Search-Space.net Redirects - How to remove

Search-Space.net is a website that allows you to search the internet. If it appears in your web browser, then the SearchSpace browser extension must have been installed. It forces Search-Space.net into your browser’s search settings after infiltrating your computer. Having SearchSpace in your browser can result in redirects, more ads in your search results, and some privacy issues. But you can remove it and restore your browser settings.

About Search-Space.net redirects:

Classification	Trojan, browser hijacker, adware.
Problems caused by SearchSpace	The browser is forced to use Search-Space.net for internet searches, SearchSpace comes bundled with adware.
How adware gets installed	Shown by malicious ads, disguised as real software updates, downloaded as an installer file.
How to remove Search-Space.net redirects	Scan your computer with anti-malware apps (Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter for Windows, others) and remove all malicious files that are found, uninstall the SearchSpace browser extension, block malicious websites.

How SearchSpace got to your browser

Search-Space.net is a fake search engine that’s used by SearchSpace to hijack your internet searches. Although you can visit it as a website, most people encounter it when SearchSpace gets installed. And it does not get installed honestly.

SearchSpace gets downloaded in adware bundles from sites like Siteofupdate.info, Greatsite2updates.info, Greatsite2update.info, and similar ones. These websites are fake software updating sites. They tell you that your Flash Player is out-of-date or that you need to install an application to continue to access the internet. These fake messages are meant to trick people into downloading some malicious files. You might believe that you’re downloading an important software update when really it’s just a malware/adware bundle.

You can see an example of such a malicious webpage in the cover picture for this post. That ad targets Macs and is designed to look like a macOS warning.

Such deceptive ads for SearchSpace can be seen on file download sites, pirating websites, illegal movie streaming sites, and some smaller websites that were infected with malicious code.

Once the malicious file is downloaded, or even before it’s downloaded, it should be detected by your antivirus program. Here is one example of a malicious file related to Search-Space.net – VirusTotal. But it is not always possible. Some malicious files are new and not yet recognized by some anti-malware programs. And besides, no antivirus is perfect. So, malicious installers don’t always get stopped. And they install SearchSpace, as well as other malware.

What Search-Space.net does

Search-Space.net is set as the default search engine in your web browser by a malicious browser extension. The default search engine is the website that your web browser sends your search queries to. Search-Space.net having control over it means that it handles everything. Most of the time, Search-Space.net takes your search queries and then makes Google.com return your results. But it is not as simple as that.

Once SearchSpace is installed, it changes your search engine settings, reads your browsing history, and can read your search queries. Some of the things it can do include:

• messing with your internet search results by adding sponsored links,
• opening the wrong links when you click on the search results,
• logging all of your search queries and your browsing history for use in targeted advertising.

At first glance, your web search results might look normal. But links to sites like Kensaq.com, Dealsnow.com, and other alternative search engines might show up. Those sites show their own ads, often ones that are potentially harmful. They also take up precious screen space, requiring you to scroll past ads every time you want to find actually relevant results.

How to remove Search-Space.net redirects

The SearchSpace browser extension needs to be uninstalled, but that’s not all. There is likely some other adware on your computer and it needs to be deleted, too.

You can search for it by yourself among the installed apps, programs, and browser extensions. Look for anything that was installed at the same time that the Search-Space.net redirect started. Remove all the extensions that are unfamiliar to you.

But it would be more reliable to use an anti-malware scanner, such as Combo Cleaner for Mac, Spyhunter for PC, and other reputable programs. They can find and point out to you all the malicious files.

In addition, it is important to secure your computer against future infections. Real-time web security that some antivirus programs have is helpful in blocking malicious websites and immediately detecting malicious files that you try to download.

Automatic Malware removal tools

TopRemoving Search-Space.net Redirects 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 Search-Space.net Redirects. Click on the trash bin icon next to Search-Space.net Redirects 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 Search-Space.net Redirects, 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 Search-Space.net Redirects 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 Search-Space.net Redirects. Click on the "Remove" icon next to Search-Space.net Redirects 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 Search-Space.net Redirects 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 Search-Space.net Redirects 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 Search-Space.net Redirects, 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.