How to remove TopIncognitoSearch browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

TopIncognitoSearch – What is it?

“TopIncognitoSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some specific info, for instance, about sporting activity events, make your web browser far more safe, allow downloading of any video clip, and so on.

Nevertheless, the “TopIncognitoSearch” plugin is rather pointless because all such functions are currently built-in to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even qualified users are getting caught on such an attraction. In certain cases, this hijacker is spread together with free software.

TopIncognitoSearch Search Hijacker

How harmful is TopIncognitoSearch hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, TopIncognitoSearch hijacker is also considerably harmful for web browser use. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Topincognitosearch.com, and additionally transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, changing it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Aside from seeable alterations done by TopIncognitoSearch hijacker, you may discover that a number of your search queries are redirecting to the unfamiliar web pages, full of links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you try to launch Google search page by force.

But all these activities are more frustrating than really harmful. The most important danger, specifically for people who have a considerable amount of confidential information in their internet browsers, is embedded in information collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, as well as other activities are simply collected by TopIncognitoSearch hijacker.

How to remove TopIncognitoSearch 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 quite very easy to remove. In many cases, they have a separate application that can be spotted in the list of installed programs. Due to the particular marketing method of TopIncognitoSearch hijacker, it can be simply tracked and erased manually. Nonetheless, if you got TopIncognitoSearch in the package with a free program, your personal computer might be infected with much more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you use anti-malware tools to delete the TopIncognitoSearch PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. But severe malware, that might be present on your personal computer in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all malicious programs 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 checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

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

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

Reverting 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 counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing TopIncognitoSearch 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