My browser Firefox is affected by the SearchAssist.me virus. I need instructions on how to remove it. Somehow, I get SearchAssist.me that highlights random words on a page and frequently tries to redirect (thus resetting my browser) me to websites I have no interest in. My homepage is also changed to this weird site without warning. I even removed Firefox and reloaded it, but nothing seems to work. HELP! And now, I can’t get the troubleshooting button to work. Does anyone know how to remove it?
Learn more about SearchAssist.me
SearchAssist.me is classified as a browser hijacker that can alter the default browser start page, search page, or favorite page to its domain or other unwanted websites without permission. It is used by malware developers to generate traffic to their sites, gathering search terms and redirect users to websites from where they’ll receive a commission or some sort of revenue. If your computer gets infected by this threat, your browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer may be affected. The browser hijacker is able to make modifications on the browser settings and change your default homepage, search engine or your favorites to its domain or other undesirable websites.
Screenshot of SearchAssist.me: 
Once your browser is affected, it can be redirected while you do a search and in this case the malware will hijack you search results and redirect you to similar websites. Normally, when you open your browser, you’re taken directly to the home page of your choice. But after infection, you will be forced to visit a different website that’s chosen by the person who created the malware. If you visit those malicious websites containing lots of cyber infections, your PC may be infected by more malware and the condition become worse. Moreover, some gambling links, porn links or other unsavoury links may be added to your Favorites or Bookmarks. The purpose of the malware is to obtain false traffic statistics, so that an unscrupulous website manager can claim vast numbers of hits and make his website seem more important for advertising. What’s worse, your personal information may be stolen by the threat when you are surfing the Internet. To protect your computer and your private personal information, please remove SearchAssist.me from the PC without any delay.
Note: If your antivirus program picks up nothing associated with this redirect virus but you want to quickly get rid of the threat from computer, you can use a professional and advanced malware removal tool –SpyHunter to help scan and remove the threats on your machine completely.
Several symptoms indicate that your browser may be hijacked:
Your home page or other Internet settings are changed without your permission on your computer.
Some strange links that point to disgusting websites are added to your Favorites.
Some web pages, such as security software sites, are blocked and you cannot access them without reason.
Certain unfamiliar toolbars appear on your web browser and give you links to unwanted websites.
Hundreds of pop-up ads occur on your computer screen, disturbing your browsing experience a lot.
Your computer or the browser performs slower and slower. Sometimes the computer may freeze or crash.
SearchAssist.me removal guide
In fact, you can get rid of this browser hijacker from your PC in manual way or auto removal way. Since it may install itself along with other free applications and add additional browser extensions, you need to uninstall the PUP/adware associated with the redirect virus and delete its components to clear the threat. If you are good at computer and know well how to deal with malware, follow the manual guide below to eradicate the threat yourself. If not, use a professional malware removal tool instead to help delete the threat.
Option1: Get rid of SearchAssist.me automatically by using Spyhunter
SpyHunter is a tool that is designed to detect, remove and block any type of spyware and malware on your computer. It has the ability to defend your browser homepage you choose so that no spyware will be able to change it without permission. It can block the malware’s attempt to modify the Internet settings.
In addition, its ‘Settings’ menu includes tons of options, plus a so-called ‘Network Sentry’ that allows you to enable dedicated tools for monitoring the HOSTS file, system protection, LSP chain protection, advanced DNS protection and clock format protection.
This tool is the best choice for you to protect the PC from malware especially the browser hijacker. It can detect and remove the threat which hijacks your browser quickly and completely. Follow the steps below and use it to clear SearchAssist.me automatically.
Step1. Reboot your computer into Safe Mode by restarting it, pressing the “F8″ key when it starts up and selecting the “Safe Mode with Networking” option.
Step2. Log on with an account that has administrator privileges, open a web browser and proceed to download SpyHunter by clicking on the icon below directly.
Step3. Save it on a location you want.
Step4. Run the file and start to install it on the computer.
Step5. After the installation finishes, run the tool to perform a scan of the system.
Step6. Delete all the threats found and remove them.
When the scan is complete, click Remove to delete all the threats found.
Step7. Exit the tool and reboot your computer normally. Open your Web browser and confirm that you are no longer affected by the redirect virus.
Tip: Using this tool to deal with the threat on your computer doesn’t require you to have much computer knowledge and skills. It is easy to use and you can fix the issue within minutes with mere a few clicks of the mouse.
Option2: Manually SearchAssist.me browser hijacker and repair the browsers.
It is tedious to manually remove the redirect virus from your machine because you have to check several different areas on the PC and repair the problematic ones. Follow the step-by-step guide to fix the browser redirecting issue effectively.
1 Remove the adware/PUP which brings SearchAssist.me redirect virus from Control Panel
Windows 7/Vista:
Click Start button, click Control Panel, click Programs and open Programs and Features. On the list of Currently installed programs, select the programs that related to the browser hijacker and click Uninstall button to remove it.
Windows 8.1:
Point to the upper-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer down, and then click Search, enter Control Panel in the search box, and then click Control Panel.
Click Programs and Features. Choose the target program and click Uninstall to remove the program.
2 Delete malicious/unnecessary add-ons from IE/Chrome/Firefox.
Sometimes, SearchAssist.me redirect virus comes from browser extensions, browser helper objects, or toolbars that can cause your computer to stop responding or display content that you don’t want, such as pop-up ads. You can also view the add-ons that you already have installed in the web browser and disable the add-ons that you don’t want.
Internet Explorer 11
Open IE browser, click the Tools button, and then click Manage add-ons.
Under Show, click All add-ons, and then select the add-on you want to delete.
If the add-on can be deleted, you’ll see the Remove option. Click Remove and then click Close.
Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox, click the menu button and choose Add-ons. The Add-ons Manager tab will open.
In the Add-ons Manager tab, select the add-on you wish to remove and click the Remove button.
Google Chrome
Click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar. Then click Tools and select Extensions.
Click the trash can icon next to the extension you’d like to completely remove. Click Remove when a confirmation dialog appears.
3 Reset your browser homepage.
If you find the default homepage has been replaced with the unwanted website, follow the instructions below to reset the homepage.
Internet Explorer
Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
On the General tab, under Home page, enter the URL of the site you want to set as a home page.
Click Apply, and then click OK. The next time you click the Home button, your new home page will be loaded automatically.
Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox, click the menu button, select Options and then click the General tab.
You can decide the startup page when you start Firefox by clicking the drop-down menu and choose to have Firefox show a blank page on startup or all of your windows and tabs from last time.
You can also enter an URL you want in the home page or Use Current Pages and click OK to change the homepage..
Google Chrome
Open Chrome, click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar and select Settings. Homepage button is off by default. Select the “Show Home button” checkbox in the “Appearance” section to show it on the browser toolbar. Click Change and a dialog box titled Home page pops up. Enter a link in Open this page or you can also choose the New Tab page as your homepage.
4 Check your devices and remove the malicious one.
If the redirect virus still exists on the PC, you can check the devices, for lots of malware cannot be deleted from an active drive. You should remove the drive or install it in an external USB enclosure or install as a second drive on a known, proven clean, system.
Click the Start button in your desktop and then click Control Panel. Choose the option System and Security and choose the Device Manager hyperlink.
Click View from your menu bar and select Show Hidden Devices. Scroll down the list before you see “TDSSserve.sys” after which click it to disable this option.
It is now time for you to restart your computer. Whenever your computer reboots, you need to update the security software on your computer system.
Suggestion:
SearchAssist.me is a malicious browser hijacker that changes your browser settings and brings many computer problems. It often gets into your machine secretly along with the other malware or free applications. You need to pay more attention when surf the Internet. Please don’t open spam email attachments which may contain malware nor click on any unidentified links that may point to malicious websites. If you are redirected to strange websites, please close the web pages immediately. Keep a firewall on your computer and prevent various cyber attacks.
Friendly reminder: Do you feel it too hard to search for and remove the malware that brings SearchAssist.me browsing hijacking and constant pop-up ads manually? Want to quickly fix the constant browser redirecting issues and repair your affected browsers? Please download and install SpyHunter on your computer. It can scan your PC for all cyber threats and completely remove the browser hijacker from your computer as soon as possible.