How to remove QUICKGO search home page?

QUICKGO – What is it?

“QUICKGO” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some certain info, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your browser a lot more secure, enable downloading of any kind of web video, and so on.

However, the “QUICKGO” plugin is quite ineffective because all such functions are already embedded to your browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular scenarios, this hijacker is spread along with free software.

QUICKGO Search Hijacker

How harmful is QUICKGO hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, QUICKGO hijacker is likewise quite harmful for web browser utilization. It changes your search engine to its specific – Quickgosearch.com, and also changes your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the specified symptom).

Apart from seeable changes done by QUICKGO hijacker, you might discover that several of your search questions are redirecting to the suspicious websites, filled with links and advertisements – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you try to start Google search page by force.

However all these actions are more frustrating than really dangerous. The major hazard, primarily for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their browsers, is installed in information gathering capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, and various other activities are easily gathered by QUICKGO hijacker.

How to remove QUICKGO 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 usually very easy to remove. Most of the times, they have a separate app that can be found in the list of installed software. Because of the specific marketing method of QUICKGO hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and deleted manually. Nevertheless, if you got QUICKGO in the package with a free applications, your PC can be infected with a lot more serious malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you make use of anti-malware tools to delete the QUICKGO PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of recognizing and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, serious malware, that might be present on your personal computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by editing the Group Policies. To keep away from such circumstances, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all malicious programs 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 programs, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious apps, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

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

Reset browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any malware, 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 QUICKGO 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