Do you know what Searchoko.com is?
If you have Searchoko.com on your PC, then be warned that is far from a reliable search engine. Our cyber security experts have classified it as a browser hijacker because they have found that it is distributed in a dishonest way. You should consider removing it because of this, but we also want to point out that if you keep it as your browser’s homepage, then it will subject you to unknown and potentially dangerous promotional links that are featured in the search results. Apart from that, this hijacker will also gather information about you and use it to personalize the promoted links to compelling you to click them and make more money. Indeed, this hijacker is all about generating adverting revenue, so do not count on it to provide you with a reliable service.
Searchoko.com has no information about its origins, so we do not know anything about its developers and owners and where they come from. However, since we have tested Searchisweb.com and Searchgle.com, which are clones of this new hijacker, we have no doubt that it comes from a developer that is in the business of making browser hijackers to hijack web browsers and make money for them.
Like the browser hijackers that came before it, Searchoko.com does not have an accompanying browser extension. Therefore, the only way it can be disseminated is by bundling it with malicious installers. As far as we know, the installers, this hijacker comes with install freeware and can have additional applications that you can install optionally. However, you cannot deselect the installation of this hijacker because the installers are configured to inject it into your browser without your knowledge or consent. Searchoko.com’s installers can be featured on freeware hosting websites or sites that host one application as well.
Searchoko.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
If you run the installer featuring this hijacker, it will interact with your web browser, be it Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer and set Searchoko.com as its homepage address. It can also change Google Chrome’s new tab page, but that is not always that case. Once on your browser, it will pose as a legitimate search engine. It even looks similar to Google in the sense that it uses its white background and colored logo theme. However, the logo says “Search” — not "Google." Still, it is plain to see that the developers count on users not to notice the change and use this hijacker as they would Google.com. Another important detail is the fact that this hijacker redirects the entered search queries to Google.com or rather it uses Google Custom search to produce the search results. However, the customized results can feature additional promotional links that can redirect to shady websites that may even get you PC infected with dangerous malware.
Apart from showing you questionable search results with promotional links, this browser hijacker will also collect anonymous information about you. Truth be told, any search engine, whether it is legitimate or not, can get this information and use it to improve their services or, as in this particular case, personalize the ads. So our malware researchers have found that Searchoko.com is designed to gather information that includes but is not limited to your browsing history, entered search queries, clicked links, IP address, and so on. You might not want this hijacker to get hold of this information because its owners will use it to personalize the advertising campaign to make more money.
In conclusion, Searchoko.com is nothing more than a browser hijacker that masquerades as Google.com. Even though it uses Google Custom Search that does not mean that its search results are safe. Our security experts are of the opinion that some of the search results may feature links to infected websites that can get your computer infected also. So do not hesitate and remove this hijacker using the guide below.
How to get rid of this browser hijacker
Google Chrome
- Press Windows+E keys.
- Enter C:\Users\{User name}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default in the address line and hit Enter.
- Find Preferences, Secure Preferences and Web Data files.
- Right-click each of them and click Delete.
- Empty the Recycle Bin.
Mozilla Firefox
- Press Windows+E keys.
- Type C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles in the address box and hit Enter.
- Enter the {Unique ID} folder.
- Find prefs.js and open it with Notepad.
- Find and replace http://searchoko.com in the user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", " http://searchoko.com"); string.
- Save and Close.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Press Windows+R keys.
- Type regedit in the dialog box and hit Enter.
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
- Find the Start Page registry string.
- Right-click it and click Modify.
- In the Value data line, erase http://searchoko.com and enter a new homepage address.
- Click OK.
In non-techie terms:
Our cyber security experts have determined that Searchoko.com is a highly malicious search engine and was classified as a browser hijacker due to its distribution method. It is set to hijack your browser’s homepage address and make you use it for searching the web. It search results can contain links to unreliable websites. Therefore, you should not trust it and use our guide do delete it from your browser.