Do you know what Search.searchwfaa.com is?
Search.searchwfaa.com seems to be a browser hijacker, so you should not be surprised if it modifies your browser preferences. Since the application does it by altering particular files, it might be not that easy to go back to your usual settings. Nonetheless, if you wish to get rid of the browser hijacker, you came to the right place. Our specialists tested the search engine, and afterward, they prepared a removal guide showing how to eliminate the threat manually, so users can delete it too by following these instructions. However, before using the removal guide, we also advise users to read the rest of the article. Learning more about Search.searchwfaa.com may help you stay away from applications alike in the future.
As research shows, the search engine might be a new clone of already existing similar browser hijackers, e.g. Search.ph-cmf.com, Search.ma-cmf.com, Search.fc-cmf.com, and many others. It is possible not only because of almost identical appearance or working manner of the browser hijacker, but also the same methods it might be distributed with. According to our researchers, Search.searchwfaa.com is most like spread with bundled malicious installers.
Users may download such setup files from unreliable file-sharing web pages, e.g. torrent sites. Thus, it is essential to avoid such websites if you do not want to receive unreliable or even malicious software. Another thing we would advise users to do is to be more attentive once they launch the setup file, there might be suggestions of applications users do not need, so it is important not to miss the chance to deselect unwanted programs. Still, if you find it difficult to recognize potential threats to the system, it might be a good idea to protect the computer with a legitimate antimalware tool. It could identify suspicious programs or files for you and warn you about possible risks.
Search.searchwfaa.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Furthermore, if the user allows Search.searchwfaa.com to enter the system, the hijacker should modify particular data belonging to the user’s default browser. At the moment, the application can hijack Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Based on the browser you use, it could replace your homepage, search engine, or new tab page. These changes could be made by altering specific data on the computer. For instance, if the user has Mozilla Firefox, the threat should find a file called prefs.js and modify specific code line, e.g. user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://google.com”). You can learn more about the application’s altered data from the instructions placed below as they list such files for different browsers.
What’s more, if you begin using Search.searchwfaa.com you might notice suspicious advertising content among the search results. For example, it could be third-party banners, pop-ups, sponsored links, and so on. It is not advisable to interact with such content as it may result in redirection to web pages of the software’s third party partners. Unfortunately, such sites might suggest users download more similar threats, such as adware, potentially unwanted programs, and other. Some of the sites could be harmful too as they may contain infections like viruses, worms, Trojans, etc. We cannot be one hundred percent user something like this could happen to you, but these risks do exist, and you should be aware of them.
If you decide to erase Search.searchwfaa.com from the browser manually, you should take a look at the instructions available below since the process might be not so easy. Luckily, if the removal guide appears to be too difficult you still have one more option. Under such circumstances, we would advise users to acquire a reliable antimalware tool. With such an application you could perform a full system scan and erase not only the hijacker but also other threats that could be hiding on the system.
Delete Search.searchwfaa.com
Internet Explorer
- Press Windows Key+R, insert Regedit and click Enter.
- Look for the following directory: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Select a value name called Start Page, right-click it and pick Modify.
- Replace http://Search.searchwfaa.com with a reliable website and press OK.
- Locate this specific directory: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}
- Look for data called:
FaviconURL
FaviconURLFallback
TopResultURL
URL - Right-click each file separately, select Modify, then replace given value data with a reliable website and click OK.
Mozilla Firefox
- Press Win+E and search for this location: C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[Unique Mozilla user ID]
- Locate a file called Prefs.js, then open it with Notepad.
- Find this specific code line: user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://Search.searchwfaa.com”).
- Insert a reliable website instead of http://Search.searchwfaa.com, then save the document and close it.
Google Chrome
- Press Win+E and navigate to this directory: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
- Locate files called Preferences, Secure Preferences, and Web Data.
- Right-click them one by one and choose Delete.
In non-techie terms:
Search.searchwfaa.com might be a wrong choice for those who would like to keep away from suspicious or potentially harmful applications. The search engine was recognized as a browser hijacker, and that means it can alter browser settings, although the worst part is the suspicious advertising content, which could show up while browsing the Internet. Some of these ads might originate from malicious websites, and if you do not want to visit such sites accidentally, we encourage you to get rid of the hijacker. If you see the removal guide placed above you can follow it and erase the threat manually.