How to Remove Search-fetch.com

What is Search-fetch.com?

Search-fetch.com is a browser hijacker malware that infects the user’s primary web browser and causes it to do irregular actions. It will alter the homepage tab and search engine selections, as well as the web program settings.

You’ve likely installed a malicious adware application that caused the said malware threat to get installed in your browser. Because they are paid by their partners to do so, several types of malware try to install unwanted programs on your computer.

Cybercriminals have created this malware infection to profit by providing irritating advertisements, redirections, and apps to people who have downloaded the adware program. Furthermore, because it can modify browser settings and monitor a user’s web movements without their consent, it can be a concern to the computer.

Malware authors can infect a user’s computer in a variety of ways. Adware, often known as advertisement-supported software, can be downloaded and installed on a computer via torrent downloads and software bundles.

Although the application may appear to be a valid-looking application that the user needs to improve their surfing experience, the software may instead present a message that the computer is compromised and that acquiring their software will help remove the infection.

What are the signs that I’m infected?

It’s a clear sign that your system is infected with this form of malware if Search-fetch.com appears on the internet browser program when it’s launched. Because adware programs are likely to change browser settings and install a different search engine in the user’s browser.

Similar to that, unwanted extensions are frequently loaded, thus looking at new and unfamiliar plugins might help you figure out if you’re infected with adware.

Finally, the web program will almost certainly be slower than before, and it will likely crash more frequently. If you notice any of those signs, your computer is most certainly infected with adware.

You can remove the undesirable program and stop the malware from continuing to harm the computer by following the procedures below.

How did I get infected?

Viruses of all varieties typically spread in the same way, the same applies to Search-fetch.com as to how it infiltrated the computer system. These viruses can access a computer system in several methods, but the following are the most typical ones:

Spam Email Attachments: It is the most common and widely used strategy. It deceives the intended recipient into downloading malicious software that is attached to the attackers’ email. The files are either bundled together or disguised as documents, movies, and voicemails in the attachments.

Drive-by Download: It occurs when a person visits an infected website that has been injected with a malicious script that causes a random piece of software to be downloaded. Hackers can then use these flaws to obtain unauthorized access to targets’ systems once they’ve been opened. It is commonly associated with the installation of adware or potentially unwanted programs.

Torrent files: It is used by millions of pirates all over the world to obtain pirated movies and records, as well as cracked versions of premium software. Since then, cyber thieves have used the torrent community to propagate their dangerous software.

Torrents, particularly.exe files, are almost certainly infected. So, if you’re downloading from a torrent site, it’s worth checking the file extension because it’s usual to find that a pirated movie or music is contaminated with a virus if it’s in the.exe format.

How to remove Search-fetch.com

This procedure will assist you in removing Search-fetch.com as well as any dangers related to the adware infection. You can rest assured that the information provided below has been tried and tested.

Step 1: Find and Remove Unwanted Program

Since this type of computer threat takes the appearance of an application, it’s essential to try and locate the source of the program and remove it from the system as soon as possible to avoid further harm.

It is worth noting that locating the program can be tricky because many malicious programs are disguised as legitimate programs or system files. In that case, using an antivirus scanner will be of help to detect the threat from the computer and eliminate it. An antivirus guide may be found below for quick malware removal, but first here are the methods to remove the app manually.

Method 1: Remove the Program via Control Panel

1. Search Control Panel in the Windows search bar then click it.
2. The Control Panel should open, from there click Programs then Programs and Features.
3. A list of installed software will show on the screen after a moment.
4. Scroll down and find Search-fetch.com or any suspicious programs you did not download then right-click the application and select Uninstall

Method 2: Remove the Extension from Browser

Sometimes the source of the problem can be found inside a browser as a web plugin. Search-fetch.com is most likely disguised within the web browser itself if you don’t notice any strange files or applications on your computer.

Click the three-dot buttons in the right-hand corner of the Chrome Browser. Find and click More Tools from the drop menu, then select Extensions.

A new tab will appear with all your installed extensions. Find which extension is suspicious and delete it. To deactivate the extension, toggle the blue switch to disable the program. Then click the remove button to fully uninstall it from Google Chrome.

If the switch is disabled: You have to remove the extension from within the extensions folder manually. Go to the Google Chrome extensions folder by using the following directory:

C:\Users\YOUR NAME\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions

You will see a list of folders with different hashes, to find what you need to delete, tick the Developer mode in the Google Chrome extensions tab to show the id of downloaded plugins.

Find the one matching the id of the extension you wish to remove to the one in the folder then delete it. Restart Google Chrome and the extension should be gone.

Click the Menu button in the right corner of Firefox once it’s open. Then go to Add-ons and Themes then select Extensions.

Toggle the blue switch to disable the suspicious extension after finding it. Click Remove from the three dots icon on the right side of the extension you want to remove.

Open the Microsoft Edge application then click on the three dots on the upper right. A drop-down menu will show then click Extensions.

A new tab will open and show all installed extensions on the browser. Find the suspicious extension that you might have not installed.

Slide the blue switch to disable the use of the extension. Click on the remove button just below the extension.

Open the Safari browser then click on Safari on the Menu Bar on top. Choose Preferences from the drop menu. A window should appear, then click the Extensions tab.

Search for suspicious extensions you did not install. Click the unwanted extension then select the remove button.

Method 3: Utilizing Revo Uninstaller

For computer users who are not sure of what to do. You may resort to using Revo Uninstaller since it is much more effective and easy to use. Revo Uninstaller is a handy tool for Windows users.

This uninstaller not only removes programs from the computer but also deletes their changes from the Windows Registry, Host File, etc.

1. Using your browser, head over to their official website (click here) and download the latest software that is compatible with your system.
2. Open the downloaded file and it should guide you through the setup.
3. Follow the installation procedure and wait until the installation of the software is complete.
4. After the installation is finished, tick the box that says Launch Revo Uninstaller then click Finish.
5. Once the software has launched, find the unwanted application that is needed to be removed, double click the program to uninstall.
6. Click on the Continue button and follow the procedure to start uninstalling the program.
7. Once it is uninstalled, a window will pop up. Select the Advanced option for the scanning mode then click Scan to find remnants of Search-fetch.com.
8. A window will pop up and show all of the leftovers and changes made by the program uninstalled a while ago.
9. Click the Select All button and hit Delete to remove the leftovers found on the Windows Registry.
10. Some leftover files may be found, click Select All then Delete them as well.
11. Once the window closes, you have successfully removed the adware threat from your system.

Step 2: Reset the Browser to Default Settings

Once Search-fetch.com has been removed from the system, we need to make sure that the changes it made from the browser should be turned back to normal. Rather than changing the default homepage and permissions manually, it is much easier to reset the browser to its default settings.

1. Open Google Chrome and click the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen to access the Google Chrome menu.
2. Click the Settings button, then click the Advanced menu on the left side of the screen from the settings screen.
3. On the drop-down menu, select Reset and Clean up
4. Click on the Restore settings to their original defaults.
5. Then a small window will appear and click the Reset Settings.

1. Launch the Mozilla Firefox browser then open the menu by clicking on the three horizontal lines located in the upper right corner.
2. Navigate down and click Help then select More Troubleshooting Information from the options given.
3. Select the Refresh Firefox button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox on the confirmation window that appeared.

1. Run Microsoft Edge on the computer and click the three dots icon in the upper right corner.
2. Click on the Settings button from the drop-down menu.
3. Find and click the Reset Settings from the left sidebar.
4. Then click on the option Restore settings to their default values.
5. A warning window will appear that you are about to reset the browser, click Reset and the browser should return to its default settings.

Step 3: Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

As stated earlier, if you have not found the adware threat in the system, you may utilize a powerful antivirus software. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is one of the most effective anti-malware programs available. They have some of the greatest threat detection software, ensuring that any unwanted threats on your computer are eliminated. If neither of those methods works, you can utilize this antivirus program to complete the task. Furthermore, even if Search-fetch.com is completely removed from the computer, we recommend that you run a complete scan just in case.

Download Malwarebytes

1. Visit the antivirus website or click the button above to download the most up-to-date version of the software that best suits your requirements.
2. Follow the software installation instructions until they are completed.
3. Run a complete malware scan on the machine and wait for it to finish.
4. All the detected threats found on the computer will be shown on the screen and clicking the “quarantine” button to remove them.

Search-fetch.com, as well as any other harmful threats discovered on the computer, should be eliminated once the process is complete.  We also recommend using Malwarebytes Real-Time Protection, which will secure your machine and detect any threats as soon as they appear.