CrypSearch

Each time we download new software on our computers, we have to be careful about its legitimacy. No one in their right mind would willingly download a malicious program, but it is easy to add something like CrypSearch without realizing it.

CrypSearch is a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The essence of this app should be obvious: It is not a malicious infection, but it can enter your system unexpectedly. We will get to why that happens soon enough, but if you want to remove CrypSearch from your computer right now, simply scroll down to the bottom of this description for the manual removal instructions.

So, how come CrypSearch gets added to the Chrome browser even when users do not want this application? It all boils down to the distribution vectors. PUPs often have official distribution routes and this extension is no exception. It can be added straight from the official website via crypsearch.com, and it can also be found on the Chrome Web Store. However, we don’t think that the official distribution routes are the most common ones.

When it comes to PUPs, third-party sources are far more common. For example, there might be freeware bundles available on various websites, and those bundles could have CrypSearch, too. Also, it is common for streaming websites, online gaming pages, and other websites that offer “free” content to promote lots of third-party content, as well as embed redirects and pop-ups that promote freeware. So, if you land on such a website and you launch one of the redirects accidentally, you might add CrypSearch to your browser without even realizing it.

And it’s not just about CrypSearch. There might be many other applications that could be added your browser or installed on your computer in the exactly same way. It means that you can avoid all these unwanted installations as long as you are careful and vigilant about the websites you visit and the programs you download. If you must have an application, be sure to download it from its official sources. Don’t resort to using third-party file-sharing pages because you can never know what can come out of that page.

On the other hand, if CrypSearch is already on your computer, let’s see what happens when this extension is added to your Chrome browser. We can get the general idea of what happens, when we take a look at the permissions this extension requires when it enters your system. It requires the permission to “replay the page you see when opening a new tab.” It means that CrypSearch modifies your new tab settings. It also requires permission to “change your search settings to: crypsearch.com.” It should be pointed out that while the extension modifies your default search engine, it does so with your authorization. Even if you are not aware of the fact that you allow the app to do so.

It then requires certain site access, and this extension can also “read and change your data on sites.” From this, it might seem that CrypSearch is rather intrusive, but we have to understand that most of the applications that are added to our browsers require such permissions. And thus, it is extremely important that we review everything that is added to our browsers, so that we could avoid unwanted tracking, unwanted custom advertising and so on.

Potentially unwanted programs are far from genuine cybersecurity threats, but we wouldn’t be writing about this if it weren’t alarming. The point is that if there’s a program on your computer and you didn’t want to install that program, that program has to go. Luckily, with CrypSearch, it is not that much of a problem.

You can remove CrypSearch via the Chrome’s settings menu. Deleting the extension should restore your browser’s settings to whatever you had there previously. On the other hand, it would also be a good idea to run a full system scan with the SpyHunter free scanner. After all, it’s not just about unwanted browser extensions. Since PUPs often tend to travel together, there is a good chance that you have multiple unwanted applications on your computer. Hence, you have to see to it that you remove all the unwanted apps as soon as possible.

How to Remove CrypSearch

1. Launch your Chrome browser.
2. Press Alt+F and select More tools.
3. Click Extensions and remove CrypSearch from the list.
4. Scan your computer with a licensed antispyware tool.