What is GameSearchIt browser plugin? — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The GameSearchIt search hijacker is an example of a standard unwanted program; such applications are promoted massively nowadays. In this article you will see the precise guidelines of “GameSearchIt” hijacker removal in several methods: using anti-malware software and hand-operated removal method.
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GameSearchIt – What is it?

“GameSearchIt” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to browse some precise information, for example, about sport events, make your web browser a lot more secure, enable downloading of any kind of video clip, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “GameSearchIt” plugin is fairly ineffective since all such functions are currently embedded to your browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even qualified users are getting caught on such an attraction. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is dispersed together with free tools.

GameSearchIt hijacker - Gamesearchit.com

GameSearchIt Search Hijacker

Here is a info for the GameSearchIt hijacker
NAME GameSearchIt
Site Gamesearchit.com
Hosting AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection Type Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address 172.67.223.32
Symptoms Changed search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behavior Direct, Propdfconvertersearch, Inspsearch
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is GameSearchIt hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, GameSearchIt hijacker is additionally pretty hazardous for web browser use. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Gamesearchit.com, and additionally alters your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the mentioned sign).

In addition to aesthetic modifications done by GameSearchIt hijacker, you might discover that many of your search queries are redirecting to the untrustworthy websites, full of web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you attempt to open Google search page by force.

However all these actions are far more annoying than really dangerous. The largest danger, primarily for people who have a great deal of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in information collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited websites, and various other activities are easily gathered by GameSearchIt hijacker.

How to remove GameSearchIt 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 very simple to delete. For the most part, they have an independent app that can be located in the list of installed apps. As a result of the certain distribution manner of GameSearchIt hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted manually. Nonetheless, if you got GameSearchIt in the package with a free applications, your system can be infected with far more dangerous malwaretrojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware programs to remove the GameSearchIt PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and eliminating a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, severe malware, that can exist on your personal computer in the mentioned instance, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all unwanted programs on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize 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.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can see the detected viruses 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 finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To set 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 moved to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To reset 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.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing GameSearchIt 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. Reseting the Edge browser

  3. 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. The first step to revert Mozilla Firefox

  3. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
  4. The second step of Firefox restoration
    After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
    The last step for Firefox

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.

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.
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Wilbur Woodham
How to Remove GameSearchIt?

Name: GameSearchIt

Description: GameSearchIt - 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 GameSearchIt?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with GameSearchIt (Gamesearchit.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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References

  1. More information about PUAs
  2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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