Remove Search-Alpha.com from Chrome, Firefox and IE

Search-Alpha.com is a browser hijacker that targets Mac computers

Search-Alpha.com is a redirect virus that generally targets Mac devices, better known as a browser hijacker. They are rather minor infections that should not directly harm your system. Take into account, however, that hijackers lead you to suspicious sites in order to generate traffic and profit, which is why they are not fully benign. While hijackers install sneakily, they become immediately noticeable after.

Your browser begins to abruptly display unusual behaviour, such as random redirects, search results filled with sponsored content, etc. Because not everyone is aware of what hijackers are, they won’t necessarily associate the unusual behaviour with them. The situation normally becomes clear when users research the web page they’re redirected to and other signs through a search engine.

Changes will also be made to your browser, in addition to the redirects. You will be redirected to a new homepage/new tabs when you launch your browser, and you may find it difficult to cancel these changes. It is because they alter browser’s settings that hijackers are able to redirect you.

Hijackers don’t simply install by themselves since they aren’t malware or viruses, even if many users think of them as such. The installation is done by users themselves, but usually, it happens without them knowing about it. Hijackers, and other pests like adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) are added to freeware as added items, and when users install said freeware, they end up installing the attached items as well. It isn’t complicated to stop these undesirable installations, as long as you know how to do it, and we’ll explain in the following section.

While it may be a pretty minor infection, quick Search-Alpha.com uninstallation from your Mac is recommended. The hijacker isn’t simply going to interrupt your usual browsing, malware, scams and other dangerous content might be forced upon you.

How does a hijacker spread

In the majority of cases, hijackers install with freeware. This method of distribution is referred to as program bundling, and in simple terms it’s attaching hijackers and other extra offers to legitimate freeware. Software bundling is a pretty suspicious method since while the offers can install with the freeware, users don’t initially notice them. The installations are quite easily avoidable, however, if you pay attention to how you install programs.

Most importantly, pick Advanced (Custom) settings when installing free software. Default mode will hide the items. The items will be made visible in Advanced settings, and you’ll have the choice to deselect all of them. To block them from installing, just uncheck the boxes. Take into account that blocking unwanted offers from installing takes much less time compared to getting rid of infections that have been installed already. It is worth noting that you’ll be able to maintain your PC rubbish-free if you actually pay attention when installing programs.

More detailed information about the hijacker

The first sign of a hijacker you’ll notice is that they redirect to odd pages, every time the browser is opened, no matter which browser you’re using Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. It’ll modify your homepage and new tabs to its advertised website and you will be redirected to it whenever your browser is launched. You’ll also notice that modifications to the search engine have been made. The hijacker will display you changed search results by redirecting you to its sponsored website when you carry out a search via browser address bar. Sponsored content will be embedded into results so they will be unconnected to what you were searching for. The prime goal of a hijacker is to generate traffic and profit, which is why it redirects you to those sponsored pages. Being redirected to unfamiliar, potentially dangerous websites is both annoying and potentially dangerous for the system. It’s not a great idea to interact with any sponsored or advertisement content while a redirect virus is installed because of that. Web pages you will be led to may be dangerous since hijackers do not check them. You may be redirected to a website hosting malware, or one that’s trying to scam you. Hijackers aren’t especially harmful but you should not allow them to remain installed either.

It may not become immediately noticeable, but hijackers also spy on you, they gather data about what you search for, content you interact with, what kind of sites you visit, your IP address and other data. Unknown third-parties might later get access to the information and use it for ad purposes.

If you are still wondering whether to remove the hijacker, it installed on your Mac unauthorized, altered your browser’s settings, and wants to redirect you to sponsored websites which might be hosting dangerous content. don’t wait to delete Search-Alpha.com even if it doesn’t appear like a severe infection.

How you could remove Search-Alpha.com from your Mac

So as to ensure the process is successful, it is suggested to use spyware removal software to delete Search-Alpha.com. If you use spyware removal programs, you could ensure the infection has been completely deleted. Manual Search-Alpha.com deletion is also possible, as long as you do everything correctly. You can alter your browser’s settings back to normal after you delete Search-Alpha.com.

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Search-Alpha.com and related programs.

• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows XP
• Mac OS

Remove Search-Alpha.com from Windows 8

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel choose Programs and Features and select to Uninstall a software.

Uninstall Search-Alpha.com from Windows 7

Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features → Uninstall a program.

Delete Search-Alpha.com from Windows XP

Click Start → Settings → Control Panel. Locate and click → Add or Remove Programs.

Remove Search-Alpha.com from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for Search-Alpha.com or any other suspicious software. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash, then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

Step 2. Delete Search-Alpha.com from your browsers

• Internet Explorer
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari

Terminate the unwanted extensions from Internet Explorer

1. Tap the Gear icon and go to Manage Add-ons.
2. Pick Toolbars and Extensions and eliminate all suspicious entries (other than Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Oracle or Adobe)
3. Leave the window.

Change Internet Explorer homepage if it was changed by virus:

1. Tap the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of your browser and click Internet Options.
2. In General Tab remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Press Apply to save changes.

Reset your browser

1. Click the Gear icon and move to Internet Options.
2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset.
3. Choose Delete personal settings and pick Reset one more time.
4. Tap Close and leave your browser.
5. If you were unable to reset your browsers, employ a reputable anti-malware and scan your entire computer with it.

Erase Search-Alpha.com from Google Chrome

1. Access menu (top right corner of the window) and pick Settings.
2. Choose Extensions.
3. Eliminate the suspicious extensions from the list by clicking the Trash bin next to them.
4. If you are unsure which extensions to remove, you can disable them temporarily.

Reset Google Chrome homepage and default search engine if it was hijacker by virus

1. Press on menu icon and click Settings.
2. Look for the “Open a specific page” or “Set Pages” under “On start up” option and click on Set pages.
3. In another window remove malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
4. Under the Search section choose Manage Search engines. When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search websites. You should leave only Google or your preferred search name.
   

Reset your browser

1. If the browser still does not work the way you prefer, you can reset its settings.
2. Open menu and navigate to Settings.
3. Press Reset button at the end of the page.
4. Tap Reset button one more time in the confirmation box.
5. If you cannot reset the settings, purchase a legitimate anti-malware and scan your PC.

Remove Search-Alpha.com from Mozilla Firefox

1. In the top right corner of the screen, press menu and choose Add-ons (or tap Ctrl+Shift+A simultaneously).
2. Move to Extensions and Add-ons list and uninstall all suspicious and unknown entries.

Change Mozilla Firefox homepage if it was changed by virus:

1. Tap on the menu (top right corner), choose Options.
2. On General tab delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
3. Press OK to save these changes.

Reset your browser

1. Open the menu and tap Help button.
2. Select Troubleshooting Information.
3. Press Refresh Firefox.
4. In the confirmation box, click Refresh Firefox once more.
5. If you are unable to reset Mozilla Firefox, scan your entire computer with a trustworthy anti-malware.

Uninstall Search-Alpha.com from Safari (Mac OS X)

1. Access the menu.
2. Pick Preferences.
3. Go to the Extensions Tab.
4. Tap the Uninstall button next to the undesirable Search-Alpha.com and get rid of all the other unknown entries as well. If you are unsure whether the extension is reliable or not, simply uncheck the Enable box in order to disable it temporarily.
5. Restart Safari.

Reset your browser

1. Tap the menu icon and choose Reset Safari.
2. Pick the options which you want to reset (often all of them are preselected) and press Reset.
3. If you cannot reset the browser, scan your whole PC with an authentic malware removal software.