How to remove Search Optimization Extension

What is Search Optimization?

Search Optimization is a deceptive application claiming to improve search queries. Once installed, it hijacks your browser and alters hompepage and search engine without your agreement. Finder shows mainly sponsored search results so you shouldn’t rely on it. Moreover, Search Optimization is a cause of sudden redirects and bothersome pop-ups. User may be redirected to questionable resources containing harmful infections. This guide is dedicated to get rid you of Search Optimization browser hijacker and remove its useless search engine from your browsers.

Search Optimization is able to gather user’s personal information such as frequently visited pages, search queries, clicked ads, e.t.c. Then, all collected information is sold to third-parties. This might lead to serious privacy issues. Appearance of bothersome pop-up ads on the computer screen, slowness of the system, redirecting links, randomly opening page and even spying on your Internet activity – all of these are the result of the Search Optimization. You should remove Search Optimization before it’s too late.

How to remove Search Optimization from your computer?

The best and easiest way to remove Search Optimization from your computer is to use special anti-malware program that has this threat in its database. The program is fully automated, all you need to do is to download and install it. Once you’ve installed anti-malware application, it will scan your system and remove all the threats.

It scans your computer and detects various threats like Search Optimization, then removes it with all of the related malicious files, folders and registry keys. After deep scanning of your system, it will easily find and delete Search Optimization and also protect your system from similar viruses in further. Use this removal tool to get rid of Search Optimization for FREE.
Download Norton

Norton 360 Antimalware – this program will help you to get rid of Search Optimization. It can find malicious program that is corrupting your system and clean up junk files after removal.
Download MalwareBytes

CleanMyMac – fully removes all instances of Search Optimization from Mac and Safari. After deep scanning of your system, it will easily find and delete Search Optimization. Use this removal tool to get rid of Search Optimization for FREE.
Download CleanMyMac

Combo Cleaner – can find malicious program that is corrupting your system and clean up junk files after removal.
Download CleanMyMac

How to remove Search Optimization manually

Step 1: Remove Search Optimization from Control Panel

In order to get rid of Search Optimization, first thing you need to do is to uninstall malicious program from your computer. When removing Search Optimization, try to find suspicious recently installed programs and delete them too, as it’s pretty common that any malware comes with some other unwanted programs.

Mac OSX:

1. Launch Finder
2. Select Applications in the Finder sidebar.
3. If you see Uninstall Search Optimization or Search Optimization Uninstaller, double-click it and follow instructions
4. Drag unwanted application from the Applications folder to the Trash (located on the right side of the Dock)

Windows XP:

1. Select Start.
2. Control Panel.
3. Then choose Add or Remove Programs.
4. Search for Search Optimization.
5. Click Uninstall.

Windows 7/Windows Vista:

1. Select Start.
2. Then Control Panel.
3. Choose Uninstall a Program.
4. Find Search Optimization and choose Uninstall.

Windows 8/Windows 8.1:

1. Open the Menu.
2. Select Search.
3. After that choose Apps.
4. Next Control Panel.
5. Then as in Windows 7, click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
6. Find Search Optimization, select it and choose Uninstall.

Windows 10:

1. Click on the Start button (or press the Windows key) to open the Start menu, then select Settings at the top.
2. Choose App & features on the left menu.
3. On the right side, find Search Optimization and select it, then click on the Uninstall button.
4. Click on Uninstall to confirm.

Note: If you can’t find required program, sort programs by date in Control panel and search for suspicious recently installed programs.

Step 2: Remove Search Optimization from browsers

Once you’ve uninstalled the application, remove Search Optimization from your web browser. You need to search for recently-installed suspicious add-ons and extensions.

Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome
2. Push Alt + F.
3. Choose Tools.
4. Select Extensions.
5. Search for Search Optimization.
6. Select the trash can icon to remove it.

Safari:

1. Click Preferences from Safari menu
2. Select Extensions.
3. Find Search Optimization or other extensions that look suspicious.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Push Shift + Ctrl + A.
3. Select Search Optimization.
4. Choose Disable or Remove option.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open IE.
2. Push Alt + T.
3. Choose Manage Add-ons option.
4. Click Toolbars and Extensions.
5. Next select Disable Search Optimization.
6. Choose More information link in the left-bottom corner.
7. Click Remove button.
8. If this button is grayed out – perform alternative steps.

Step 3: Removing malicious link from your browser shortcuts

Sometimes even removing of malicious program from your computer and web browser can’t help. If you are still facing unknown webpage when you open your web browser, then you might have your browser shortcut changed. It’s pretty common trick that performs most of browser hijackers. They change your browser shortcut so that every time you open it you’ll see not your homepage, but some advertisement webpage. But this issue is quite simple to fix. The instruction stated below matches most of the browsers.

1. Right-click on your browser shortcut, choose Properties.
2. If you see a link to some website after .exe in the Target field, read on.
3. Usually you are not able to delete a link from Target field, that’s why you need to click on the Open File Location button in this window.
4. Once you’ve opened file location, select chrome.exe/firefox.exe/iexplore.exe.
5. Right-click on this file and choose Sent to option, then Desktop (create shortcut).
6. New shortcut will have no additional redirection links.
7. Delete old infected shortcut. If you got one in your taskbar, delete it from there too.
8. Now you have new and clear shortcut without redirection to unknown websites.

Step 4: Resetting your browser search and homepage settings

To be sure that there is nothing left behind, we recommend you to reset your browser. It will restore your browser settings to default.

Reset browser settings in Google Chrome:

1. Click the Chrome menu (3 bar button) in the top right corner.
2. Choose Settings.
3. Click Show advanced settings.
4. Go to Reset browser settings section.
5. Click Reset browser settings.
6. In the dialog that appears, click Reset.

Reset browser settings in Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Go to Help.
3. Go to Troubleshooting information.
4. Click Reset Firefox… button.

Reset browser settings in Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on the cogwheel in the right upper corner.
3. Click Internet options.
4. Got to Advanced tab.
5. Click Reset button.
6. Put a tick near Delete personal settings checkbox.
7. Click Reset button.