Remove Social Search toolbar browser hijacker
“Social Search toolbar” is a browser hijacker program bundled inside other free software installation programs. When “Social Search toolbar” is installed on your computer, it modifies your Internet search settings, it changes your Internet home page to Conduit search engine (search.conduit.com) which performs browsing redirects and displays advertisements from unknown vendors.
"Social Search ” can be installed on common Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Chrome or Firefox) if a user doesn’t pay attention when installing free software (commonly).
To remove “Social Search Toolbar” & restore your browser search settings, follow the steps below:
How to remove "Social Search Toolbar” from your computer:
Step 1. Uninstall applications installed by “Social Search” publisher from your Control panel.
1. To do this, go to Start > Control Panel.
{Start > Settings > Control Panel. (Windows XP)}
2. Double click to open “Add or Remove Programs” if you have Windows XP or
“Programs and Features” if you have Windows 8, 7 or Vista.
3. In the program list, find and Remove/Uninstall these applications:
a. Social Search Toolbar
b. Uninstall any other application installed from “Conduit” publisher.
Step 2. Remove Social Search Toolbar & Social Search search settings from your Internet browser.
Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
Internet Explorer
How to remove Social Search Toolbar & Social Search search settings from Internet Explorer.
1. Open Internet Explorer and then open “Internet Options”.
To do this from IE’s file menu, choose “Tools” > “Internet Options”.
Notice*: In the latest versions of IE press the “Gear” icon on the top right.
2. At “General” tab, delete the “search.conduit.com” from “Home page” box and type your preferred Home Page (e.g. www.google.com)
3. Then press “Settings” in Search section. *
Notice*: If you want to modify search settings in Internet explorer while in main Internet Explorer window, just press the “Gear” icon (on the top right corner) and choose “Manage Add-ons” .
4. On "Search Providers" options, choose and "Set as default" a search provider other than "Social Search Customized Web Search".
5. Then choose the “Social Search Customized Web Search” and click Remove.
6. Choose “Toolbars and Extensions” on the left pane and then choose and disable (one by one) all unwanted Toolbars and extensions from Conduit Ltd.:
a. Social Search Toolbar
b. Social Search Toolbar
7. Close all Internet Explorer windows and proceed to Step 3.
How to remove Social Search Toolbar & Social Search search settings from Google Chrome.
1. Open Google Chrome and go to chrome menu and choose "Settings".
2. Find the "On startup" section and choose "Set Pages".
3. Delete the "search.conduit.com" from startup pages by pressing the "X" symbol on the right.
4. Set your preferred startup page (e.g. http://www.google.com) and press "OK".
5. Under “Appearance” section, check to enable the “Show Home button” option and choose “Change”.
6. Delete the “search.conduit.com” entry from “Open this page” box.
7. Type (if you like) you preferred webpage to open when you press your “Home page” button (e.g. www.google.com) or leave this field blank and press “OK”.
5. Go to "Search" section and choose "Manage search engines".
6. Choose your preferred default search engine (e.g. Google search) and press "Make default".
7. Then choose the "search.conduit.com" search engine and remove it by pressing the "X" symbol at the right. Choose "OK" to close "Search engines" window.
8. Choose "Extensions" on the left.
9. In “Extensions” options remove the “Social Search” extension by clicking the recycle icon at the right.
10. Close all Google Chrome windows and proceed to Step 3.
How to remove Social Search Toolbar & Social Search search settings from Mozilla Firefox.
1. Click on “Firefox” menu button on the top left of Firefox window and go to “Options”.
2. In “General” tab, delete the “http://search.conduit.com” page from “Home Page” box and type your preferred HomePage (e.g. http://www.google.com).
Press “OK” when finished.
3. From Firefox menu, go to “Tools” > “Manage Add-ons”.
4. Choose “Extensions” on the left and then make sure that “Social Search” extension doesn’t exist.*
* If “Social Search” extension exists, then press the “Remove” button in that line.
5. Choose “Plugins” on the left and “Disable” the “Conduit Plugin” found there.
6. Close all Firefox windows and proceed to the next Step.
Step 3. Remove “Conduit Floating Pluging” plugin from Windows Startup.
1. Download and run CCleaner.
2. At “CCleaner” main window, choose "Tools" on the left pane.
3. In "Tools" section, choose "Startup".
4. Choose "Windows” tab and then select and delete the following malicious entry, if it exists:
a. "ConduitFloatingPlugin"
Yes HKCU:Run ConduitFloatingPlugin_fddakgdablhhoagkocijjieohlclincg Microsoft Corporation "C:\Windows\system32\Rundll32.exe" "C:\Program Files\Conduit\CT2572049\plugins\TBVerifier.dll",RunConduitFloatingPlugin fddakgdablhhoagkocijjieohlclincg
5. Close “CCleaner” and continue to the next step
Step 4: Clean remaining registry entries using “AdwCleaner”.
1. Download and save “AdwCleaner” utility to your desktop.
2. Close all open programs and Double Click to open ”AdwCleaner” from your desktop.
3. Press “Delete”.
4. Press “OK” at “AdwCleaner – Information”and press “OK” again to restart your computer.
5. When your computer restarts, close "AdwCleaner" information (readme) window and continue to the next step.
Step 5. Clean your computer from remaining malicious threats.
Download and install one of the most reliable FREE anti malware programs today to clean your computer from remaining malicious threats. If you want to stay constantly protected from malware threats, existing and future ones, we recommend that you install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware PRO:
Malwarebytes™ Protection
Removes Spyware, Adware & Malware.
Start Your Free Download Now!
Advice: To ensure your computer is clean and safe, perform a Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware full scan in windows “Safe mode“.*
*To get into Windows Safe mode, press the “F8” key as your computer is booting up, before the appearance of the Windows logo. When the “Windows Advanced Options Menu” appears on your screen, use your keyboard arrows keys to move to the Safe Mode option and then press “ENTER“.
6. Continue to the next step.
Step 6. Clean unwanted files and entries.
Use “CCleaner” program and proceed to clean your system from temporary Internet files and invalid registry entries.*
*If you don’t know how to install and use “CCleaner”, read these instructions.
We're hiring
We're looking for part-time or full-time technical writers to join our team! It's about a remote position that qualified tech writers from anywhere in the world can apply. Click here for more details.
- How to Disable Device Encryption in Windows 11. - April 17, 2024
- How to View Permissions on Shared Folders on Windows 10/11. - April 15, 2024
- FIX 0x80070643 error in KB5034441 update (Solved) - April 10, 2024