If your web browser’s home page has unexpectedly changed to a search page you’ve never heard of, or if you find that the default search engine in your browser’s search bar has redirected you to a completely different search engine like Searchlee.com, you may be a victim of a browser hijacker.
Searchlee.com is a questionable search engine associated with browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). Its actual purpose is to boost traffic for partner websites and the content they advertise. Searchlee.com is created by Linkury Inc, an organization that designed a tool named SafeFinder.
The installation of a browser hijacker may occur accidentally. Most browser hijackers are usually distributed via bundles of free software, pirated or cracked software, torrent websites, and spam emails. Pages that contain a lot of flashy ads or pop-ups are more likely to be websites that could be part of a browser hijacker distribution network.
Searchlee.com Uses Popular Search Engines to Fool Victims
If you run a web search through Searchlee.com, it will display results generated by other search engines like Yahoo Search. Does this mean that Yahoo Search is somehow related to Searchlee.com? Not at all. It’s quite common for browser hijackers to piggyback on well-known search engines.
Browser hijackers associated with websites like Searchlee.com may display unwanted pop-ups, inject ads directly into the browser, and divert online visitors to websites that are heavy with advertisements and sponsored content. It may also collect data such as your web searches, IP address, and sites visited.
Since the main objective of Searchlee.com is to promote third-party content and redirect traffic, it is bound to expose you to unreliable websites that promote dangerous content with aggressive advertising policies. It also means that in a worst-case scenario, you may be redirected to malware-laced websites.
Deleting Searchlee.com
If a browser hijacker has infected your computer and your browser is redirecting to Searchlee.com, you may need to take the appropriate steps to undo the changes made to your browser. Remove suspicious programs or browser extensions, especially programs you don’t recognize. Reset the web browser to default settings. Clear out your browser cache and the DNS cache.
If the browser redirects persist, then it is advised to run a reputable anti-malware program to scan for, detect and remove browser hijackers, adware or potentially unwanted programs from your computer.
