How to remove WebSearch browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

WebSearch – What is it?

“WebSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some specific info, as an example, about sport events, make your web browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any type of video, and so on.

Nevertheless, the “WebSearch” plugin is pretty ineffective since all such features are already integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. However sometimes even skilled users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific situations, this hijacker is spread together with free apps.

WebSearch Search Hijacker

How harmful is WebSearch hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, WebSearch hijacker is additionally fairly unsafe for browser utilization. It changes your search engine to its specific – Websearch.com, and likewise transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Besides visual alterations done by WebSearch hijacker, you can discover that a couple of your search questions are redirecting to the unknown web pages, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can contain links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you attempt to launch Google search page forcibly.

However all these actions are much more irritating than really harmful. The most significant danger, specifically for individuals who have a lot of secret information in their browsers, is installed in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited websites, as well as other activities are simply gathered by WebSearch hijacker.

How to remove WebSearch 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 typically very very easy to remove. In many cases, they have a separate app that can be seen in the list of installed programs. Because of the certain marketing method of WebSearch hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got WebSearch in the bundle with a free applications, your system may be contaminated with a lot more harmful malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware tools to remove the WebSearch PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and clearing away a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. But serious malware, that may be present on your PC in the specified situation, can disable the Windows antimalware program by modifying the Group Policies. To stay clear of such scenarios, it is far better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all malicious programs on your PC 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 scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

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

To choose 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 the viruses will be removed to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be counteracted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located in the Tools tab.

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

Deleteing WebSearch 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