Remove Live-Search Redirect — How to Fix Guide

Live-Search – What is it?

“Live-Search” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some precise info, for instance, about sport events, make your web browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nonetheless, the “Live-Search” plugin is rather ineffective due to the fact that all such functions are already embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even expert users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain situations, this hijacker is dispersed along with free software.

Live-Search Search Hijacker

How harmful is Live-Search hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Live-Search hijacker is additionally really harmful for browser usage. It changes your search engine to its specific – Live-search.xyz, and also alters your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Besides aesthetic adjustments done by Live-Search hijacker, you may see that a couple of your search questions are redirecting to the untrustworthy sites, full of web links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you try to start Google search page forcibly.

But all these activities are much more frustrating than truly dangerous. The biggest threat, specifically for individuals who have a lot of confidential information in their internet browsers, is installed in data collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and various other activities are simply collected by Live-Search hijacker.

How to remove Live-Search 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 generally quite easy to deal with. Usually, they have an independent app that can be located in the list of installed programs. As a result of the specific marketing way of Live-Search hijacker, it can be easily tracked and removed manually. However, if you got Live-Search in the bundle with a free program, your computer might be infected with much more serious malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you use anti-malware programs to remove the Live-Search PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and removing different malware, including named hijacker. But severe malware, that may exist on your personal computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antivirus program by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such situations, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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

You can observe the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm till the scan process. But to choose any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is over, 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 app. By default, all malware 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 cannot be counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

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

Deleteing Live-Search 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