The Air Search search hijacker is an example of an average unwanted program; such applications are promoted enormously nowadays. On this page you will see the complete guidelines of “Air Search” hijacker elimination in various tactics: making use of anti-malware tools and manual removal procedure.
Air Search – What is it?
“Air Search” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some special details, for instance, about sport events, make your browser much more safe, enable downloading of any type of video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nevertheless, the “Air Search” plugin is pretty pointless due to the fact that all such functions are currently 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 professional users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free apps.
Air Search Search Hijacker
Here is a short summary for the Air Search hijacker
| NAME | Air Search |
| Site | Quikbrowser.com |
| Hosting | AS14061 DigitalOcean, LLC United States, San Francisco |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 192.241.229.243 |
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
| Similar behavior | Search, Social, Instant |
| Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is Air Search hijacker?
Besides its impracticality, Air Search hijacker is also rather hazardous for web browser utilization. It transforms your search engine to its specific – Quikbrowser.com, and likewise changes your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the specified symptom).
Besides seeable transformations done by Air Search hijacker, you may see that some of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unfamiliar web pages, full of links and advertisements – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can consist of links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you attempt to start Google search page by force.
But all these actions are far more bothersome than really hazardous. The most significant hazard, primarily for people who have a lot of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in data collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited websites, and other activities are simply collected by Air Search hijacker.
How to remove Air 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 typically fairly simple to remove. In most cases, they have an independent app that can be seen in the list of installed software. Because of the particular distribution manner of Air Search hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and erased manually. Nevertheless, if you got Air Search in the bundle with a free applications, your PC might be infected with much more serious malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you use anti-malware programs to delete the Air Search PUA and all various other malware.
You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of discovering and removing various malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, major malware, that can be present on your PC in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and erase all unwanted applications on your personal 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 checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can observe the detected malware sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious apps, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.
To choose the action for every detected malicious 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 intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.
After choosing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing Air 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.
To reset Edge, do the following steps :
- Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
- After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
- Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
- In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
If you use Google Chrome
- Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
- In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
- Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
- 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 :
- 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.
I need your help to share this guide.
Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
.
Wilbur WoodhamHow to Remove Air Search?
Name: Air Search
Description: Air Search - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove Air Search?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Air Search (Quikbrowser.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Browser Hijacker
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender
