ads and pop-ups to generate profit from pay-per click marketing. Links that are shown in its search results can be deceptive and cause redirects to suspicious sites that is not relevant to your search query. Some of these sites can be suspicious and may offer you unwanted programs that can cause bigger problems to your computer.
Needless to say, you need to get rid of this browser hijacker because not only it cause redirects but also pose a threat to your security since it monitors your browsing activities and gathers information based on that. The information gathered may be shared with third-party to bring you even more ads that matches your interests.
How is Search.searchquickm.com distributed?
Another reason why Search.searchquickm.com is considered as a PUP is because it is distributed through software bundles. This kind of distribution technique allows several programs to be bundled. Most of these bundled packages often contain legitimate software, however, it may also contain unwanted programs like Search.searchquickm.com. it is no surprise that most users opt for the quick installation process instead of the Custom or Advanced one. Cyber criminals take advantage of that fact that’s why they keep on inserting their infected programs to these bundles to infiltrate your computer. To get around this kind of trick, make sure that from now on, you only install programs using the Custom or Advanced option.
So if you already noticed repetitious redirects to Search.searchquickm.com, be sure to follow the removal instructions below:
Step 1: Open Control Panel by pressing the Windows key + R, then type in appwiz.cpl and then click OK or press Enter.

Step 2: Look for any suspicious program responsible for Search.searchquickm.com and then Uninstall it.

The next step below is not recommended for you if you don’t know how to navigate the Registry Editor. Making registry changes can highly impact your computer. So it is highly advised to use PC Cleaner Pro instead to get rid of the entries that Search.searchquickm.com created. So if you are not familiar with the Windows Registry skip to the advanced steps onwards.

However, if you are well-versed in making registry adjustments, then you can proceed to step 3.
Step 3: Remove Search.searchquickm.com from Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.
Internet Explorer

  1. Press Win + R to open Run.
  2. Type in regedit and click OK.
  3. Locate the following path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

  1. Look for a value named Start Page.
  2. Right-click on it and then click Modify.
  3. Replace http://Search.searchquickm.com I with a trusted website.
  4. Close the Registry Editor.

Google Chrome

  1. Hold down Win + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Look for this path in your system: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
  3. Locate the following files:
  • Preferences
  • Secure Preferences
  • Web Data
  1. Right-click on each of them and choose Delete.
  2. Close the File Explorer.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Hold down Win + E to open File Explorer.
  2. Look for this path:

C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Unique Mozilla user ID}

  1. Look for a file named js and open it as a Notepad document.
  2. Look for the following line:

user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://Search.searchquickm.com”)

  1. Replace http://Search.searchquickm.com I with a trusted website.
  2. Press Ctrl + S to save the changes made.
  3. Close Notepad

Follow the continued advanced steps below to ensure the removal of Search.searchquickm.com:
Perform a full system scan using SpyRemover Pro.

  1. Turn on your computer. If it’s already on, you have to reboot
  2. After that, the BIOS screen will be displayed, but if Windows pops up instead, reboot your computer and try again. Once you’re on the BIOS screen, repeat pressing F8, by doing so the Advanced Option shows up.

  1. To navigate the Advanced Option use the arrow keys and select Safe Mode with Networking then hit
  2. Windows will now load the Safe Mode with Networking.
  3. Press and hold both R key and Windows key.

  1. If done correctly, the Windows Run Box will show up.
  2. Type in explorer http://www.fixmypcfree.com/install/spyremoverpro

A single space must be in between explorer and http. Click OK.

  1. A dialog box will be displayed by Internet Explorer. Click Run to begin downloading SpyRemover Pro. Installation will start automatically once download is done.

  1. Click OK to launch SpyRemover Pro.
  2. Run SpyRemover Pro and perform a full system scan.

  1. After all the infections are identified, click REMOVE ALL.

  1. Register SpyRemover Pro to protect your computer from future threats.

 
 
 
 
 

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