Search.searchwag.com

A browser hijacker is a type of malware whose purpose is to hijack your browser’s settings. Search.searchwag.com is one such hijacker that you ought to remove. Testing has shown that, in some cases, this hijacker may enter your computer without your authorization and replace your browser’s homepage, and search provider with its URL. This hijacker does this to redirect web traffic and force you to view the promotional links included in its search results. Indeed, Search.searchwag.com is sort of a search engine as well, but it uses Yahoo.com to process the searches. There is nothing that this alleged search engine offers that could be called useful. It is obvious that it is part of a web monetization scheme. Thus, it serves the interests of its developers more than it does those of its users.

First, let us go over this hijacker’s distribution methods. Our research has revealed that this infection’s most popular distribution channel is its main website called Watchanygame.com. This site claims to provide you with a useful service — allow you to view live sports games for free. However, that is not the case. In truth, this hijacker cannot provide you with such a service. Nevertheless, it contains a link to Espn.go.com, a legitimate sports-related website, but it is not the same as providing video feed. It just presents links to third-party services which is not the same as providing a service, so this hijacker is deceptive. Watchanygame.com is where most people get this hijacker from, but it has one more distribution channel.

Like many browser hijackers, Search.searchwag.com is also bundled with third-party software that is distributed using various websites. We have received information that certain software bundles consisting of potentially unwanted programs, adware, and browser hijackers are being promoted via adware and featured on dedicated download websites. Our sources suggest that the bundled version of this hijacker is set to be injected into your web browser without your authorization and opposed to the version that is found on its dedicated website which comes with a browser extension called Watch Any Game for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Hence, that is why we have classified as a browser hijacker.

When Search.searchwag.com infects a computer, it injects its browser extension that replaces the homepage of Chrome and Internet Explorer and the search provider of these two browsers with the addition of Firefox. This hijacker functions like a legitimate search engine, but it has inherent flaws that make it undesirable. While testing it, we found that it redirects search queries to its server at http://extsearch.maxwebsearch{.}com which, in turn, redirects them to a custom Yahoo.com search engine. It is quite possible that its server interacts with Yahoo.com and injects additional promotional links in the search results. As a result, you get search results that can include dishonest promotions that may try to extract sensitive information from you or try to extort money. You may be interested to know that according to this hijacker’s EULA, “You acknowledge and agree that you assume all the responsibility and risk for your Use of the Software and the results and performance thereof and your use of any Third-Party Software” So if this hijacker’s promotions turn out to be fake, and you get scammed, then you are on your own. Thus, it is evident that Search.searchwag.com is inherently unreliable, and you should consider getting rid of it.

If you want to delete Search.searchwag.com, then you suggest using our tested removal guide. We want to point out that in addition to having an accompanying browser add-on, this hijacker also features an application that is used to modify Internet Explorer. Take note that regardless of your default web browser this application will be installed. So please run the uninstaller first and remove the browser extension last