Search.search1000tr.com Removal Guide

Do you know what Search.search1000tr.com is?

Search.search1000tr.com is a malicious search engine that our security specialists have classified as a browser hijacker. It is a browser hijacker because its creators distribute it using deceptive distribution methods. It is set to replace your browser’s homepage address and compel you to use it as a regular search engine. While you can actually use it as such, be warned that its search results are apt to feature promotional links that come from unknown and, thus, unreliable sources. Indeed, this allegedly legitimate search engine can jeopardize your computer’s security. Therefore, you ought to remove it from your PC as soon as the opportunity arises.

Let us begin our analysis with where this hijacker comes from. Researchers say that Search.search1000tr.com is similar to Search.searchlttrn.com, Search.yourpackagesnow.com, and Search.yourmapscenter.com. All of these hijackers were created by Polarity Technologies, a company that focuses on releasing fake search engines such as these in mass in order to generate ad revenue.

Like the hijackers that come before it, Search.search1000tr.com is distributed via malicious bundled software installers. The bundled installers may not disclose that they feature additional content and install this hijacker on your browser without your knowledge or consent. The main trait of a browser hijacker, in general, is that it is injected into a web browser secretly. While we do not know the exact websites that feature software bundles that contain this hijacker, you should be cautious of low-grade sites that host free software. Now that you know how to potentially avoid getting this hijacker let us take a look at how this particular hijacker works.

Our malware analysts say that the bundled software installers interact with the web browsers during installation and inject Search.search1000tr.com into it secretly. Researchers say that this hijacker can replace your browser’s homepage address if you use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Once it is set as the homepage address, you may be inclined to use it for searching the web. This hijacker redirects all entered search queries to a modified Yahoo search engine that can feature additional promotional links supplied by Search.search1000tr.com. These links generate ad revenue when clicked so this hijacker’s developers have an interest in making the ads as appealing and relevant as possible.Search.search1000tr.com Removal GuideSearch.search1000tr.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

Therefore, this hijacker can collect certain personal and non-personal information about you in order to provide you with region-specific, customized promotional links and ads. This hijacker’s developers can obtain personal information such as your name and email address as a result of contacting them. Personally, identifiable information is collected on a voluntary basis while non-personally identifiable information such as your IP address, entered search queries, Internet Service Provider, browser type, operating system type, search history, and so on is collected automatically using browser cookies, web beacons, pixels, and so on. Profit is the name of the game, so do not expect this fake search engine to deliver you a reliable and safe search experience.

The reality is that Search.search1000tr.com is just one of many browser hijackers by Polarity Technologies. Its only purpose is to replace your browser’s homepage address and then show ad-supported search results that feature ads and promotional links that can be unreliable and even dangerous. Therefore, we invite you to remove this hijacker using the guide included below this article.

How to remove this hijacker manually

Microsoft Internet Explorer

  1. Hold down Win+R.
  2. Enter regedit in the box and click OK.
  3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
  4. Find Start Page on the right side of the window and double-click it.
  5. Change the Value Data from http://search.search1000tr.com to your desired homepage address.

Google Chrome

  1. Hold down Win+E.
  2. Enter C:\Users\{UserName}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default in the address box.
  3. Hit Enter.
  4. Delete Preferences, Secure Preferences and Web Data files.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Hold down Win+E.
  2. Enter C:\Users\{UserName}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Unique Mozilla user ID} in the address box.
  3. Hit Enter.
  4. Find prefs.js and open it with Notepad.
  5. Replace http://search.search1000tr.com in the user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://search.search1000tr.com"); with your preferred address.
  6. Close and Save changes.

In non-techie terms:

Search.search1000tr.com is not a legitimate search engine as it is distributed in a malicious manner and set to show ads and promotional links in its search results. In short, this hijacker’s ads can jeopardize your computer’s security so, to keep your PC out of harm’s way, we recommend that you remove this hijacker from your PC as soon as possible.