Search.bt-cmf.com

We recently took a look at Search.bt-cmf.com, a search engine that was created by Polarity Technologies, a known browser hijacker developer. Unsurprisingly, this new search engine also turned to be a browser hijacker, so we recommend that you remove it. In this article, we will discuss how this hijacker works, how it is disseminated, and how you can get rid of it. The bottom line is that it poses a potential security threat because of the promoted links it can show you. If you want to find out more about this hijacker, see the information presented below.

Search.bt-cmf.com can work as a regular search engine, and its creators want you to believe that it is such a search engine. The reality is that it redirects all entered search queries to a Yahoo search engine. You will see Yahoo’s search results, but also ads and promoted links supplied by Search.bt-cmf.com’s advertising partners. While most of the promoted links and ads are safe to click, we are concerned that some of them can redirect you to malicious websites that can jeopardize your computer’s security if, for example, you download questionable advertised software.

If you get Search.bt-cmf.com onto your browser, then it will replace your browser’s default homepage address if you use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Its developers want you to use it as a regular search engine and click promoted links to generate income from the developers. It features a rather useless toolbar on its main page that contains links to promoted game-related websites. Also, it features links to well-known legitimate websites below the search bar.

It is also worthy of a note that this hijacker was configured to collect information about you to present you with customized, personalized search results that can generate more ad revenue. This hijacker was set to collect usage and technical information automatically. This information includes things such as your browser type, operating system type, Internet Protocol (IP) address, Internet Service Provider (ISP) domain name, browsing history, entered search terms, and so on using browser cookies and web beacons. While collecting this information is legal, and many legitimate search engines collect it as well, you should not want to allow this hijacker to obtain it as it can be used to customize and tailor malicious ads.

It is rather unsurprising that Search.bt-cmf.com is malicious because of the company that created it. This hijacker was signed by Polarity Technologies, an unreliable company dedicated to making money of browser hijackers. At this point, this company must have created more than a thousand browser hijackers. Some of its more recent releases include Search.instantnewsnow.co, Search.searchfana.com, Search.searchfaa.com, Search.searchytdvta.com, and Search.hfreeforms.co, among others. Hence, Search.bt-cmf.com is just another addition to the already populated list of its releases.

Of course, if you do not have it in your browser, then you should avoid getting this hijacker altogether. We have found that you can get this hijacker while installing bundled software because malicious installers featured on freeware websites seem to include this hijacker and inject it into your browser by stealth which is not something you want.

Therefore, we recommend that you remove it from your browser as soon as the opportunity arises because it will not enhance your browsing experience in any way, shape or form. If anything, Search.bt-cmf.com can make your searches less safe with all of the promoted links in its search results. If you want to get rid of this hijacker, then just go to your browser’s settings, remove its URL and replace it your preferred one.

Removal Guide

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Open the browser.
2. Hold down Alt+T and click Internet Options.
3. Erase http://search.bt-cmf.com/
4. Enter a new URL.
5. Click OK.

Google Chrome

1. Open the browser.
2. Press Alt+F keys.
3. Select Settings.
4. Click Set pages.
5. Erase http://search.bt-cmf.com/
6. Enter a new URL
7. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the browser.
2. Simultaneously press Alt+T.
3. Click Options and select General.
4. Erase Search.bt-cmf.com and enter a new address.