GetSearchInfo.com is a browser hijacker that forcibly redirects your web searches and homepage to its own search portal, profiting from each click while degrading your browsing experience. Unlike legitimate search engines that respect user preferences, this hijacker modifies browser settings without permission and actively resists removal attempts. While not as destructive as ransomware or banking trojans, GetSearchInfo.com creates persistent annoyance, exposes you to questionable advertising networks, and can serve as a gateway for more serious infections.
This article explains what GetSearchInfo.com does, how it spreads, and how to remove it completely from Windows and Mac systems. If you suspect your computer is affected, the manual removal steps below will walk you through the process — or you can bring your machine to our Roswell shop for same-day cleanup.
Threat Profile
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker / Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) |
| Family | Search redirect hijacker family, behavior similar to SearchMine, Conduit, and MySearchDial variants |
| Aliases | GetSearchInfo redirect, SearchInfo hijacker, PUP.Optional.GetSearchInfo |
| Affected Platforms | Windows 7/8/10/11, macOS 10.12+; targets Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari |
| Distribution Method | Software bundles, fake browser updates, deceptive ads, free download portals |
| Persistence Mechanisms | Browser extensions, modified shortcuts (target line injection), scheduled tasks, Login Items (macOS), registry modifications (Windows) |
| Primary Capabilities | Homepage/new-tab hijacking, search query redirection, ad injection, browser preference locking |
| Data Collection | Search queries, browsing history, clicked links, system/browser metadata (typical for this family) |
| Network Behavior | Redirects through multiple affiliate domains before landing on search results; phones home to tracking servers; fetches ad content from third-party networks |
| Monetization | Pay-per-click affiliate revenue, sponsored search results, injected advertisements |
| Removal Difficulty | Moderate — resists standard uninstall methods; requires browser reset and registry/filesystem cleanup |
| Associated Risks | Exposure to malvertising, further PUP installations, privacy erosion, system slowdown |
How It Spreads
GetSearchInfo.com rarely arrives alone or through obvious channels. The operators behind this hijacker rely on deception rather than technical exploits, bundling their software with legitimate-looking installers and disguising it as helpful utilities. Users typically install it unknowingly while rushing through setup wizards for free software downloaded from third-party sites.
The most common infection vector is software bundling. When you download a free PDF converter, video codec, or system optimizer from a download portal (not the official vendor site), the installer often includes "optional offers" that are pre-checked or presented in misleading ways. GetSearchInfo.com appears as "Enhanced Search Experience" or "Web Search Tool" with enthusiastic descriptions but no clear indication it will hijack your browser. Clicking "Next" without reading the fine print or choosing "Custom Install" allows these bundled components to install alongside your intended software.
Other distribution methods include:
- Fake browser update prompts — Pop-ups on sketchy websites claiming your Chrome or Firefox is "out of date" and offering a download that's actually the hijacker installer
- Malicious advertising networks — Ads on piracy sites, torrent portals, or adult content sites that trigger drive-by downloads or redirect to social-engineered landing pages
- Email attachments from compromised accounts — Occasionally distributed through phishing emails disguised as document viewers or file-sharing utilities
- Browser extension stores — Fake extensions that mimic legitimate tools (ad blockers, download managers) but inject GetSearchInfo.com redirects instead
- Pirated software cracks and keygens — Illegitimate activation tools for commercial software that bundle PUPs alongside the crack
What It Does On Your Machine
Once installed, GetSearchInfo.com makes aggressive changes to your browser configuration. Your homepage suddenly points to getsearchinfo.com, your new tab page opens the same site, and your default search engine changes to this hijacker's portal. These modifications happen across all installed browsers — if you have both Chrome and Firefox, both get hijacked. The changes persist even after you manually revert them; as soon as you restart the browser, GetSearchInfo.com reasserts itself.
The persistence comes from multiple tactics working together. On Windows systems, the hijacker modifies browser shortcuts by appending parameters to the target line. When you click your Chrome icon, you're not just launching Chrome — you're launching Chrome with instructions to load getsearchinfo.com as the homepage. The hijacker also installs browser extensions with innocuous names like "Search Manager" or "Web Helper" that enforce its settings. On macOS, it creates LaunchAgents that reapply its configuration on startup and may install system profiles that lock browser preferences.
When you perform a web search, GetSearchInfo.com intercepts the query and routes it through several redirect domains before eventually forwarding you to a legitimate search engine (often Yahoo or Bing) with the hijacker's affiliate codes embedded. This redirection chain serves two purposes: it obscures the final destination from casual inspection, and it ensures the operators get paid for every search you perform. Along the way, your search terms and browsing patterns get logged for profiling purposes.
The search results you eventually see are manipulated. Sponsored links appear at the top (generating more revenue for the hijacker), and ads get injected into the results page itself. The hijacker may also inject advertisements into other websites you visit, replacing legitimate ads with its own or adding new ad blocks to pages that were previously ad-free. System performance degrades as the hijacker's background processes consume CPU and memory, and your browser becomes sluggish with all the tracking scripts and redirect chains running.
Manual Removal — Step by Step
Disconnect From the Internet
Turn off Wi-Fi or unplug your ethernet cable before proceeding. This prevents GetSearchInfo.com from receiving new instructions, downloading additional components, or communicating tracking data while you're removing it. Work offline throughout the entire removal process.
Uninstall Suspicious Programs
Open Control Panel (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac) and look for recently installed programs you don't recognize, especially those with names like "Search Manager," "Web Companion," "SearchInfo," or generic names with random characters. Uninstall anything suspicious. On Windows, use "Programs and Features" and sort by install date. On Mac, drag suspicious apps to Trash, then empty Trash while holding Option to bypass warnings.
Remove Browser Extensions
Open each browser you have installed and access the extensions/add-ons manager. In Chrome, type chrome://extensions in the address bar; in Firefox, use about:addons; in Edge, use edge://extensions. Remove any extensions you didn't intentionally install, particularly those related to search, toolbars, or "helpers." Don't just disable them — click "Remove" to delete completely.
Fix Browser Shortcuts (Windows)
Right-click your browser shortcuts (on desktop, taskbar, and Start menu), select Properties, and examine the Target field. It should end with the browser executable name (like chrome.exe) with no extra parameters. If you see URLs or additional arguments appended, delete everything after the .exe, click Apply, then OK. Repeat for every browser shortcut you use.
Clean Registry and Startup Items
On Windows, press Win+R, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Look for entries referencing SearchInfo or unfamiliar executables and delete them. Also check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Startup tab, and disable any suspicious entries. On Mac, check System Preferences → Users & Groups → Login Items and remove unknown items.
Delete Hijacker Files
Navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local and AppData\Roaming (Windows) or ~/Library/Application Support (Mac) and look for folders named SearchInfo, SearchHelper, or similar. Delete these folders entirely. Also check C:\ProgramData on Windows. These locations are hidden by default — enable "Show hidden files" in File Explorer options first.
Reset Browser Settings
Each browser needs a settings reset. In Chrome: Settings → Advanced → Reset settings → Restore settings to their original defaults. In Firefox: Help → Troubleshooting Information → Refresh Firefox. In Edge: Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their default values. This removes hijacked homepage/search settings while preserving bookmarks (though saved passwords may be cleared — have backups ready).
Scan With Malwarebytes
Download Malwarebytes (from malwarebytes.com only — don't trust other sources) and run a full Threat Scan. The free version is sufficient for one-time cleanup. Let it quarantine everything it finds, then restart your computer when prompted. This catches components that manual removal might miss, including registry remnants and hidden scheduled tasks.
Check DNS and Proxy Settings
GetSearchInfo.com sometimes modifies network settings. Open Network Connections, right-click your active connection, choose Properties, select Internet Protocol Version 4, and click Properties. Ensure "Obtain DNS server address automatically" is selected. Also check browser proxy settings: in Windows search for "proxy" in Settings and ensure "Automatically detect settings" is on with everything else off.
Verify and Reconnect
Restart your computer, reconnect to the internet, and test your browsers. Open a new tab and verify it loads your chosen homepage, not GetSearchInfo.com. Perform a test search and confirm it uses your selected search engine without redirects. Check Task Manager (or Activity Monitor on Mac) to ensure no suspicious processes are running. If redirects persist, the hijacker left behind components — consider bringing your system to our shop for deep forensic cleanup.
Prevention
- Download software only from official vendor websites. Avoid third-party download portals like Softonic, Download.com, or CNET Downloads — these sites bundle PUPs with nearly everything. If you need free software, go directly to the developer's site.
- Always choose "Custom" or "Advanced" installation. Never click through an installer using the "Recommended" or "Express" option. Custom installation reveals bundled offers that you can uncheck. Read every screen, decline all "bonus" software, and never assume defaults are safe.
- Keep your browser and operating system updated. Enable automatic updates for Windows, macOS, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Updated software closes security vulnerabilities that PUPs sometimes exploit to install without user interaction.
- Install a reputable ad blocker. Extensions like uBlock Origin (not uBlock — they're different) block malicious advertising networks and prevent fake update prompts from appearing in the first place. This cuts off a major infection vector.
- Be skeptical of browser prompts on unfamiliar websites. If a website tells you to update your browser, close the tab and update through the browser's built-in update mechanism instead. Legitimate browser updates never come from random websites.
- Review browser extensions regularly. Once a month, audit your installed extensions and remove any you don't actively use or don't remember installing. Hijackers often install extensions with permission descriptions that sound harmless.
- Use a standard user account for daily tasks. Don't run Windows with an administrator account for normal browsing and work. Many PUPs require admin privileges to install system-wide persistence — standard user accounts limit the damage they can do.
- Avoid pirated software and crack sites. These are infection vectors by design. The sites themselves host malicious ads, and the downloads bundle PUPs, trojans, and worse. The "free" software ends up costing you in cleanup time and risk exposure.
Bring It In
If the manual removal steps above seem daunting, or if you've tried them and GetSearchInfo.com keeps coming back, bring your computer to our Roswell shop. We see browser hijackers like this every week, and we have the tools and experience to eliminate them completely — usually while you wait. Our technicians will not only remove the hijacker but also check for related infections that often travel together, optimize your browser performance, and show you what to avoid going forward.
We're located on Alpharetta Street in downtown Roswell, open Monday through Friday 10 AM to 6 PM, and Saturdays by appointment. Call us at (770) 695-6860 or stop by with your machine. Most hijacker removals take 30–60 minutes depending on severity, and we'll explain everything we find in plain English. No jargon, no upselling, just fast and thorough malware removal so you can get back to safe browsing.