SafeSearch Removal Guide

SafeSearch is a search engine and a toolbar that arrives on your PC via freeware applications. It is very common for computer programs to come bundled together. Sometimes users do not even realize that they install something like SafeSearch on their computers themselves. That is why this browser plugin is often considered to be a browser hijacker. Users are bound to think like that, because if they install a full version of SafeSearch, their home page and default search engine get changes to safesearch.net. Some users consider it close to browser hijacking, but the truth is that you install this browser plugin yourself.

If a user is attentive during the installation process, he will definitely notice when the installation wizard asks whether he or she wants to installation the additional features of the application as well:

Install SafeSearch Toolbar
You can also make SafeSearch default homepage and search engine for Windows Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome browsers

Make SafeSearch my default search engine
Made SafeSearch my homepage

If a user does not un-tick these options presented on the installation wizard, then his/her home page and default search engine do get changed.

SafeSearch browser plugin presents itself as a unique search engine that can filter dangerous websites and other corrupted pages that could pose risk to your system security. The About section on the official website at safesearch.net claims that there are more than one factor according to which the websites are being evaluated - it includes child safety, vendor reliability, opinions, privacy issues and ratings.

Despite the fact that SafeSearch is not a computer infection, some users may find this plugin annoying. Not to mention that it may automatically collect such information as your ISP, your IP address, your web browsing history and so on. SafeSearch uses cookies to collect such data, and although the application itself does not mean any harm, some security issues may arise, if the browser plugin is misused by a third party. Therefore, you are highly advised to remove SafeSearch from your computer, if you want to avoid possible security risks.

How to remove SafeSearch from PC

Windows 8

1. Move mouse cursor to the bottom right of the screen.
2. Click Settings on Charms bar and go to Control Panel.
3. Open 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 click Control Panel.
2. Select Add or remove programs and uninstall SafeSearch.

How to restore browser settings

Internet Explorer

1. Press Alt+X and click Internet options.
2. Change your home page address under General tab. Click OK.
3. Press Alt+X again and click Search Providers on the left.
4. Set a new default search engine and remove SafeSearch.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Firefox button and click Options.
2. Change your home page address under General tab and click OK.
3. Click search engine icon on the left of the Firefox search box (top right corner).
4. Select Manage search engines from drop-down menu.
5. Remove SafeSearch from the list and click OK.
6. Press Ctrl+Shift+A and Add-ons Manager tab will open.
7. Remove SafeSearch from Extensions and restart your browser.

Google Chrome

1. Press Alt+F and click Settings.
2. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and 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. Click Done.

To be absolutely sure that you don't have any potentially unwanted programs on your PC, scan your system with SpyHunter free scanner.