Search.hr

Search.hr is a browser hijacker that appears to be identical to quite a few browser hijackers our research team has already reported. They include Searchengage.com and Search.bitcro.com. All three of these threats were developed by Cro-Bit Ltd. and Search Engage Ltd., and they have identical interfaces, which is what makes it easy to link them to one another. The strange thing is that while the Privacy Policy of the hijacker we are discussing is presented by Cro-bit Ltd., the Terms of Service document was prepared by Search Engage Ltd. It is possible that one company is simply stealing content from another, or it is the same developer trying to hide behind different names. Whatever the case might be, this hijacker is unreliable, and it is our recommendation that you remove Search.hr from your browsers immediately.

An official installer representing Search.hr does not exist; however, our research team has found that this hijacker can come bundled with an extension called “BitCro Search.” This extension is promoted at chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bitcro-search/hidpnfibeefgnmgccljepobnadnpbjhj (Chrome web store), and, allegedly, it is represented by kistr.club. If you click this link, you are routed to a page with an error message. If you click the “Add to Chrome” button, you are introduced to a pop-up indicating that this extension can read and even change all data on the sites you visit. It does not mention that the add-on hijacks the Home Page to introduce you to Search.hr. It additionally creates a button that is placed next to the address bar for quick access (if you click it, New Tab opens automatically). Immediately after installation, the hijacker also opens a new tab with an advertisement, and that is because showcasing third-party content is one of its main purposes.

As stated in the Privacy Policy created by Cro-bit Ltd., Search.hr can show advertisements and third-party links. As revealed already, it can showcase interstitial ads, but it is more likely to showcase them using the search engine. Have you used it already? If you have, you already know that it redirects to search.yahoo.com via services.searchy.info/trss/search.php, which is the Searchy.info hijacker that our research team is also classifying as a threat. Unfortunately, although Search.hr redirects to Yahoo Search – which you are probably familiar with – the search results are not trustworthy. The hijacker is likely to modify them to include sponsored links, and they could be malicious. Due to this, it is recommended that you do not interact with any of the search results that are delivered to you via Search.hr.

Although Search.hr can be acquired with the BitCro Search extension, it could be introduced to users using different extensions. Moreover, the hijacker could come bundled with malware. Third-party installers could be used to spread this hijacker as well, and if that is how it has entered your operating system, the chances are that you are dealing with more threats than you think. Therefore, the first thing you should do is install a malware scanner to thoroughly inspect your operating system. If the scanner identifies critical threats, you need to delete them first. The rest of them can be eliminated afterward, but you have to make sure that all infections are erased. If you do not take care of that, your virtual security could be jeopardized. While Search.hr can do that via the potentially misleading search results and advertisements, as well as using data trackers that collect information about you, other infections could be much more intrusive.

Even though it is most likely that most users trying to delete Search.hr are on Google Chrome, it is possible that this browser hijacker can corrupt Firefox, Internet Explorer, and, possibly, other browsers. The guide below shows how to uninstall applications and delete extensions. Of course, after you complete manual removal steps, you have to install a trusted malware scanner to look for leftovers, as well as other potentially active infections. If the operation is too overwhelming for you – for example, if multiple threats are active – the best thing to do would be to install anti-malware software. The best part about this software is that it can ensure full-time protection as well.

Search.hr Removal

Windows 10 and Windows 8:

1. Tap Win+R keys on the keyboard to launch RUN.
2. Enter Control Panel into the Open box and click OK.
3. Move to Uninstall a program and Uninstall the unwanted app.

Windows Vista and Windows 7:

1. Click the Windows icon on the Taskbar.
2. Open Control Panel and then navigate to Uninstall a program.
3. Right-click and Uninstall the undesirable application.

Windows XP:

1. Click the Start menu icon on the Taskbar.
2. Open Control Panel and then move to Add or Remove Programs.
3. Select and Remove the undesirable application.

Google Chrome:

1. Open the browser and tap keys Alt+F.
2. Select More tools and then go to Extensions.
3. Click the trash button next to the unwanted add-on and choose Remove.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open the browser and tap keys Alt+T.
2. In the Tools menu select Extensions.
3. Click the Remove button on the right of the undesirable extension.