Search.tapufind.com Removal Guide

Our specialists say Search.tapufind.com is very similar to browser hijackers like Snap.do or Sonic-search.com, so it should fall under the same classification. The application is currently compatible with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Apparently, it can hijack these browsers by modifying particular data belonging to them. As a result, the affected browser should load Search.tapufind.com instead of the user’s usual homepage or new tab page. If such changes irritate you and you wish to go back to your old start page, we encourage you not to waste any time with this browser hijacker and erase it at once. Another reason we recommend removing it is that this search engine could show users modified search results injected with potentially dangerous third-party advertisements, but we will talk about this further in the text.

It appears to be the threat could be downloaded from various untrustworthy file-sharing web pages, e.g., filewin.com, malavida.es, and other. Our specialists say the user would most likely receive this search engine with software bundles. It means you might download it unknowingly with another tool. In which case, Search.tapufind.com would be suggested on the downloaded program’s setup wizard, although to notice it the user may need to pick advanced installation settings. Knowing that installers on file-sharing websites might be bundled with various threats, we always advise not to use such sites. Also, in some situations, users could avoid browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, adware, and other doubtful tools if they would merely choose custom installation settings and deselect such software. For additional protect we recommend keeping a reliable security tool too since it can alert you about potential threats.

Once Search.tapufind.com enters the system it may find particular data belonging to the user’s default browser and then modify it to change user’s homepage or new tab page with itself. For instance, if you are browsing with Mozilla Firefox, the browser hijacker would target a file called prefs.js (located in the %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{unique profile} directory). One of the code lines on this file is responsible for Mozilla Firefox homepage preferences and after the application modifies it, this line should look like this: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "Search.tapufind.com").  The search engine changes data for the other two browsers in a similar way, and you can see how it is altered in the deletion instructions located below this text.

The main problem with Search.tapufind.com is that it might display modified search results. It means the results you receive could include additional advertising content from the third party. We suspect this because the software’s Privacy Policy paper mentions the application can gather user’s information “To improve our Service and recommend content based on your preferences.” The bad news is that according to the threat’s End User License Agreement the browser hijacker’s creators take no responsibility for their product or the third-party content. Therefore, as we said, in the beginning, there is a possibility some if it could be potentially dangerous, e.g., it might redirect to scam websites, sites distributing malware, and so on.

Naturally, we do not recommend taking any risks by leaving such unreliable application installed and encourage you to erase Search.tapufind.com either with the instructions located a bit below this article or a legitimate security tool of your preferences.

Get rid of Search.tapufind.com

Internet Explorer

1. Press Win+R.
2. Type Regedit and click Enter.
3. Identify a value name know as Start page in the given location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
4. Right-click it and choose Modify.
5. Replace the browser hijacker’s link (http://Search.tapufind.com) and press OK.
6. Exit Registry Editor.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Click Win+E.
2. Locate a file titled prefs.js in the listed directory: C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{unique user ID}
3. Open this file as a Notepad document.
4. Find a line with the threat’s link: user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://Search.tapufind.com”).
5. Replace http://Search.tapufind.com and press Ctrl+S.
6. Exit Notepad.

Google Chrome

1. Press Win+E.
2. Go to: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default and find the mentioned files:
   Preferences
   Secure Preferences
   Web Data
3. Right-click these files separately and select Delete.
4. Leave File Explorer.