What Is Search Encrypt & How to Remove It

We live in an era where we depend on the internet for daily chores, work, learning — everything. While this connectivity offers huge convenience, it also brings risks: some software changes your browser settings without permission, tracks you, or shows unwanted ads. One such tool is Search Encrypt. In this article, you will learn what Search Encrypt is, why many consider it potentially harmful, and how you can completely remove it from your device and prevent it from returning.

What is Search Encrypt?

Search Encrypt describes itself as a privacy-focused search engine. It claims to encrypt your search queries locally, protect your privacy, and not store your search history.

However, many cybersecurity experts categorize it as a browser hijacker or a potentially unwanted program (PUP) because of how it often installs — sometimes bundled with other software — and changes browser settings like homepage, default search engine, and new tab pages — often without explicit user consent.

Why it’s problematic

When hijacked by Search Encrypt or similar hijackers, users may notice these warning signs:

• Browser homepage or default search engine suddenly changes to searchencrypt.com.
• Frequent pop-ups or redirect ads.
• Unusual slow performance, unexpected new toolbars / extensions.
• Search results redirect to unexpected or suspicious sites.

Because of these impacts — loss of control over your browser, privacy risk, annoying ads and redirects — many users prefer to remove Search Encrypt and restore their original settings.

How to Remove Search Encrypt (Step-by-Step Guide)

Here are reliable methods — manual and with software — to clean your browser and device completely.

1. Remove the extension/add-on

• Chrome: Open chrome://extensions, find Search Encrypt, and click Remove.
• Firefox: Go to Menu → Add-ons → Extensions, locate Search Encrypt, and remove it.
• Safari (Mac): Safari → Preferences → Extensions → uninstall Search Encrypt.

2. Reset browser settings

After removing the extension, reset your browser’s homepage, default search engine, and new-tab settings to default. This clears any leftover configuration hijacked by Search Encrypt.

3. Use trusted anti-malware software

Run a full system scan using reliable anti-malware software (for example Malwarebytes or any reputed antivirus). These tools can detect additional unwanted programs or leftover files that manual removal misses.

4. Clear browser cache, cookies and history

Sometimes hijackers store data invisibly. Clearing cache, cookies, browsing history — and, on some systems, flushing DNS cache — helps ensure all traces are removed.

5. Avoid future infection: safe browsing practices

• Avoid downloading software/bundles from suspicious or unknown sites. Hijackers often sneak in via “freeware + extras.”
• Always use custom install and uncheck optional add-ons.
• Keep OS, browser, and security software updated regularly.
• Avoid clicking suspicious pop-ups or unknown ads.
• Stick to trusted browsers, and consider using privacy-focused search engines and extensions for ad-blocking or tracker-blocking.

Should You Trust Search Encrypt?

While Search Encrypt advertises itself as a privacy tool, its aggressive distribution methods and behavior — hijacking browser settings, redirecting searches, showing pop-ups — lead many security experts to classify it as a browser hijacker / PUP rather than a harmless tool.

If you care about privacy, security, and a clean browsing experience — it’s safer to remove it and rely on more transparent privacy tools or trusted search engines rather than questionable “privacy” extensions that don’t respect user consent.

Conclusion

Search Encrypt might present itself as a privacy-focused search tool. But due to its suspicious distribution and browser-hijacking behavior, it’s safer to treat it as unwanted software. If you find it on your device — follow the steps above to remove it and secure your browser. Once cleaned, you can enjoy a safer, faster, and more private browsing experience.

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