Do you know what Search Pro is?
If you have installed Search Pro, your browser might have flipped upside down. This extension is likely to take over the New Tab page and the default search provider, which might completely change how you surf the web. Since you are reading this report, we assume that you already have your reasons to delete the suspicious extension from your browser; however, if you are still wondering whether or not this add-on must be eliminated, you should continue reading. In our report, you will find information about the distribution, activity, and removal of Search Pro. We have also added guides that should help you get rid of the PUP (potentially unwanted program) if you choose to do that. Make sure you do not brush off any questions that might come up while reading. We can answer them all in the comments section.
At the time of research, Search Pro could be downloaded for free from the Chrome Web Store (found at
chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/search-pro/jobjcgojjnbejjjeeeodeaonknnkjjed), and this is no surprise. Unfortunately, even trusted app platforms have been known to promote PUPs, which is why you should not automatically trust everything that you find on the Chrome Web Store. Of course, you are likely to be in a better position if you use this installer, instead of some unfamiliar installer that could package the PUP along with other questionable pieces of software. If you have used a third-party installer, or if you do not know where the PUP came from at all, this is the time for you to install a trusted malware scanner and perform a full system scan. If threats are found, you must remove them all.
Search Pro screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Once Search Pro is installed, search.hsearchpro.com should replace the New Tab page and the default search provider. The interface of this search engine is not interesting or unique. In the middle, you have a search dialog box. Above it, a clock and today’s date. Below it, easy-access links to Amazon (amazon.com), myemailcentral.com (Email), nationalweatheragency.org (Weather), totalvideos.tv (Watch Videos), and safervpn.com (McAfee). If you use the search tool, you will find yourself redirected to Yahoo Search. This does not surprise us either because the PUP was created by Eightpoint Technologies Ltd. All PUPs linked to this company – including View Free Recipes, Watch Movies Live, or Easy Gaming App – redirect to third-party search engines. In most cases, the results are modified to showcase sponsored content, which is why we do not recommend interacting with the search tools of these PUPs.
Ultimately, it does not look like Search Pro is very useful, and that is why we recommend removing it from your browsers. The instructions you can find below show how to get rid of the unwanted add-on, how to clear browsing data, as well as how to eliminate notifications, which you might have enabled by accident when you first opened your browsers after installation. If you need help, installing legitimate anti-malware software is a good move. In fact, we encourage it because besides deleting Search Pro automatically, this software can protect you and your system. While you might be most worried about the PUP in this moment, you have to look at the bigger picture, and full-time protection should be part of it.
Remove Search Pro
Mozilla Firefox
- Open the browser and tap Alt+T keys to access the Tools menu.
- Click Add-ons to open the Extensions menu.
- Locate the PUP, click … on its right, and choose Remove.
- Tap Alt+T keys again and click Options.
- Move to the Privacy & Security menu on the left.
- In the History menu, click Clear History.
- Choose a time range, select boxes, and click OK.
- In the Permissions menu, go to Notifications and click Settings.
- Select the PUP’s URL and click Remove Websites.
Google Chrome
- Open the browser and tap Alt+F keys to access the Chrome menu.
- Click More tools and then Extensions.
- Locate the PUP and click the Remove button on its right.
- Tap keys Alt+F again and click Settings.
- In the Privacy and security menu, click Clear browsing data.
- Go to the Advanced menu.
- Choose a time range, select boxes, and click Clear data.
- Back in the Privacy and security menu, click Site settings.
- Open the Notifications menu.
- Click the three-dots icon on the right of the PUP’s URL and click Remove.
In non-techie terms:
Search Pro is not a useful program. In fact, it can make it impossible for you to browse the web safely because it redirects all searches to Yahoo Search, where the results are likely to be modified to show you sponsored links. Our recommendation is that you delete Search Pro from your browsers immediately, and you should be able to do that using the guide above. Our guide shows how to get rid of the PUP from Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers, but if you would like us to add instructions for a different browser, do not hesitate to request that. When you follow our guides, you can also clear browsing data, which we recommend doing to get rid of data-tracking cookies, as well as to eliminate notifications that you might have enabled and, in turn, permitted the PUP to show you push notifications. In the future, select extensions more carefully, and do not forget to secure your system to keep it safe.