How to remove WiseGhost Search?

WiseGhost – What is it?

“WiseGhost” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some particular details, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “WiseGhost” plugin is quite ineffective since all such features are already integrated to your browser and/or system. Such marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even skilled users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific situations, this hijacker is distributed along with free programs.

WiseGhost Search Hijacker

How harmful is WiseGhost hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, WiseGhost hijacker is likewise considerably unsafe for browser use. It changes your search engine to its specific – Search5.wiseghostapp.com, and additionally changes your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Besides viewable changes done by WiseGhost hijacker, you can discover that several of your search inquiries are redirecting to the untrustworthy websites, full of links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can have links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting surges if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

However all these actions are much more bothersome than really dangerous. The major hazard, primarily for people who have a huge amount of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in information gathering functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are simply collected by WiseGhost hijacker.

How to remove WiseGhost 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 rather very easy to remove. For the most part, they have an independent app that can be seen in the list of installed programs. Due to the certain marketing method of WiseGhost hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted by hand. Nonetheless, if you got WiseGhost in the package with a free applications, your system may be infected with far more severe malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you use anti-malware tools to remove the WiseGhost PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of discovering and removing a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, severe malware, that can exist on your personal computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all unwanted 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 malicious programs, 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 the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for every detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be moved 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 virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

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

Deleteing WiseGhost 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