Search.searchwfaa.com

Search.searchwfaa.com might look like a search engine, but there is more to it than meets the eye. We have concluded that it is a browser hijacker due to the way its developers distribute it. You have to remove it because it can inject your PC and replace your browser’s homepage address without your knowledge or authorization. It was designed to feature promotional links in its search results, but the problem is that these links come from unknown sources and can pose a threat to your PC. Also, in order to show you personalized promotional links this hijacker can collect anonymous information about you. To find out more about what this fake search engine can do, we invite you to read this whole article.

Today, most browser hijacker releases come from established publishers that pose as legitimate but are nothing more than malware creators. Search.searchwfaa.com is not the first of its kind since its creator has previously released dozens of similar hijackers such as Search.yourpackagesnow.com, Search.yourmapscenter.com, and Search.youremailnow.com. Indeed, this new browser hijacker comes from an established malware developer that is in the business of infecting computers of unwary users with hijackers in order to make money off advertising revenue.

While there is no concrete information on how Search.searchwfaa.com is currently being distributed, we think that it is more than likely that it is being distributed via malicious software bundles that install it on your computer without your knowledge or consent. You may encounter such software bundles on shady freeware distributing sites since bundling freeware with adware and browser hijackers is the primary source of revenue for such sites. Furthermore, the installers that this hijacker can come bundled with may not allow you to deselect its installation and drop its malicious payload without your knowledge or approval.

The installers it comes with should inject it into your browser if you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. It replaces the homepage address and in the case of Chrome, the new tab page. It looks and works like a regular search engine because it redirects all of the entered search queries to Yahoo.com. Nevertheless, what you get is far more than what Yahoo can offer and not in a good sense. Search.searchwfaa.com was designed for promotional and advertising purposes, so its customized Yahoo supplied search results can feature promotional links and advertisements that come from unknown sources and, thus, cannot be trusted. In the worst case scenario, the links may redirect you to malicious websites that will get your PC infected with adware, spyware, ransomware or some other type of malicious software. In short, this application can seriously jeopardize your computer’s security.

Another thing we want to elaborate on is this hijacker’s ability to gather information about you. Truth be told, all websites and search engines gather some anonymous information for administrative, optimization, and other legitimate purposes. However, since this hijacker is unreliable, you should not allow it to keep tabs on your browsing activity. Like its counterparts, this hijacker should collect information that includes but is not limited to your browsing history, entered search queries, links clicked, geographical location, browser type, operating system type, and so on. So, in this case, this particular hijacker will use the gathered for commercial purposes and perhaps even share it with third-parties.

In summary, Search.searchwfaa.com is nothing more than a browser hijacker that is distributed via malicious software bundles that install it without your knowledge or consent. It can replace your browser’s homepage without your knowledge or authorization and compel you to use it for searching the web. In doing so, it will subject you to potentially unreliable and malicious content. Therefore, you should delete it from your PC as soon as the opportunity arises. Feel free to use our universal removal guide included below.

Replace the homepage address

Google Chrome

1. Press Alt+F.
2. Find the On Startup list and select Set pages.
3. Change the homepage address and click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Press Alt+T and click Options.
2. Change the homepage URL.
3. Exit the Options menu.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Press Alt+T and click Internet Options.
2. Change the homepage address.
3. Click OK.