Cactus Search browser hijacker removal instructions

The Cactus Search search hijacker is an illustration of a basic unwanted program; such programs are promoted enormously these days. On this page you will see the precise guidance of “Cactus Search” hijacker removal in several methods: using anti-malware programs and also manual elimination technique.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

Removing Cactus Search manually may take hours and may damage your PC in the process. I recommend you to download GridinSoft Anti-Malware for threats removal. Allows to complete scan and cure your PC during the trial period.

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Cactus Search – What is it?

“Cactus Search” 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 assists to search some certain info, for instance, about sport events, make your browser far more secure, allow downloading of any video clip, et cetera.

Nevertheless, the “Cactus Search” plugin is pretty useless due to the fact that all such features are currently embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even expert users are getting caught on such a lure. In specific scenarios, this hijacker is dispersed together with free programs.

Cactus Search Search Hijacker

Here is a info for the Cactus Search hijacker

How harmful is Cactus Search hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Cactus Search hijacker is also really hazardous for browser utilization. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Cactus-search.com, and likewise alters your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Aside from visual adjustments done by Cactus Search hijacker, you may notice that a number of your search queries are redirecting to the dubious sites, filled with web links and advertisements – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you try to launch Google search page by force.

But all these activities are much more irritating than truly hazardous. The largest threat, particularly for people who have a considerable amount of confidential information in their web browsers, is installed in data collecting functions. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as other activities are simply collected by Cactus Search hijacker.

How to remove Cactus 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 often very very easy to deal with. Most of the times, they have a separate app that can be located in the list of installed apps. As a result of the specific distribution manner of Cactus Search hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted manually. Nonetheless, if you got Cactus Search in the package with a free applications, your personal computer may be infected with a lot more harmful malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware programs to remove the Cactus Search PUA and all various other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of discovering and eliminating various malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, severe malware, that can exist on your PC in the specified situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all malicious applications on your desktop with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize 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 hazard during the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to wait until the scan is finished, 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 malicious program. By default, all the viruses will be removed to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located 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 Cactus 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 :

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 :

For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :

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 :

If you use Google Chrome

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 :
   

Opera can be reset in the next way

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.

How to Remove Cactus Search?

Name: Cactus Search

Description: Cactus 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 Cactus Search?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Cactus Search (Cactus-search.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

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