Search Settings 1.2.2
What is Search Settings?
Search Settings application is a process that runs in the background and prevents other programs from modifying the web browsers search and home page settings. Currently it forces these settings to redirect the browser to Yahoo because for each search a user performs, the company receives a portion of paid search proceeds. This product is typically bundled with various Spigot installed 3rd party products including with most versions of the Spigot Toolbar (which is re-branded for various 3rd party developers).
About (from Spigot)
The Spigot Search Settings is an application which is part of the Spigot Toolbar. Spigot searchsettings.exe'spurpose is to check periodically your default search engine and restore it to Yahoo in case you agreed to set it to Yahoo in the first place and another application is trying to change it. It's easy to uninstal... Read more
Overview
It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. The main program executable is SearchSettings.dll. Typically most users end up uninstalling this just after a few days. The setup package is about 1.14 MB (1,198,080 bytes) when donwloaded.
- Loads into the web browser
- Typically distributed through a pay-per-install bundle
- May modify the web browser's home page
- Many experts agree, if you don't use it you should remove it!

Search Settings has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.
Program details
URL: www.spigot.com/remove-search-settings.html
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Search Settings\kb128\
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{0B1AAC97-8563-41D9-AE47-58E6A222F0E1}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 1.14 MB
Files installed by Search Settings 1.2.2
Program module: | SearchSettings.dll |
Name: | Search Settings |
| Search Settings IE |
Path: | C:\Program Files\Search Settings\kb128\SearchSettings.dll |
MD5: | d35be77297797f2dc4d08b7b04137e21 |
Additional files:
-
SearchSettings.dll - Search Settings (Search Settings IE)
-
SearchSettingsRes409.dll - Search Settings Localization Module
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- SearchSettings.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'SearchSettings Class' with the class of {E312764E-7706-43F1-8DAB-FCDD2B1E416D}.
Internet Explorer URL Search Hook
- SearchSettings.dll loads into IE as a URL Search Hook named 'SearchSettings Class' with a class of {E312764E-7706-43F1-8DAB-FCDD2B1E416D} in order to redirect unknown URL searches.
How do I remove Search Settings?
You can uninstall Search Settings from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program Search Settings 1.2.2, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Search Settings.
- If for some reason uninstallation fails, please install Microsoft's uninstall fixer utility which will help fix problems with programs that can't be uninstalled at support.microsoft.com.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Search Settings 1.2.2 you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
- When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win Vista (SP2) 72%
Win 10 1%
|
|
USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 74%
Keep it 26%
|
|
|
GLOBAL RANK
#34,696
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
Windows Vista |
78.26% |
|
Windows XP |
13.04% |
|
Windows 7 |
7.25% |
|
Windows 10 |
1.45% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
60.87% |
|
Windows Vista Home Basic |
17.39% |
|
Microsoft Windows XP |
13.04% |
|
Windows 7 Home Premium |
7.25% |
|
Windows 10 Home |
1.45% |
|
Geography
35.80% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
United States |
35.80% |
Germany |
19.75% |
France |
9.88% |
Brazil |
3.70% |
Canada |
3.70% |
United Kingdom |
3.70% |
Portugal |
3.70% |
Australia |
2.47% |
Spain |
2.47% |
Austria |
1.23% |
Belgium |
1.23% |
Switzerland |
1.23% |
Egypt |
1.23% |
Greece |
1.23% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
Hewlett-Packard |
31.15% |
|
Medion |
13.11% |
|
Dell |
9.84% |
|
Acer |
9.84% |
|
Toshiba |
9.84% |
|
GIGABYTE |
6.56% |
|
American Megatrends |
4.92% |
|
Gateway |
4.92% |
|
Sahara |
3.28% |
|
Sony |
1.64% |
|
Samsung |
1.64% |
|
Lenovo |
1.64% |
|
Common models |
Hewlett-Packard Compaq Pr... |
3.08% |
|
HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... |
3.08% |
|
HP-Pavilion GN553AA-ABA m... |
3.08% |
|
MEDION WIM2180 |
3.08% |
|
MEDIONPC MS-7502 |
3.08% |
|
MEDIONPC MS-7204 |
1.54% |
|
About (from Spigot, Inc.)
Keep your customers coming back and delight them with contextually relevant content and applications.
Publisher URL: www.spigot.com