How to remove Secure Search Bar

What is Secure Search Bar

Secure Search Bar is malicious browser extension, that adds search bar to the top of browser windows in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. If user tries to type query in search box, it redirects to securesurf.biz, which then leads to plusnetwork.com. It also generates random ads and redirects, when users surf internet. Secure Search Bar mostly comes as add-on, but sometimes it can be malicious program module or shortcut hijack. This toolbar is categorized as potentially unwanted program and it is recommended to remove it as soon as possible. We prepared this guide to remove Secure Search Bar from browsers in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and XP.

How Secure Search Bar infected your PC

Secure Search Bar can infect computer when users install new programs. Installers of toolbars or hijackers are integrated inside the installers or downloaders of third party legal programs. Only attentive users spot the step where to decline installation of unwanted software. 90% of users just click through the process of installation quickly. In this case, we can recommend SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware, that has Secure Search Bar in the database and can remove existing infection or prevent new one.

Alternative Removal Tool

To remove Secure Search Bar completely, we recommend you to use Norton Antivirus from Symantec. It detects and removes all files, folders and registry keys of Secure Search Bar and several millions of other adware, hijackers, toolbars.

Remove Secure Search Bar manually for free

Here is manual step-by-step tutorial for full Secure Search Bar removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of Secure Search Bar installer on operating systems with latest updates and browser versions.

Remove Secure Search Bar from Control Panel

To start removing Secure Search Bar you should uninstall it using Control Panel. It can be presented by different names – “Secure Search Bar” or “Secure Search ToolBar” or just “Secure Search”. It should uninstall correctly, however, we recommend you to use IObit Uninstaller to clean leftover items after uninstalling. Here are instructions for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Remove Secure Search Bar from Windows XP:

1. Click on Start button.
2. Choose Control Panel.
3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
4. Find Secure Search Bar.
5. Click Uninstall.

Remove Secure Search Bar from Windows 7:

1. Click Start button.
2. Then go to Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a Program.
4. Find Secure Search Bar and click Uninstall.

Remove Secure Search Bar from Windows 8:

1. Hover mouse pointer to the bottom-right corner to see Menu.
2. Click Search.
3. After that click Apps.
4. Then Control Panel.
5. Click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
6. Find Secure Search Bar, click Uninstall.

Remove Secure Search Bar from Windows 10:

There are 2 ways to uninstall Secure Search Bar from Windows 10

Way one

1. Click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Settings.
3. Click on the System tile.
4. Click Apps & features and locate Secure Search Bar in the list.
5. Click on it and then click Uninstall button near it.

Way two (classic)

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Programs and Features.
3. Locate Secure Search Bar in the list.
4. Click on it and then click Uninstall button above.

Cannot uninstall Secure Search Bar

In some cases Secure Search Bar won’t uninstall and gives you message that “You do not have sufficient access to uninstall Secure Search Bar. Please, contact your system administrator” when you try to remove it from Control Panel or “Access denied” error when removing Secure Search Bar folder and files. This happens, because process or service does not allow you to do it. In this case I will recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 or Malwarebytes or uninstall Secure Search Bar in Safe Mode. To boot in Safe Mode do the following:

1. Reboot your computer.
2. While it starts booting press F8 button.
3. This will open Advanced Boot Options menu.
4. Choose Safe Mode and wait until Windows loads.
5. Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program and remove “Secure Search Bar”

>> See detailed instructions and video tutorial on how to boot in Safe Mode

Remove malicious add-ons from your browsers

Uninstalling Secure Search Bar from Control Panel often does not bring desired effect. It sometimes have browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove Secure Search Bar related extension from your browsers manually.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions/.
3. Find Secure Search Bar.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove them.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose Secure Search Bar.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.
5. Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

Note: There is no feature to remove browser extensions from browser in latest version of Internet Explorer. To remove Secure Search Bar from Internet Explorer, please, perform instructions for uninstalling program from Control Panel. To disable Secure Search Bar, please, do the following:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
3. In opened menu Manage Add-ons.
4. Select Toolbars and Extensions.
5. Click Disable Secure Search Bar.
6. Also disable other suspicious extensions from the list.

Opera Browser:

Generally, Secure Search Bar does not install in Opera browser however you can always double check. Do the following:

1. Start Opera browser.
2. Go to Tools > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
3. Find Secure Search Bar extension.
4. Click Uninstall button.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Reset browsers settings (homepage, default search)

Secure Search Bar installs search engine that hijacks your browsers. Here is instruction to reset your browsers homepage, newtab and search engine to default values.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings/.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset browser settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Reset Firefox… button.
4. Click Reset Firefox to confirm.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
3. In opened menu choose Internet options.
4. Click Advanced tab.
5. Click Reset button.
6. Choose Delete personal settings and click Reset.

Opera Browser:

1. Close Opera and open command prompt from the start menu.
2. Type following command del %AppData%\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini
3. Start Opera.

Alternative way to remove adware browser extensions and reset browser settings

For safe and effective browser extension removal use avast! Browser Cleanup utility. Run it with administrator privileges and remove all extensions with bad rating including related to Secure Search Bar. You can also reset your browser settings for each of your browsers: Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox.

Cleaning browsers shortcuts

You can clean your browser shortcuts manually right-clicking on your browser icon, choosing “Properties” and removing hijacker address from “Target” field (leave just the path to your browser). However it is easier to use free Shortcut Cleaner from BleepingComputer. Download it here – its FREE:

Final tips

Be careful surfing the internet and downloading software, as programs like Secure Search Bar may become a real headache as they are hard to remove and break your privacy. To keep safe from such threats we recommend you always use antivirus and one of antimalware programs available on the market. One of the best anti-spyware and antimalware programs is SpyHunter 5. It can protect your PC from threats like Secure Search Bar.