Remove FreeIncognitoSearch Redirect — How to Fix Guide

FreeIncognitoSearch – What is it?

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

However, the “FreeIncognitoSearch” plugin is quite useless because all such functions are already built-in to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However in some cases even professional users are getting caught on such an attraction. In particular cases, this hijacker is spread along with free software.

FreeIncognitoSearch Search Hijacker

How harmful is FreeIncognitoSearch hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, FreeIncognitoSearch hijacker is likewise rather unsafe for browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its specific – Freeincognitosearch.com, and also modifies your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the specified symptom).

Besides seeable adjustments done by FreeIncognitoSearch hijacker, you may discover that a number of your search inquiries are redirecting to the uncertain websites, full of web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can have web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you try to open Google search page by force.

But all these actions are far more bothersome than really destructive. The most important threat, especially for individuals who have a great deal of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in data gathering functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and other activities are simply gathered by FreeIncognitoSearch hijacker.

How to remove FreeIncognitoSearch 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 delete. Most of the times, they have an independent application that can be found in the list of installed programs. As a result of the certain marketing manner of FreeIncognitoSearch hijacker, it can be simply tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got FreeIncognitoSearch in the bundle with a free program, your computer may be contaminated with a lot more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware tools to remove the FreeIncognitoSearch PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of recognizing and removing different malware, including named hijacker. But severe malware, that may be present on your PC in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To stay clear of such scenarios, it is far better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all unwanted applications on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malware, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can see the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is over, 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 virus. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

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

Deleteing FreeIncognitoSearch 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