Search.searchsterjosoft.com

If your browser’s homepage has been recently changed to Search.searchsterjosoft.com, then we want to inform you that it might have done so when you were installing a shady software bundle. We did not classify this search engine as a browser hijacker because we have yet to find any examples of it being distributed maliciously — installed secretly without the user’s consent. Therefore, for the time being, we regard it as a questionable search engine. It is similar to several search engines that have been classified as browser hijackers but, since it is not distributed as such, we cannot classify it as such just yet. Still, it might jeopardize your PC’s security, so you might want to remove it. For more information, please read this whole article.

Let us begin our analysis with where this questionable search engine comes from. Our research has revealed that its home page by a known browser hijacker developer Polarity Technologies LTD. This infamous company is responsible for releasing hijackers such as Search.couponsimplified.com, Search.searchcounn.com, Search.searchwfaa.com, and many others. However, Search.searchsterjosoft.com is a bit different because it is disseminated in a slightly different manner.

Our research suggests that, like its counterparts, this search engine is distributed via bundled software installers. However, the difference is that the bundled installers allow you to deselect Search.searchsterjosoft.com’s installation. All you have to do is select advanced or custom installation settings and uncheck this search engine. This method of distribution is entirely legitimate, but there is no guarantee that it will be distributed in this manner all of the time. Therefore, we do not rule out the possibility of Search.searchsterjosoft.com being a browser hijacker.

If you decide to install this search engine on your browser, then it will replace the homepage address if you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. It will also change Chrome’s new tab page. Testing has shown that it works like a regular search engine and will deliver you search results quickly and reliably. However, this is partly due to the fact that it redirects the entered search queries to a modified Yahoo search engine. It appears that its search results are modified by Polarity Technologies and set to include promotional links and advertisements because that is how this company generates revenue. The problem we have with this search engine is the fact that its promoted links can come from unknown sources and are thus unreliable. Polarity Technologies has previously released several browser hijackers that promoted malicious websites, and we fear that, at some point, Search.searchsterjosoft.com may also show malicious links.

Our research has also demonstrated that this browser hijacker can collect certain information about you that includes your browsing history, search data, search queries, IP address, browser type, operating system type, approximate geographical location, the domain name of Internet Service Provider, and so on. All of this information is used to personalize and customize the ad campaign so that Polarity Technologies could make more money.

While Search.searchsterjosoft.com is not distributed like a browser hijacker, it must be noted that it might pose the same security threat. Its search results can include malicious links that can jeopardize your computer’s security. Therefore, we recommend that you remove Search.searchsterjosoft.com using the guide located below.

How to replace your browser’s homepage

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Open the browser.
2. Hold down Alt+T keys.
3. In the Tools menu, select Internet Options.
4. In the General tab, enter a new homepage address.
5. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the browser.
2. Hold down Alt+T keys.
3. Click Options and select General.
4. In the Home page line, type a new homepage address.
5. Exit the Options menu.

Google Chrome

1. Open the browser.
2. Hold down Alt+F keys.
3. Click Settings.
4. In the On Startup section, click Set pages.
5. Delete Search.searchsterjosoft.com.
6. Enter a new startup page address in the address line.
7. Click OK.