What is Searchfox.me?

Searchfox.me is categorized as a misleading search engine that sets itself as default homepage, new tab, and other settings on the affected browser. Even though the URL looks like an ordinary search engine, it might show irrelevant results if you start initiating search queries. Besides, you might start receiving intrusive commercial content such as various ads, coupons, banners, and deals during browsing activities. If you have been looking for effective ways to remove Searchfox.me hijacker, we advise you to use an anti-malware program. However, if you are an experienced computer user, you may carry out this task with the help of our step-by-step guidelines.

Brief overview:
Name Searchfox.me
Type of threat Browser hijacker
URL address https://searchfox.me/
Symptoms Browser hijacker changes homepage and search engine of browser so that users are forced to use them. It fills the targeted browser with commercial content in form of pop-ups, banners, in-text links, audio/video ads, etc. Also, hijacker can occasionally cause redirects to third-party websites
Infiltration Freeware programs, illegal software, software cracks, torrents, fake updates
Manual Removal To eliminate threat manually, you should remove all files and applications related to the browser hijacker
Removal Tool To completely get rid of hijacker, We recommend using SpyHunter. This is the only way you can be 100% sure that all components of the threat are removed from the system.

Recommended Anti-malware tools:

The easiest and most modern way of removing hijackers, pop-ups, Trojans, ransomware, or other viruses is to use automatic removal tools. See our Anti-malware tools below for further instructions.

Try SpyHunter for Mac

SpyHunter fully removes all instances of newest viruses from Mac/MacBook and Safari. Besides, it can help to optimize MacOS and free up disk space. Compatible with all versions of MacOS. The free version of SpyHunter for Mac allows you, subject to a 48-hour waiting period, one remediation and removal for results found. The full version of SpyHunter costs $42 (you get 6 months of subscription). By clicking the button, you agree to EULA and Privacy Policy. Downloading will start automatically.

Download SpyHunter for Mac

MacOS versions

Also, you can try to remove Searchfox.me manually.

Alternative solution. Step 1: Remove Searchfox.me from Mac

Searchfox.me may not have the app associated with it in Applications. However, we recommend you to inspect the list of installed applications and remove unknown or suspicious ones. Look for Searchfox.me or Searchfox.me.app.

Mac OSX:

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

Learn more about uninstallation of programs in Mac OSX

Step 2: Remove malicious entries from Profiles (Mac)

  1. Open System Preferences.
  2. Click on Profiles.
  3. Click on unsigned and suspicious profiles on the left panel.
  4. Click the minus button below to delete rogue settings.

mac profiles

Step 3: Get rid of Searchfox.me using Terminal (only for Google Chrome)

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Copy and paste the following entries one by one each time by pressing “ENTER”:

    defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageIsNewTabPage -bool false
    defaults write com.google.Chrome NewTabPageLocation -string “https://www.google.com/”
    defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageLocation -string “https://www.google.com/”
    defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL
    defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderNewTabURL
    defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderName

  3. Relaunch Chrome

Step 4: Delete Searchfox.me from browsers

Safari:

  1. Open Safari
  2. Click Safari menu.
  3. Choose Extensions.
  4. Find Searchfox.me or other suspicious extensions.
  5. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Learn more about removing extensions from Safari.

Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome
  2. Click the Chrome menu (3-dots icon) in the top right corner.
  3. Click Tools.
  4. Choose Extensions.
  5. Find Searchfox.me or other suspicious extensions.
  6. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Learn more about removing extensions from Chrome.

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Firefox.
  2. Push Shift + Ctrl + A.
  3. Choose Searchfox.me or other suspicious extensions.
  4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Learn more about removing extensions from Firefox.

Step 5: Resetting your browser search and homepage settings

Reset browser setting in Safari:

  1. Open Safari.
  2. Click on the Safari menu.
  3. Choose Reset Safari….
  4. Click Reset button.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Safari.

Reset browser setting 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.

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Google Chrome.

Reset browser setting in Mozilla Firefox:

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

Learn more about resetting browser settings in Mozilla Firefox.

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