Search.cl-cmf.com Removal Guide

Do you know what Search.cl-cmf.com is?

As you may have already suspected Search.cl-cmf.com is not a reliable search tool. During the research, we noticed that the application could hijack user’s browser and display potentially dangerous advertising content. These were the main reasons for our researchers to categorize this search engine as a browser hijacker. Using such software could be a risk, and so we advise you to erase it from the system while using our prepared removal guide, which is located below the article. Before you get rid of the application and replace it with a more trustworthy search tool, you may want to finish reading the text too. It will not only tell you more about Search.cl-cmf.com but also give you a couple of tips how to avoid such browser hijackers.

Search.cl-cmf.com could hijack your browser after installing suspicious add-ons that could be distributed with the help of malicious pop-up ads. If you are suddenly redirected to a website offering to install a browser extension created by some unknown company, you should leave this site or at least search for more information about the suggested add-on before clicking the download button. Also, pop-up ads, sponsored links, and unwanted redirection to unfamiliar web pages could be a sign there is suspicious software on the system, e.g. adware, potentially unwanted programs, other browser hijackers. Thus, it is important to check the system and remove possible threats as soon as possible.

The another way to receive Search.cl-cmf.com is to receive it with a bundled installer. After launching such setup file, you should notice additional software on the setup wizard. Some users overlook it while rushing the process, so it is important to pay more attention and deselect unwanted applications. Otherwise, all the suggested programs could be installed automatically. If you want to keep away from similar browser hijacker or other questionable programs, you should try to avoid unreliable file-sharing web pages. The safest choice is to download the installer from an official software’s website on the condition that the applications creators are well-known and reliable.Search.cl-cmf.com Removal GuideSearch.cl-cmf.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

Unfortunately, as it says on Search.cl-cmf.com website, the search engine is brought to us by Safer Browser. To our researchers the company is known as a creator of browser hijackers, since we have reviewed quite a lot of them in the past, e.g. Search.di-cmf.com, Search.login-help.net, Search.tv-cmf.com, Search.yourpackagesnow.com, and many others. What’s more, like most of its clones, the application seems to be compatible with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. It could enter the system with a browser extension, which could add a couple of bookmarks. As for the search engine, it should instantly replace your homepage.

Our specialists advise not to use Search.cl-cmf.com because the application might display modified results. To be more precise, it might use Yahoo search engine to gather results matching your keyword, but such results could be injected with third-party advertising. Some of the ads could promote similar browser hijackers and other unreliable software. Also, in some cases, you could be redirected to web pages containing malware, such as viruses, Trojans, etc. Plus, these are not the only risks as there could be other depending on the web page you could be redirected to. Therefore, it might be safer to replace your homepage and get rid of the browser hijacker.

As the instructions available below show, you can eliminate the application by deleting specific files or removing modifications made to particular browser data. However, if you are not experienced enough to complete these tasks manually, you could install a reliable antimalware tool to do the job for you. The scanning tool would help you locate potentially dangerous software, and after clicking the deletion button, all detected threats would be erased.

Erase Search.cl-cmf.com

Internet Explorer

  1. Press Windows Key+R (to open the RUN).
  2. Type regedit and click OK (to access Registry Editor).
  3. Look for this specific directory: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
  4. Find a Value Name titled as Start Page and right-click it.
  5. Choose Modify, then replace http://Search.cl-cmf.com with another link, e.g. google.com and click OK.
  6. Navigate to: HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}
  7. Look for listed value names:
    FaviconURL
    FaviconURLFallback
    TopResultURL
    URL
  8. Right-click each of these value names separately, choose modify and replace http://Search.cl-cmf.com/favicon.ico or http://Search.cl-cmf.com links with a search engine you prefer.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Press Windows Key+E (to open the Explorer)
  2. Find the following path: %AppData%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Unique Mozilla user ID}
  3. Look for a file called prefs.js and open it with Notepad.
  4. Locate this code line: user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://Search.cl-cmf.com”) and replace http://Search.cl-cmf.com link with a web page you like.
  5. Press Ctrl+S and close prefs.js file.

Google Chrome

  1. Open the Explorer (Windows Key+E).
  2. Navigate to the given path: %LocalAppData%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
  3. Find these files: Preferences, Secure Preferences, and Web Data.
  4. Right-click each of the given files separately and click Delete.

In non-techie terms:

Search.cl-cmf.com is not the search tool you should depend on of if you expect to receive results without suspicious third-party advertising content. Since such advertisements could lead you to malicious web pages or allow you to download similar threats to the browser hijacker, it might be a good idea to get rid of it before anything bad happens. If you agree, take a look at the instructions available above to remove the threat manually or install our recommended antimalware tool and use it instead.