PremiumSearch

PremiumSearch is an application dedicated to the promotion of its associated premiumsearch.xyz search engine. It does so through intrusive actions that will modify specific browser settings, such as the homepage, new tab page and default search engine. As a result, the application is classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) and a browser hijacker.

As a consequence of PremiumSearch's actions, whenever users launch the affected browser, decide to open a new tab or attempt to search for anything via the URL, they will be taken to the promoted page inadvertently. Furthermore, the premiumsearch.xyz engine doesn't deliver unique results, as it lacks such functionality. It is a fake engine that redirects the user's search queries and shows results from the legitimate Bing search engine (bing.com).

According to premiumsearch.xyz's Privacy Policy, the search engine is currently not collecting any PII (Personally Identifiable Information) but it reserves the right 'to collect personally identifiable information from users in a variety of ways.' Meanwhile, it may be collecting various NPII (Non-personally Identifiable Information) including IP address, computer type, technical details, OS, Internet service information and more.

While PremiumSearch may show results from a legitimate engine, this is not always the case. Other fake engines are commonly observed to cause redirect chains that could pass through several dubious and shady engines. Ultimately, users risk being displayed a list of results injected with multiple unrelated sponsored advertisements or links to untrustworthy third-party websites.