How to remove GameSearchly browser plugin?

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The GameSearchly search hijacker is an example of a basic unwanted program; such programs are spread enormously these days. On this page you will see the comprehensive guidance of “GameSearchly” hijacker elimination in various tactics: making use of anti-malware programs and hand-operated removal procedure.
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GameSearchly – What is it?

“GameSearchly” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some certain details, for instance, about sporting activity events, make your browser much more safe, enable downloading of any type of video clip, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “GameSearchly” plugin is pretty useless because all such functions are currently embedded to your browser and/or system. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even expert users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular scenarios, this hijacker is dispersed together with free apps.

GameSearchly hijacker - Gamesearchly.com

GameSearchly Search Hijacker

Here is a details for the GameSearchly hijacker
NAMEGameSearchly
SiteGamesearchly.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address104.21.24.210
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorFreeincognitosearch, Pdfconvertersearchmedia, 24hsearch
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is GameSearchly hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, GameSearchly hijacker is also rather harmful for browser use. It alters your search engine to its specific – Gamesearchly.com, and likewise changes your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified symbol).

Aside from aesthetic transformations done by GameSearchly hijacker, you can discover that many of your search questions are redirecting to the untrustworthy websites, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting surges if you attempt to start Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are a lot more annoying than truly hazardous. The major hazard, primarily for people who have a great deal of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, and other activities are simply gathered by GameSearchly hijacker.

How to remove GameSearchly 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 pretty very easy to remove. For the most part, they have an independent app that can be found in the list of installed programs. Due to the particular marketing manner of GameSearchly hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and removed by hand. However, if you got GameSearchly in the bundle with a free applications, your personal computer may be infected with far more dangerous malwaretrojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you make use of anti-malware programs to remove the GameSearchly PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and clearing away a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. However, major malware, that may be present on your computer in the specified case, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To stay clear of such scenarios, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all unwanted applications on your desktop with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use 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 malware sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious apps, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To choose the action for every 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 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.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

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

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing GameSearchly 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 GameSearchly?

Name: GameSearchly

Description: GameSearchly - 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 GameSearchly?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with GameSearchly (Gamesearchly.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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