Do you know what Searchboro.com is?
Searchboro.com might look similar to Google, but it is a custom search engine that could show you annoying third-party ads. What is even worse is that some of the ads might redirect you to malicious web pages. Naturally, if the site has Trojans, viruses, or other malware, you might infect your system. It is hard to image that any user would risk his computer’s safety for such a doubtful search engine as Searchboro.com. Our researchers tested it in our internal lab and based on its working manner the application was categorized as a browser hijacker. We would advise our readers to erase the software rather sooner than later. Thus, we will place removal guide below the main text, although we encourage you to read the whole article and learn more about browser hijackers.
As your browser loads the search engine, you should instantly notice that something is off. First of all, while the URL address states that it is Searchboro.com, the tab title might say Google Search. In fact, it is custom Google search, so it is not the same as the original google.com. Secondly, you cannot find any links to the software’s Privacy Policy or End User License Agreement documents. The site does not even provide the “About” section that would tell us at least the basic information about this application.
Your primary concern should be the missing Privacy Policy document. The statements within it can explain to the user what kind of information the software might gather or share with other parties and how for what purposes it could be collected. Therefore, without the Privacy Policy, you cannot be certain if the application will not gather or share your personal information with its third-party partners.
Searchboro.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
At the time we tested the browser hijacker, we noticed that it might show commercial advertisements. Such ads could appear below the search bar, and they may redirect you to other web pages. It is most likely that the software’s creators do not review the content, which is promoted on the ads. Thus, there is a chance that such ads could redirect you to harmful websites. For instance, some of them could promote Trojans, ransomware, or other malicious programs.
Furthermore, we should warn users that the browser hijacker could be distributed with bundled installers. Probably, such installers should be spread via unreliable file-sharing web pages. Needless to say that if you want to avoid browser hijackers or other similar threats in the future, you should keep away from suspicious web pages. Before downloading any applications, users should pick a reliable source, e.g. official publisher’s web page. Of course, you have to make sure that the publisher is reputable first.
All things considered, it would be safer to simply use google.com than search with Searchboro.com. We doubt that you want to see annoying ads or risk your systems safety with this browser hijacker. If that is the case, you should delete the application without any hesitation. The good news is that you may get rid of the browser hijacker by just resetting the affected browser. Since the software could hijack the Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome browsers, we will provide separate instructions for each of it. Therefore, if you want to eliminate Searchboro.com manually, slide below this text and follow the provided removal guide. Another way to delete the browser hijacker is to download a reliable antimalware tool. It would help you get rid of the application and other possible threats on the computer as well.
Erase Searchboro.com
Internet Explorer
- Press Alt+X, select Internet Options and choose the Advanced tab.
- Select Reset, mark Delete personal settings, then click Reset once more and press Close.
Mozilla Firefox
- Press the Help icon and select Troubleshooting information.
- Click Refresh Firefox.
- Press Refresh Firefox once more and select Finish.
Google Chrome
- Press Alt+F and select Settings.
- Slide down and select Show advanced settings.
- Scroll down again, press Reset Settings, and click Reset.
In non-techie terms:
The search engine is a browser hijacker, so it could modify your homepage, default search engine, or new tab page. It might use Google to gather the most of the results, but it is still not the same as to use the original website. Moreover, Searchboro.com could display third-party advertising that might lead you to malicious web pages. Also, the application cannot be trusted as it does not have either the Privacy policy or End User License Agreement documents. If you do not want to keep such software on the system, you can delete with the instructions available above or with a trustworthy antimalware tool.