SafeSearch

SafeSearch is a browser plugin and a search engine that supposedly makes your web search experience safer. According to the official website at safesearch.net, SafeSearch filters your search results in order to steer your away from malicious websites that could cause damage to your system. It takes into consideration such aspects as child safety, user opinions and ratings, privacy issues and so on. What is more, SafeSearch installs a toolbar on Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer browsers, and this toolbar comes with its own search box, and a number of shortcuts to such websites as Facebook, gaming pages and even a computer optimization site called Speed Up Your PC.

However, not all users are satisfied with SafeSearch search engine. It has to be pointed out that this browser plugin is not a computer malware application. Users install this plugin on their own, and it only seems like SafeSearch hijacks your home page and changes it to safesearch.net. The truth is that you give this plugin to change your home page and default search engine yourself. During the installation SafeSearch prompts you about the oncoming modifications, and if you simply ignore it, then your browser settings get changed.

There are many ways for SafeSearch to enter your computer. This plugin usually comes bundled with other freeware applications when you download them from third party websites. Thus, you need to be attentive during free software installations, so that you wouldn’t install unnecessary application.

Since SafeSearch makes use of cookies to track your web browsing activities, it may pose certain security risks, especially if this plugin gets hijacked by a malicious third party. Therefore, users are encouraged to remove SafeSearch from their computers to prevent any possible system security damage.

How to delete SafeSearch from your PC

Windows 8

1. Move mouse cursor to the bottom right of the screen.
2. When Charms bar appears, click Settings and go to Control Panel.
3. Press Uninstall a program and remove SafeSearch.

Windows Vista & Windows 7

1. Open Start menu and go to Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program and remove SafeSearch.

Windows XP

1. Open Start Menu and go to Control Panel.
2. Click Add or remove programs and remove SafeSearch.

Restore your browser settings

Internet Explorer

1. Press Alt+X and click Internet Options.
2. Under General tab, change your home page address. Click OK.
3. Press Alt+X again and select Manage add-ons.
4. Click Search providers on the left pane.
5. Set a new default search engine and remove SafeSearch from the list.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Firefox button and go to Options.
2. Under General tab, change your home page address. Click OK.
3. Click search engine icon on a search box (top right corner).
4. Select Manage search engines and remove SafeSearch from the list. Click OK.
5. Press Ctrl+Shift+A for Add-ons Manager tab to open.
6. Remove SafeSearch from Extensions and restart your browser.

Google Chrome

1. Press Alt+F and go to Settings.
2. Under On Startup, mark Open a specific page or set of pages. Click Set pages.
3. Change your home page address and click OK.
4. Select Manage search engines under Search.
5. Set a new default search engine and remove SafeSearch from the list. Click Done.

Manual SafeSearch removal may not be enough to remove everything from your system, so scan your PC with SpyHunter free scanner to check whether you have any other files left to delete.