ElementaryDataSearch

ElementaryDataSearch is a rogue piece of software that is classified as adware, possessing browser hijacker capabilities. After it infects a system, it modifies the browser settings, promotes the bogus safefinder.com search engine, and delivers intrusive advertising campaigns.

The ElementaryDataSearch application is usually distributed through questionable methods, such as being bundled with freeware or via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. This distribution technique also is used by other unsafe software such as ransomware and Trojans, making the ElementaryDataSearch application a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application).

Adware such as ElementaryDataSearch enables the placement of intrusive advertisements in the form of banners, pop-ups, coupons, surveys and more. This not only restricts the visibility of the users but slows down their browsing speed. Furthermore, such intrusive advertisements are often used to redirect users to unsafe webpages that can lead to further infections of the system with malware without the user's knowledge.

The browser hijacking capabilities allow ElementaryDataSearch to change the default search engine to the bogus safefinder.com. Bogus search engines provide legitimate search results rarely, so they redirect to Google, Bing or Yahoo. Through the redirects, however, evil actors can keep track of browsing data and collect information, such as geolocations and IP addresses.

To avoid infections with PUA's such as the ElementaryDataSearch application, it is recommended that you take extra care when moving through the steps of installing new programs if you found them somewhere for free, especially. Having a legitimate and updated anti-virus software is a step that also can save you a lot of trouble when browsing the Internet.