How to remove GameSearcher browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

GameSearcher – What is it?

“GameSearcher” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some particular information, for example, about sport events, make your browser a lot more secure, enable downloading of any web video, and so on.

However, the “GameSearcher” plugin is pretty ineffective because all such functions are currently built-in to your browser and/or system. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even professional users are getting caught on such an appeal. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free tools.

GameSearcher Search Hijacker

How harmful is GameSearcher hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, GameSearcher hijacker is additionally fairly unsafe for browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its specific – Game-searcher.com, and likewise alters your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned sign).

In addition to viewable alterations done by GameSearcher hijacker, you can notice that a number of your search queries are redirecting to the uncertain sites, filled with web links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can have links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you attempt to open Google search page forcibly.

But all these activities are much more annoying than really hazardous. The greatest risk, primarily for individuals who have a considerable amount of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in information collecting functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, and various other activities are easily gathered by GameSearcher hijacker.

How to remove GameSearcher search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are often pretty easy to remove. For the most part, they have an independent application that can be seen in the list of installed programs. Because of the specific distribution way of GameSearcher hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and removed manually. Nonetheless, if you got GameSearcher in the bundle with a free program, your PC might be contaminated with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you use anti-malware programs to delete the GameSearcher PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and eliminating various malware, including named hijacker. But major malware, that can exist on your PC in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antimalware program by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such scenarios, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all unwanted applications on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malware, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can observe the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be removed to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing GameSearcher hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender