Some of the free software programs that you install on your computer include third party advertisement offers that you may inadvertently install if you are not careful. When it comes to searchnu.com, that's exactly how the service gets installed on computers in first place.
It is not a virus or malicious in nature, but can nevertheless be frustrating to users who experience the homepage and search changes in their web browser or the toolbar that may get installed as well.
The free download manager Ilivid is one of the free programs that includes the offer to install Searchnu on the computer.
Take a look at one of the installation screens of the program to see how Searchnu is integrated into the installer. Typical installation is selected by default, and since it is quite common for users to simply click next next next in installers to quickly install the program, adware is often overlooked in the process.
If you do not switch to custom installation and uncheck the following two options there before you click on accept and install, you will end up with Searchnu on your computer:
The toolbar will get installed into Internet Explorer and Firefox, the modifications to the homepage and default search engine are being made to Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome.
Please note that Ilivid is just one program of many that includes the offer to make those changes to your computer. Other names that you may encounter are SearchQu Tolbar, DataMngr, Bando Media, Bandoo.
There are two steps in the removal process.
The first thing that you need to do is close all your open web browser windows, at least those affected by the program, before you uninstall the software from Windows' Control Panel.
The toolbar may have been removed, but you still see the Searchnu.com redirect in your browser, may still use a different search engine than the default, and may still even see the toolbar listed there as well.
Internet Explorer
If you are using Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser do the following to restore your default settings:
Mozilla Firefox
If you are using the Mozilla Firefox web browser do the following to remove the searchnu redirect in the browser.
Google Chrome does not support toolbars, it is therefore only necessary to make changes to the homepage and search provider in the browser.
The following video demonstrates how to remove Searchnu.com/406 from all three affected browsers.
I suggest you download and run a a free antivirus scanner such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to make sure your system is clean. Note that the searchnu offering is not considered malware, it is adware.
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Ghacks is a technology news blog that was founded in 2005 by Martin Brinkmann. It has since then become one of the most popular tech news sites on the Internet with five authors and regular contributions from freelance writers.
I hate seeing searchnu at my browser (Google Chrome). I never really knew how it went there in the first place. Thanks to your site I can now browse with ease.
Thank you for this detailed instruction, I did install Ilivid and had much trouble with Searchnu as well. Finally thanks to you I’ve deleted everything, seems it’s out of my computer for good.
I’ve found Ilivid replacement for me, it’s youtube download from the website http://www.dvdvideosoft.com It also offers to install toolbar, but the interface is simple and convenient, so I found the option to skip toolbar installation without any problems.
So I’m over this Ilivid thing now :)
thank you so much those websites are so annoying you are a life saver
This was money appreciate it now if you have instructions on how to get rid of startsearcher I would be grateful
Many thanks. I came to seachnu via Ilivid as well. Interestingly searchnu seemed to stay dormant for about two weeks after installing Ilivid and when it did kick in it just locked up for some reason which caused its own set of problems. I run Vista Business so that could be why. Once again, thank you.
Thanks you are a life saver… Or should I say PC saver. This got rid of a totally invasive search engine and restored my sanity
Ugh, thank you so much you’re a legend.
Thanks for you instructions, it works fine except the new tab in firefox.
I replace the value of browser.newtab.url with about:newtab, but when I open a new tab in FF, it direct me to “http://www.searchnu.com/417?tag=newtab”… this is the only problem remains, IE and Google are clean, FF search engine and homepage as well.
one more thing, the value of keyword.URL in about:config fixed to “http://dts.search-results.com/sr?src=ffb&gct=ds&appid=0&systemid=417&apn_dtid=BND410&apn_ptnrs=AGA&apn_uid=0799541520414409&o=APN10649&q=” and I cannot change it.
Any could help me…:'(
My burden is gone, searchnu is now history. Thanks a million.
thanks, I removed that bull S….. form my PC
Thank you Thank you Thank you! This searchnu was driving me crazy! Your instructions to get rid of it were PERFECT! I wish your office was close by so I could bring you the worlds best chocolate chip cookies to say THANK YOU!
By the way — Previously Ran Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and it did not pick up Searchnu????
Cookies would have been really nice ;)
Malwarebytes may not identify it as malware and not remove it, strange.