How to remove Quick URL browser plugin?

Quick URL – What is it?

“Quick URL” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some particular details, for example, about sport events, make your browser much more secure, enable downloading of any video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “Quick URL” plugin is pretty pointless since all such features are currently embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. However in some cases even expert users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain situations, this hijacker is dispersed along with free software.

Quick URL Search Hijacker

How harmful is Quick URL hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Quick URL hijacker is additionally considerably unsafe for browser utilization. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Lp.apcy.xyz, and additionally changes your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the specified symptom).

Aside from aesthetic modifications done by Quick URL hijacker, you might notice that a couple of your search inquiries are redirecting to the uncertain web pages, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can contain links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting boosts if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

But all these activities are far more irritating than truly damaging. The largest risk, particularly for people who have a huge amount of confidential information in their web browsers, is embedded in data gathering functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and other activities are easily collected by Quick URL hijacker.

How to remove Quick URL 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 almost always fairly very easy to remove. In most cases, they have an independent application that can be spotted in the list of installed apps. Due to the particular marketing manner of Quick URL hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted manually. Nevertheless, if you got Quick URL in the package with a free program, your PC can be infected with far more harmful malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware programs to remove the Quick URL PUA and all other malware.

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

To detect and eliminate all malicious applications on your desktop with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can spectate the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to perform any actions against the viruses, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for each detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be removed to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted 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 choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Quick URL 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