CrypSearch Extension - How to remove

CrypSearch is, supposedly, a privacy-focused search site and browser extension. But it does seem to still track your data while providing subpar functionality. Anti-malware experts consider CrypSearch a potentially unwanted program and it’s best to uninstall this extension, as it’s just another browser hijacker.

In short about CrypSearch:

Classification	Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program.
How CrypSearch spreads	Advertised as a privacy-focused search engine, promoted by adware.
Problems and issues	Tracks your data despite promising not to, hijacks browser settings, promotes a search engine that lacks useful features.
How to remove CrypSearch	Uninstall unwanted browser extensions, remove malware with an anti-malware program (Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter fo Windows, etc.).

What is CrypSearch

Browser Hijacker

CrypSearch is a browser extension that may cause some unwanted effects in your browser. It asks to be able to change your new tab page and set your default search engine – two features very common for browser hijackers.

Browser hijackers are apps that take over your browser in intrusive and unhelpful ways. They replace your home page and search engine in order to funnel more traffic to an affiliated website (and thus make some advertising money from all the new visitors) or to inject ads into your browser (also making them money from advertising). So, it’s quite suspicious that CrypSearch wants to control your home page and your search engine.

“Privacy” engine

On CrypSearch.com, it’s explained that this is a privacy-focused search engine.

We’ve seen a few already. They end up being adware and their privacy policies are no different from other browser hijackers: Encrypted Search, Search Incognito, Hide My History, etc.

CrypSearch’s developers don’t seem to have any bad history, so it’s hard to judge them quickly. But still, CrypSearch looks like a low-effort cash-in. Just read its privacy policy. For a privacy-focused extension, it collects a lot of data about you:

• your IP, location, and language,
• some hardware and software data,
• which site directed you to CrypSearch,
• what you searched for on CrypSearch,
• which ads you clicked on,
• other usage data.

It’s a bit vague, and CrypSearch promises that it doesn’t track any of your information. At the same time, its privacy policy says that it may use your information to help advertisers offer relevant ads. So, clearly, some of your usage data is tracked. And, at that point, CrypSearch is no different than any other commercial search engine, so what’s the point in it existing? All that CrypSearch does is change your search engine, as if you couldn’t do that manually if you wanted to, and then leech off of you to make ad-money while providing a worse web search experience than the mainstream search engines.

And then CrypSearch.com cheekily implies that if you decide to uninstall it, that means that you don’t care about your privacy. Sure.

How to remove CrypSearch

It’s easy enough to remove CrypSearch. Its site doesn’t give you any instructions, but the process is the same as it is for all browser extensions. You can right-click CrypSearch’s icon and choose “Remove” from the drop-down menu, or you can go into browser settings and remove the extension from there (instructions in the last section).

You might want to check all of your extensions for suspicious permissions, like changing your search engine, replacing your new tab, or changing your data on sites like Google.com. They might indicate a malicious extension.

You can also scan your device with an anti-malware program, such as Spyhunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for macOS, or another program that can detect PUPs (potentially unwanted programs). Then check the scan results and remove malware if any is found.

The way that CrypSearch spreads is pretty suspicious, too. People who already had adware infecting their computers often see pop-ups and ads for various browser hijackers. That’s why it’s important to check your computer for malware. Adware infections always lead to worse infections if they’re not weeded out.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually uninstall extensions

TopRemoving CrypSearch Extension from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to CrypSearch Extension. Click on the trash bin icon next to CrypSearch Extension or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to CrypSearch Extension, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove CrypSearch Extension from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to CrypSearch Extension. Click on the "Remove" icon next to CrypSearch Extension or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving CrypSearch Extension from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything CrypSearch Extension related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to CrypSearch Extension, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.