Search Protection is the browser hijacker that changes homepage and default search engine settings on the web browser
Search Protection virus is a potentially unwanted program that should improve your time online and online searches. This Spigot Inc. product belongs to applications that often get bundled, and it protects those programs, so third-party applications are not changing particular settings on the web browser that browser-based threat focuses on. Since the online traffic is important and the list of sites the person visits, the main aim of the intruder is to redirect every session to affiliated and sponsored material online that can make a profit from views and visits.[1] This is why once the PUP gets on the system, it starts rerouting you to commercial sites with the help of pop-up ads banners and links injected on the list of every online search results. Unfortunately, default settings get changed, and your search attempts automatically go to this engine instead of your default or preferred one. The browser hijacker can affect various processes on your device until all the leftover files get removed, and settings reversed back to default.
| Name | Search Protection |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Symptoms | The program interferes with online searches and other processes involving browsing online. It focuses on redirecting the user to affiliated pages and commercial content because such websites can generate revenue for the publisher. Browser hijacker changes various settings and preferences on web browsers so it can control where the user is redirected |
| Distribution | Freeware installations, in most cases, include cush programs as additional content which gets installed automatically by skipping through important steps. Also, people often download these intruders from misleading advertisements and gets disappointed |
| Danger | Any potentially unwanted program that is related to advertisers can be considered dangerous due to the ad-tracking function that is included on the commercial sites that show up on the screen due to the hijacking. This behavior can potentially lead to privacy issues because users’ information gets tracked and collected or even misused in malvertising campaigns[2] |
| Elimination | Search Protection removal requires anti-malware tools no matter if you installed the tool yourself or got the PUP out of nowhere. These programs can clean all related files and applications, so the machine is clear from intruders |
| Repair | Potentially unwanted programs alter browser settings and install files, applications on the system to affect the performance and persistence of the intruder. Get a tool like Reimage Reimage Cleaner to fix issues with the system and repair registry or startup entries damaged by the hijack |
Spigot Search Protection is related to fake search engines and can reroute every search through any of them, so when you notice any suspicious pages, redirects in addition to intrusive advertisements, you should pay close attention to programs that you already have installed on the machine or applications that appear out of nowhere. It is the most common way to get such PUPs with other freeware.
You should remove Search Protection as soon as you notice any suspicious symptoms, especially when the following message starts appearing on the screen:
Search Settings Change Notification
Search Protection has blocked an attempt by another program to change your default search settings.
This Search Protection pop-up states about the program that got blocked because it tried to interfere with the Spigot product. That may happen a lot, and such behavior either damages your computer, programs, or diminishes the general performance of the device. This is why it gets extremely annoying and difficult to get rid of the shady browser hijacker – all the setting changes interfere with normal functions.
Since Search Protection is related to other Spigot or Conduit products, even anti-malware engines detect this fake search engine as possibly malicious or at least suspicious, so you need to take that into consideration. It is possible that you installed the tool yourself when the misleading ad redirected you to the promotional content. You can still uninstall it, and the sooner you delete this PUP, the better. 
Search Protection is the potentially unwanted program that can be related to other similar threats, so it gets detected by AV tools often. Search Protection, also known as Search Protect, is a program that was created and developed by a well-known company Spigot. It is already known for such questionable programs as Spigot Toolbar, Conduit virus, Search Protect, etc. If this program enters the computer, it drops its own registry entry and starts its work as soon as the victim reboots the computer.
In addition, it may affect all of your web browsers and then start interrupting each of your search sessions. If you noticed Search Protection redirects, suspicious pop-up ads, and even slowdowns every time after you open your Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox browser, you should be careful.
Additional Search Protection hijack symptoms may be:
- suspicious processes running in Task Manager;
- other products installed on the machine or the web browser without your permission;
- random pop-ups promote programs or updates of the OS.
The most dangerous thing that could happen is that you may be redirected to a dangerous site that may be filled with suspicious content or even malware.[3] Such questionable programs have also been actively used for displaying various pop-up ads and similar activities that can hardly be ignored. Please, check your computer with reputable anti-spyware if you have the slightest thought that the Search Protection virus is hiding on your computer!
For that, we highly recommend using professional software and getting that from official sources. This Search Protection removal method will help you to make sure that all suspicious files and folders are gone, and you will never see annoying ads during your browsing. Also, remember about the Windows registry and other places that the hijacker enters behind your back. Get a program like a system optimizer or a cleaner tool Reimage Reimage Cleaner and repair that damage. 
Search Protection is the browser hijacker that is promoted online via deceptive sources and misleads people enough, so they install the tool themselves.
Deceptive techniques used to spread potentially unwanted programs
Potentially unwanted programs get spread around with a help of freeware and shareware providers. The most popular method that is used for spreading this hijacker is closely related to freeware and shareware installations, which is usually filled with optional components.
If you like to choose Quick, Basic, or Recommended installation methods when downloading free programs to your computer, you can easily fall for downloading questionable browser add-ons, extensions, plugins, toolbars, etc. That’s why you should always avoid these installation options.
If you want to protect yourself from any computer virus, make sure you choose Custom or Advanced installation when downloading such programs as download managers, PDF creators, and similar applications. In addition, you should always avoid clicking the Next button all the time because you may easily leave the checkmark that allows all the setting changes
Ways to get rid of Search Protection virus
Search Protection removal is the process that has a few stages because since this is a PUP, it can add other programs on the machine or install browser-based applications, change settings of the web browsing tools, and the system itself. You can get rid of the browser hijacker or the potentially unwanted program manually, but any trace of the intruder can still fill the screen with intrusive advertisements.
This is why we recommend terminating the Search Protection virus with automatic tools designed to fight threats and malware. Even though this is an unwanted program, not a virus anti-malware tools can clean the machine fully and make sure that all suspicious programs get deleted off of the device.
In order to remove Search Protection or other browser hijackers from your computer manually, use the guide which is given below. There are guides for each browser that shows the resetting to default instructions. Getting back to normal settings improves performance and time online significantly.
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner . SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
