Do you know what Searchwebme.com is?
Searchwebme.com is promoted as a search engine, but it is a browser hijacker in fact and is set to hijack your browser’s homepage. For this reason, alone, you should remove it from your PC, but it has other issues concerning its search algorithm and privacy policy in particular. Therefore, if you have it on your computer, then we invite you to read this full description as it contains the most relevant information available about this malicious search engine.
From the outset, it is important to understand where Searchwebme.com comes from, and our security experts say that it was set up by a company known as ClientConnect Ltd. This company is highly unreliable because, in the past, we analyzed as wrote about its older releases that include the likes of Go.next-search.net, MyOneSearch, and IWinstore Toolbar. It specializes in creating malicious toolbars and browser hijackers, as well as combinations of the two malware types. Speaking of toolbars, researchers say that Searchwebme.com might also come with a browser toolbar, but we do not know how it is called.
It appears that this browser hijacker has a dedicated distribution website at Searchwebme.ourtoolbar{.}com, but is considered malicious and some browsers such as Firefox may block access to it due to security concerns. Nevertheless, if you are not using Internet Explorer, then there would not be any reason to visit this site because the toolbar is said to work with this particular browser only, and unsurprisingly, Internet Explorer allows you to get on the said website, but it appears that the download link of the extension is broken so you cannot get it from that site. However, our security experts have received information stating that this hijacker and its accompanying extension are also disseminated via bundled installers found that various shady freeware hosting websites. What makes Searchwebme.com a browser hijacker, however, is the fact that the malicious installer installs the extension without your consent and it, in turn, changes the homepage address, again without your authorization.
Searchwebme.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Our browser’s homepage address is set to be replaced with Searchwebme.com which looks like an ordinary search engine that does not feature any bookmarks, links or advertisements. However, if you enter a search query in its search box and click Search, then the query will be redirected to another fake search engine called Myallsearch.com which is a copy of Mywebsearch.com.au. Myallsearch.com uses Google Custom Search which means that its search results can be altered to accommodate additional links. Therefore, our researchers say that ClientConnect Ltd can alter the search results to include additional promotional links that can be misleading or downright malicious. In the worst case scenario, your computer can become infected with malicious software such as ransomware, rogue anti-spyware programs, Trojans, and so on. Therefore, we are of the opinion that you should not trust this hijacker’s search results.
This hijacker’s privacy policy that makes reference to MyAllSearch instead of Searchwebme says that “MyAllSearch is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and does not endorse and is not responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources.” As you can see, this hijacker’s developers do not want to take responsibility that arises from presenting you with potentially malicious content, provided that it comes from its advertising partners.
While we are on the subject of the privacy policy, we would like to inform you that this hijacker is set to collect some information about you that you might not want to reveal once you find out what it is. The policy states that it collects information such as your IP address “to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer our site” according to this policy. However, our researchers are convinced that this hijacker will also collect information such as your entered search queries, browsing history, preferences and interests and use it to present more relevant ads to generate as much adverting revenue as possible.
Therefore, we conclude that this fake search engine was created with the intention of generating advertising revenue, and it will not improve your browsing experience in any shape or form. In fact, it can do quite the opposite because its search results can feature links to shady websites of unverified legitimacy. Therefore, we recommend that you remove Searchwebme.com from your browser as soon as you can.
Uninstall the malicious browser add-on via Control Panel
Windows 10, 8.1, and 8
- Right-click the Start menu.
- Go to Programs and Features.
- Find the application and Uninstall it.
Windows 7 and Vista
- Click Start.
- Select Control Panel.
- Click Uninstall a program.
- Find the software and right-click it.
- Click Uninstall.
Windows XP
- Open the Start menu and click Control Panel.
- Go to Add or Remove Programs.
- Find the program and click Remove.
Set a new homepage address for Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Hold down Alt+T keys and go to Internet Options.
- Enter a new homepage address.
- Click OK.
In non-techie terms:
Searchwebme.com is browser hijacker that masquerades as a legitimate search engine to trick you into using it for performing your daily Internet searches. Its malicious distribution method involves installing it on your browser secretly and, in turn, changing its homepage address to force you to use it and see promotional links in the search results which can be unreliable. Therefore, it is suggested that you delete it as soon as the opportunity arises.