SSOption Malware - How to remove

SSOption Search takes over the web browsers of the infected computer: it replaces the home page and the default search engine. It can also display pop-up ads, in-text ads, and cause browser redirects.

The SSOption app gets included in the installers of free programs and gets advertised deceptively. As a result, it is installed on people’s computers without their explicit permission.

Luckily, you can remove SSOption Search and get back control over your browser.

In short about SSOption malware:

Type of threat	Adware, trojan, potentially unwanted program.
SSOption infection symptoms	Excessive pop-up ads and browser redirects, hijacked home page and search engine, slower computer and high resource usage for no reason.
How it gets installed	Downloaded with freeware, promoted by deceptive ads.
How to remove SSOption	Remove malicious browser extensions, uninstall suspicious programs, scan your computer with an antivirus program (Spyhunter, Malwarebytes, or another tool).

What is SSOption

Browser hijacker

SSOption is another name for SpecialSearchOption. It’s a browser hijacker and an adware virus:

• it injects banner ads into your browser,
•  it forces your browser to open unfamiliar websites,
• it replaces the home page and new tab page,
• it changes default search engine settings.

With SSOption in your browser, you might see more ads and ads that look different than normal. For instance, ads by SSOption might be labeled with that name, like “Ads by SSOption”.

More serious malware

It’s common for malware apps to spread in groups. In particular, the name “SSOption” has also been associated with some more dangerous programs, like PC optimizers and even crypto miners. If you noticed your computer getting slower or the fan working at full power during idle time, then it’s possible that you’ve got a miner infection, such as Idle Buddy or OSAMiner.

How malware spreads

You likely did not install SSOption intentionally. It gets falsely advertised online and included in the installers of other apps, and really, downloading the SSOption Search program on its own is difficult.

There are tricks that cybercriminals use to get people to install stuff they don’t want or need. For instance, deceptive ads might be made to look like download buttons, software updates (Adobe Flash Player is a popular one), and other misleading webpages. You might think you’re downloading a useful program or a valuable file – but it’s actually malware.

It’s also common for potentially unwanted programs like SSOption adware to come attached to free programs and to be installed secretly in the background. If you download freeware from websites that bundle programs in custom installers or include ads in the installers, you might get a lot of offers for unwanted programs during the installation process. And even if you explicitly refuse all of them, some of them might still get installed.

How to remove SSOption

Enter safe mode to stop SSOption and other programs from running. Then, remove SSOption manually and use your antivirus program to remove unwanted programs.

To check your computer for malware, you should review what programs and browser extensions were installed recently. Look at their installation dates and see if they match the time that SSOption showed up.

Scan your computer with a reliable anti-malware program, like Spyhunter, Malwarebytes, or another tool. The easiest way to remove SSOption is probably with an anti-malware program.

 

Remove SSOption manually from your apps. On Windows 10, you can do it by opening Settings -> Apps. Or you can remove apps by using the Control Panel. Remove unwanted browser extensions as described in the following section.

If you’ve removed SSOption but Special Search Option still opens in your browser, then review your browser settings as described in the next section. Also, check your browser shortcuts:

1. Right-click your browser icon – the one that you use to open your browser;
2. Choose Properties;
3. Open Short cut tab;
4. Delete SSOption from the target field.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manually remove malicious browser extensions

How to remove SSOption Malware using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like ssoption install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to SSOption Malware . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make ssoption easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

TopRemove malicious extensions from Internet Explorer

• Press on the Gear icon→Manage Add-ons.
  
• Go through Toolbars and extensions. Remove everything related to SSOption Malware and items you do not know that are made not by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle or Adobe.
  
• Close the Options.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

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

• Press on the Gear icon->Internet Options.
  
• Choose the Advanced tab and click on the Reset button.
  
• Select a “Delete personal settings” checkbox and click on the Reset button.
  
• Click on the Close button on the confirmation box, then close your browser.
  

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

TopHow To remove SSOption Malware from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

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

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser 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 SSOption Malware from Microsoft Edge:Top

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

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
• Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.

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

• Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
• Press the Restore settings to their default values option.

• 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 SSOption Malware from Firefox:Top

• 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 SSOption Malware 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.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to SSOption Malware, 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.
  
• ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on theReset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.