VideoSearchUSA browser hijacker removal instructions

VideoSearchUSA – What is it?

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

However, the “VideoSearchUSA” plugin is pretty ineffective because all such functions are already integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain cases, this hijacker is spread along with free programs.

VideoSearchUSA Search Hijacker

How harmful is VideoSearchUSA hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, VideoSearchUSA hijacker is also fairly unsafe for browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Videosearchusa.com, and likewise alters your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, changing it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Besides aesthetic alterations done by VideoSearchUSA hijacker, you may discover that a number of your search questions are redirecting to the unfamiliar websites, full of web links and advertisements – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can include web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you attempt to open Google search page forcibly.

But all these actions are more irritating than really harmful. The main hazard, especially for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in information collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, and various other activities are easily collected by VideoSearchUSA hijacker.

How to remove VideoSearchUSA 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 rather easy to delete. In most cases, they have an independent application that can be found in the list of installed applications. Because of the certain marketing manner of VideoSearchUSA hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted manually. Nonetheless, if you got VideoSearchUSA in the package with a free applications, your system can be infected with a lot more harmful malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you make use of anti-malware programs to remove the VideoSearchUSA PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and removing a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. But major malware, that may be present on your PC in the specified instance, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To prevent such situations, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all unwanted programs 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 viruses, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

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

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

Reset 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 intercepted 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 button, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing VideoSearchUSA 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