Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Why when I try to search on Google am I redirected to search encrypt

  • 11 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by rkm88888

more options

I go to Google and when I put in a search term, it redirects me to this site: https://www.searchencrypt.com/search?eq=RlJoK5%2BHU5QjBs2I6AHp0Q%3D%3D

I go to Google and when I put in a search term, it redirects me to this site: https://www.searchencrypt.com/search?eq=RlJoK5%2BHU5QjBs2I6AHp0Q%3D%3D

Chosen solution

rkm88888 said

Not sure if you want all this, but here is what I think you asked for (there is more I can copy if needed):
Extensions
Name 	Version 	Enabled 	ID
Application Update Service Helper	2.0	true	[email protected]
Firefox Screenshots	6.6.0	true	[email protected]
Follow-on Search Telemetry	0.9.1	true	[email protected]
Multi-process staged rollout	1.85	true	[email protected]
Pocket	1.0.5	true	[email protected]
Search Encrypt	0.2.4	true	@searchencrypt
Shield Recipe Client	1.0.0	true	[email protected]
Web Compat	1.1	true	[email protected]

Hi rkm88888,

That's the part I wanted, not the other stuff. As you can see, there is an extension named Search Encrypt listed there which you need to remove. If you did not see it on the Add-ons page when you checked before, you may need to go into Firefox's Safe Mode to remove it. Here's how:

You can restart Firefox in its Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

A small dialog should appear with two buttons. Click "Start in Safe Mode" -- don't click Refresh.

Now when Firefox starts up, go back to the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. Then find Search Encrypt on the right side and click its Remove button. That likely will take effect after you exit out of Firefox and start it up normally.

If there's no Remove button: Unfortunately, the extension was installed into a shared location so it will need to be removed manually. Researching the shared location is a bit of a process, so I'll come back to that if needed.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (11)

more options

Hi   ! Unfortunately you've got malware   -   searchencrypt.com   is a browser hijacker, which you need to get rid of.

Go to the 3-bar menu => Addons => and look for any unfamiliar or suspicious looking extensions, like e.g.:

SafeSearch Incognito SearchAssist Incognito

When you find any :   remove them.

Do the same in Windows' Control Panel => Programs.

However :   most malware will be 'hiding' somewhere , so let's run malware scans :

Further information can be found in this article :
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware?cache=no

Run most or all of the listed malware scanners.
They all work differently   -   what one program doesn't pick up, the other might.

Also see : https://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-www-searchencrypt-com/

more options

I loaded a Malware blocker as suggested and it worked partially, but I still can't get to Google. It won't allow me to go the blocked site, but I can 't get to Google either. Any other suggestions?

here is the error message I got:

Secure Connection Failed

An error occurred during a connection to www.searchencrypt.com. SSL received a record that exceeded the maximum permissible length. Error code: SSL_ERROR_RX_RECORD_TOO_LONG

   The page you are trying to view cannot be shown because the authenticity of the received data could not be verified.
   Please contact the website owners to inform them of this problem.
more options

Your latest error message is still on the unwanted site.

Sometimes the human mind works better than anti-malware tools. You need to bring your powers of skepticism to the task.

Here's my suggested procedure for tracking down and cleaning up bad add-ons and other hijackers. This duplicates much of the advice you saw before, but if you skipped some things or didn't view the listings the same way, please work through it AS WRITTEN.

(1) Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program.

After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help surface undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Be suspicious of everything you do not recognize/remember, as malware often uses important or innocent sounding names to discourage you from removing it.

Take out as much trash as possible here. If you're not sure, feel free to post program names or a screenshot of the list.

(2) Open Firefox's Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste
    firefox.exe "about:addons"

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions; the troublemaker might not be obvious from its name. All Mozilla-installed extensions are hidden from this page, so whatever you see here is your choice and your responsibility to enable, disable, or remove.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?

(3) You can search for remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article:Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.

(4) Then finally if needed:

Success?

more options

I have tried everything suggested, but I still have the same issue when I am putting in a Google Search term, I am redirected to SearchEncrypt. This only seems to be the case in Firefox. I can search in Chrome and it seems to work correctly. Any other ideas?

Thank you!

more options

What extensions do you have? You can copy/paste a list from the Troubleshooting Information page. It will be longer than you expect because it includes hidden Mozilla extensions among the ones you've installed yourself. So to get to that page, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

Scroll down to the Extensions heading, then you can select from there through the end of the following table and copy it (either Ctrl+c or right-click > Copy), then paste into a reply here. It will be messy, but we're used to it.

(Another way to select a large section of a page is to double-click the Extensions heading to select it, then scroll down and Shift+click just the Graphics heading.)

more options

You will undoubtedly have done this, but just in case :

3-bar menu => Options => Security => under the 'General' tab :

Please, make sure that everything is checked.

more options

Not sure if you want all this, but here is what I think you asked for (there is more I can copy if needed):

Extensions Name Version Enabled ID Application Update Service Helper 2.0 true [email protected] Firefox Screenshots 6.6.0 true [email protected] Follow-on Search Telemetry 0.9.1 true [email protected] Multi-process staged rollout 1.85 true [email protected] Pocket 1.0.5 true [email protected] Search Encrypt 0.2.4 true @searchencrypt Shield Recipe Client 1.0.0 true [email protected] Web Compat 1.1 true [email protected] Graphics Features Compositing Direct3D 11 Asynchronous Pan/Zoom none WebGL 1 Driver WSI Info EGL_VENDOR: Google Inc. (adapter LUID: 0000000000008cdf) EGL_VERSION: 1.4 (ANGLE 2.1.0.2a250c8a0e15) EGL_EXTENSIONS: EGL_EXT_create_context_robustness EGL_ANGLE_d3d_share_handle_client_buffer EGL_ANGLE_d3d_texture_client_buffer EGL_ANGLE_surface_d3d_texture_2d_share_handle EGL_ANGLE_query_surface_pointer EGL_ANGLE_window_fixed_size EGL_ANGLE_keyed_mutex EGL_ANGLE_surface_orientation EGL_NV_post_sub_buffer EGL_KHR_create_context EGL_EXT_device_query EGL_KHR_image EGL_KHR_image_base EGL_KHR_gl_texture_2D_image EGL_KHR_gl_texture_cubemap_image EGL_KHR_gl_renderbuffer_image EGL_KHR_get_all_proc_addresses EGL_KHR_stream EGL_KHR_stream_consumer_gltexture EGL_NV_stream_consumer_gltexture_yuv EGL_ANGLE_flexible_surface_compatibility EGL_ANGLE_create_context_webgl_compatibility EGL_CHROMIUM_create_context_bind_generates_resource EGL_EXTENSIONS(nullptr): EGL_EXT_client_extensions EGL_EXT_platform_base EGL_EXT_platform_device EGL_ANGLE_platform_angle EGL_ANGLE_platform_angle_d3d EGL_ANGLE_device_creation EGL_ANGLE_device_creation_d3d11 EGL_ANGLE_experimental_present_path EGL_KHR_client_get_all_proc_addresses WebGL 1 Driver Renderer Google Inc. -- ANGLE (Intel(R) HD Graphics Family Direct3D11 vs_4_1 ps_4_1) WebGL 1 Driver Version OpenGL ES 2.0 (ANGLE 2.1.0.2a250c8a0e15) WebGL 1 Driver Extensions GL_ANGLE_depth_texture GL_ANGLE_framebuffer_blit GL_ANGLE_framebuffer_multisample GL_ANGLE_instanced_arrays GL_ANGLE_lossy_etc_decode GL_ANGLE_pack_reverse_row_order GL_ANGLE_robust_client_memory GL_ANGLE_texture_compression_dxt3 GL_ANGLE_texture_compression_dxt5 GL_ANGLE_texture_usage GL_ANGLE_translated_shader_source GL_CHROMIUM_bind_generates_resource GL_CHROMIUM_bind_uniform_location GL_CHROMIUM_copy_compressed_texture GL_CHROMIUM_copy_texture GL_CHROMIUM_sync_query GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_color_buffer_half_float GL_EXT_debug_marker GL_EXT_discard_framebuffer GL_EXT_disjoint_timer_query GL_EXT_draw_buffers GL_EXT_frag_depth GL_EXT_map_buffer_range GL_EXT_occlusion_query_boolean GL_EXT_read_format_bgra GL_EXT_robustness GL_EXT_sRGB GL_EXT_shader_texture_lod GL_EXT_texture_compression_dxt1 GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888 GL_EXT_texture_rg GL_EXT_texture_storage GL_EXT_unpack_subimage GL_KHR_debug GL_NV_EGL_stream_consumer_external GL_NV_fence GL_NV_pack_subimage GL_NV_pixel_buffer_object GL_OES_EGL_image GL_OES_EGL_image_external GL_OES_compressed_ETC1_RGB8_texture GL_OES_depth32 GL_OES_element_index_uint GL_OES_get_program_binary GL_OES_mapbuffer GL_OES_packed_depth_stencil GL_OES_rgb8_rgba8 GL_OES_standard_derivatives GL_OES_texture_float GL_OES_texture_float_linear GL_OES_texture_half_float GL_OES_texture_half_float_linear GL_OES_texture_npot GL_OES_vertex_array_object WebGL 1 Extensions ANGLE_instanced_arrays EXT_blend_minmax EXT_color_buffer_half_float EXT_frag_depth EXT_shader_texture_lod EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic EXT_disjoint_timer_query MOZ_debug_get OES_element_index_uint OES_standard_derivatives OES_texture_float OES_texture_float_linear OES_texture_half_float OES_texture_half_float_linear OES_vertex_array_object WEBGL_color_buffer_float WEBGL_compressed_texture_s3tc WEBGL_debug_renderer_info WEBGL_debug_shaders WEBGL_depth_texture WEBGL_draw_buffers WEBGL_lose_context MOZ_WEBGL_lose_context MOZ_WEBGL_compressed_texture_s3tc MOZ_WEBGL_depth_texture WebGL 2 Driver WSI Info EGL_VENDOR: Google Inc. (adapter LUID: 0000000000008cdf) EGL_VERSION: 1.4 (ANGLE 2.1.0.2a250c8a0e15) EGL_EXTENSIONS: EGL_EXT_create_context_robustness EGL_ANGLE_d3d_share_handle_client_buffer EGL_ANGLE_d3d_texture_client_buffer EGL_ANGLE_surface_d3d_texture_2d_share_handle EGL_ANGLE_query_surface_pointer EGL_ANGLE_window_fixed_size EGL_ANGLE_keyed_mutex EGL_ANGLE_surface_orientation EGL_NV_post_sub_buffer EGL_KHR_create_context EGL_EXT_device_query EGL_KHR_image EGL_KHR_image_base EGL_KHR_gl_texture_2D_image EGL_KHR_gl_texture_cubemap_image EGL_KHR_gl_renderbuffer_image EGL_KHR_get_all_proc_addresses EGL_KHR_stream EGL_KHR_stream_consumer_gltexture EGL_NV_stream_consumer_gltexture_yuv EGL_ANGLE_flexible_surface_compatibility EGL_ANGLE_create_context_webgl_compatibility EGL_CHROMIUM_create_context_bind_generates_resource EGL_EXTENSIONS(nullptr): EGL_EXT_client_extensions EGL_EXT_platform_base EGL_EXT_platform_device EGL_ANGLE_platform_angle EGL_ANGLE_platform_angle_d3d EGL_ANGLE_device_creation EGL_ANGLE_device_creation_d3d11 EGL_ANGLE_experimental_present_path EGL_KHR_client_get_all_proc_addresses WebGL 2 Driver Renderer Google Inc. -- ANGLE (Intel(R) HD Graphics Family Direct3D11 vs_4_1 ps_4_1) WebGL 2 Driver Version OpenGL ES 3.0 (ANGLE 2.1.0.2a250c8a0e15) WebGL 2 Driver Extensions GL_ANGLE_depth_texture GL_ANGLE_framebuffer_blit GL_ANGLE_framebuffer_multisample GL_ANGLE_instanced_arrays GL_ANGLE_lossy_etc_decode GL_ANGLE_pack_reverse_row_order GL_ANGLE_robust_client_memory GL_ANGLE_texture_compression_dxt3 GL_ANGLE_texture_compression_dxt5 GL_ANGLE_texture_usage GL_ANGLE_translated_shader_source GL_CHROMIUM_bind_generates_resource GL_CHROMIUM_bind_uniform_location GL_CHROMIUM_copy_compressed_texture GL_CHROMIUM_copy_texture GL_CHROMIUM_sync_query GL_EXT_blend_minmax GL_EXT_color_buffer_float GL_EXT_color_buffer_half_float GL_EXT_debug_marker GL_EXT_discard_framebuffer GL_EXT_disjoint_timer_query GL_EXT_draw_buffers GL_EXT_frag_depth GL_EXT_map_buffer_range GL_EXT_occlusion_query_boolean GL_EXT_read_format_bgra GL_EXT_robustness GL_EXT_sRGB GL_EXT_shader_texture_lod GL_EXT_texture_compression_dxt1 GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888 GL_EXT_texture_norm16 GL_EXT_texture_rg GL_EXT_texture_storage GL_EXT_unpack_subimage GL_KHR_debug GL_NV_EGL_stream_consumer_external GL_NV_fence GL_NV_pack_subimage GL_NV_pixel_buffer_object GL_OES_EGL_image GL_OES_EGL_image_external GL_OES_EGL_image_external_essl3 GL_OES_compressed_ETC1_RGB8_texture GL_OES_depth32 GL_OES_element_index_uint GL_OES_get_program_binary GL_OES_mapbuffer GL_OES_packed_depth_stencil GL_OES_rgb8_rgba8 GL_OES_standard_derivatives GL_OES_texture_float GL_OES_texture_float_linear GL_OES_texture_half_float GL_OES_texture_half_float_linear GL_OES_texture_npot GL_OES_vertex_array_object WebGL 2 Extensions EXT_color_buffer_float EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic EXT_disjoint_timer_query MOZ_debug_get OES_texture_float_linear WEBGL_compressed_texture_s3tc WEBGL_debug_renderer_info WEBGL_debug_shaders WEBGL_lose_context MOZ_WEBGL_lose_context MOZ_WEBGL_compressed_texture_s3tc Audio Backend wasapi Direct2D Blocked for your graphics driver version. DirectWrite true (6.2.9200.22164) GPU #1 Active Yes Description Intel(R) HD Graphics Family Vendor ID 0x8086 Device ID 0x0102 Driver Version 8.15.10.2353 Driver Date 4-4-2011 Drivers igdumd64 igd10umd64 igd10umd64 igdumdx32 igd10umd32 igd10umd32 Subsys ID 05891025 RAM Unknown Diagnostics AzureCanvasAccelerated 0 AzureCanvasBackend skia AzureContentBackend skia AzureFallbackCanvasBackend cairo Decision Log D3D9_COMPOSITING disabled by default: Disabled by default DIRECT2D Blocklisted; failure code BLOCKLIST_FEATURE_FAILURE_DL_BLACKLIST_g984 GPU_PROCESS unavailable by default: Multi-process mode is not enabled WEBRENDER unavailable by runtime: Build doesn't include WebRender Important Modified Preferences Name Value accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar 0 browser.cache.disk.capacity 358400 browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported 1 browser.cache.disk.hashstats_reported 1 browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value 358400 browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run false browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max false browser.cache.frecency_experiment 2 browser.download.importedFromSqlite true browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion 8 browser.search.useDBForOrder true browser.sessionstore.upgradeBackup.latestBuildID 20170628075643 browser.startup.homepage https://mg.mail.yahoo.com/neo/launch?.partner=sbc&.rand=f8miuq88a0rhq browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID 20170628075643 browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone 54.0.1 browser.tabs.remote.autostart.2 true browser.urlbar.searchSuggestionsChoice true browser.urlbar.suggest.searches true browser.urlbar.userMadeSearchSuggestionsChoice true dom.apps.lastUpdate.buildID 20161019084923 dom.apps.lastUpdate.mstone 49.0.2 dom.apps.reset-permissions true dom.mozApps.used true extensions.lastAppVersion 54.0.1 font.internaluseonly.changed false gfx.blacklist.direct2d 3 gfx.blacklist.direct2d.failureid FEATURE_FAILURE_DL_BLACKLIST_g984 gfx.crash-guard.d3d11layers.appVersion 54.0.1 gfx.crash-guard.d3d11layers.deviceID 0x0102 gfx.crash-guard.d3d11layers.driverVersion 8.15.10.2353 gfx.crash-guard.d3d11layers.feature-d2d false gfx.crash-guard.d3d11layers.feature-d3d11 true gfx.crash-guard.glcontext.gfx.driver-init.direct3d11-angle true gfx.crash-guard.glcontext.gfx.driver-init.webgl-angle true gfx.crash-guard.glcontext.gfx.driver-init.webgl-angle-force-d3d11 false gfx.crash-guard.glcontext.gfx.driver-init.webgl-angle-force-warp false gfx.crash-guard.glcontext.gfx.driver-init.webgl-angle-try-d3d11 true gfx.crash-guard.status.d3d11layers 2 gfx.crash-guard.status.d3d9video 2 gfx.crash-guard.status.glcontext 2

more options

And there its is :   Search Encrypt   (between 'Pocket' and 'Shield Recipe Client')   ! Please, remove it   .......

more options

Sorry, I'm not sure how to do what you are asking.

Thank you so much for all of your help!!!

more options

Chosen Solution

rkm88888 said

Not sure if you want all this, but here is what I think you asked for (there is more I can copy if needed):
Extensions
Name 	Version 	Enabled 	ID
Application Update Service Helper	2.0	true	[email protected]
Firefox Screenshots	6.6.0	true	[email protected]
Follow-on Search Telemetry	0.9.1	true	[email protected]
Multi-process staged rollout	1.85	true	[email protected]
Pocket	1.0.5	true	[email protected]
Search Encrypt	0.2.4	true	@searchencrypt
Shield Recipe Client	1.0.0	true	[email protected]
Web Compat	1.1	true	[email protected]

Hi rkm88888,

That's the part I wanted, not the other stuff. As you can see, there is an extension named Search Encrypt listed there which you need to remove. If you did not see it on the Add-ons page when you checked before, you may need to go into Firefox's Safe Mode to remove it. Here's how:

You can restart Firefox in its Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

A small dialog should appear with two buttons. Click "Start in Safe Mode" -- don't click Refresh.

Now when Firefox starts up, go back to the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a (Mac: Command+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. Then find Search Encrypt on the right side and click its Remove button. That likely will take effect after you exit out of Firefox and start it up normally.

If there's no Remove button: Unfortunately, the extension was installed into a shared location so it will need to be removed manually. Researching the shared location is a bit of a process, so I'll come back to that if needed.

more options

You are a genius. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!