Search Sherpa browser hijacker removal instructions

Search Sherpa – What is it?

“Search Sherpa” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to browse some particular info, for example, about sport events, make your web browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any video, and so on.

Nonetheless, the “Search Sherpa” plugin is rather useless because all such features are already embedded to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even professional users are getting caught on such a lure. In specific situations, this hijacker is spread along with free software.

Search Sherpa Search Hijacker

How harmful is Search Sherpa hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Search Sherpa hijacker is also quite harmful for web browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Search-sherpas.com, and also transforms your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the specified sign).

In addition to viewable modifications done by Search Sherpa hijacker, you may notice that many of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unknown sites, filled with web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you attempt to start Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are far more irritating than truly dangerous. The greatest hazard, specifically for people who have a great deal of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in data collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited sites, as well as other activities are simply collected by Search Sherpa hijacker.

How to remove Search Sherpa search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are generally quite very easy to remove. In most cases, they have an independent app that can be seen in the list of installed software. Because of the specific marketing way of Search Sherpa hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and deleted by hand. However, if you got Search Sherpa in the package with a free applications, your computer might be contaminated with much more major malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware programs to deal with the Search Sherpa PUA and all various other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and eliminating different malware, including named hijacker. Nevertheless, major malware, that can be present on your personal computer in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antimalware program by editing the Group Policies. To avoid such circumstances, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all malicious applications on your computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can observe the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious apps, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all malware will be removed to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Search Sherpa hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender