SearchInMe.com

You may be given the impression that SearchInMe.com is a unique search engine, but the truth is that it is not designed to provide with a useful service and, therefore, you should remove it. It is not a browser hijacker because it cannot infect your computer using malicious methods. Rather, it is a suspicious search engine that was created by an unknown entity and for an unknown purpose. Unlike a browser hijacker, it is not set to feature promotional links in its search results, but it uses a third-party search engine to process the search queries. To learn more about this suspicious search engine, please read this whole article.

Unfortunately, there is literately no information regarding this search engine’s origins. It does not feature an End User License Agreement or a Privacy Policy, so there is no information for us to go on, and that is why SearchInMe.com is so questionable. Now, as far as its dissemination channels are concerned, we found that it could come bundled with various third-party installers featured on freeware hosting websites. When you install a software bundle, it might offer you to set SearchInMe.com as your browser’s homepage address. Usually, you agree by checking the respective checkbox, but, in some cases, it can be checked by default, so it is possible for you to get this search engine accidentally. While conducting our research, we found that it could come with a web browser known as Ghokswa Browser. We have tested this browser in the past, and we classified it as a potentially unwanted program. You can read about it on our site, but, in short, it is an unreliable search engine that you ought to uninstall because it masquerades as Google Chrome. Now that we have some background information on SearchInMe.com let us take a look at how it works.

We have discovered that this search engine is currently quite popular in India which makes up 23 % of all visits, followed by Indonesia with 16 % of all visits. It also has a noticeable number of visits in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Apparently, its users do not know with what they are dealing with, and it is likely that they get it from locally distributed bundled software. While testing it, we found that it redirects the entered search queries to Google.com, but the twist here is that it does not feature customized search results. Hence, SearchInMe.com does not tamper with Google’s search algorithm, so we conclude that this search engine does not pose a threat to your computer’s security. Still, its purpose remains unknown because keeping it up and running costs money. Its creators have to pay for the domain name, and SearchInMe.com does not generate advertising revenue. Perhaps it will start featuring promotional links in the future, but we are not certain about this.

However, there is one thing that you should know about it even though it is not a malicious search engine. Like all search engines and browser hijackers, SearchInMe.com must be set to collect information about your use of it. We think that it might collect information such as browsing history, entered search queries, IP addresses, Internet Service Provider domain names, and so on. They might share his information with third-parties, such as advertisers and companies that are in the web monetization business. In any case, there is no reason for you to keep this search engine, especially if you previously used Google.com. Therefore, you will be much better off if you removed SearchInMe.com altogether.

We believe that the software bundles that distribute it interact with web browser’s that include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox and replace their homepage addresses and, in the case of Chrome, the new tab page as well. Testing has shown that if you reset your browser’s settings to its default settings, then the search-related settings will be reset as well. Of course, you can enter a new address manually, but resetting the browser also wipes out the additional changes in the configuration files that might have been affected when injecting this search engine.

Reset browser settings to default

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Open the browser.
2. Hold down Alt+T.
3. Click Internet Options.
4. Select the Advanced tab and click Reset.
5. Tick the checkbox.
6. Click Reset and then click Close.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the browser.
2. Hold down Alt+H.
3. Click Troubleshooting Information.
4. Click Refresh Firefox.
5. Then, click Refresh Firefox again in the dialog box
6. Click Finish.

Google Chrome

1. Open the browser.
2. Hold down Alt+F.
3. Click Settings and click Show advanced settings.
4. Click Reset settings and click Reset.