What is GameSearchWorld browser plugin? — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The GameSearchWorld search hijacker is an example of a standard unwanted program; such programs are promoted massively nowadays. On this page you will see the detailed directions of “GameSearchWorld” hijacker elimination in various methods: using anti-malware software and also manual elimination procedure.
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Removing GameSearchWorld 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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GameSearchWorld – What is it?

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

However, the “GameSearchWorld” plugin is pretty ineffective because all such features are already embedded to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even professional users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific situations, this hijacker is distributed along with free tools.

GameSearchWorld hijacker - Gamesearchworld.com

GameSearchWorld Search Hijacker

Here is a short summary for the GameSearchWorld hijacker
NAME GameSearchWorld
Site Gamesearchworld.com
Hosting AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection Type Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address 172.67.161.19
Symptoms Changed search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behavior Toppdfsearch, Searchpdfconverters, Hidesearch
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is GameSearchWorld hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, GameSearchWorld hijacker is additionally fairly harmful for web browser utilization. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Gamesearchworld.com, and likewise changes your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, changing it to default with the mentioned sign).

Aside from aesthetic modifications done by GameSearchWorld hijacker, you might see that several of your search queries are redirecting to the unfamiliar websites, full of web links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you attempt to start Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are much more irritating than really destructive. The largest risk, particularly for individuals who have a considerable amount of secret information in their web browsers, is installed in information gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, as well as other activities are simply gathered by GameSearchWorld hijacker.

How to remove GameSearchWorld 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 very very easy to deal with. In most cases, they have a separate app that can be located in the list of installed programs. As a result of the certain distribution way of GameSearchWorld hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and erased manually. However, if you got GameSearchWorld in the bundle with a free applications, your personal computer might be contaminated with a lot more severe malwaretrojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware programs to deal with the GameSearchWorld PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of discovering and removing different malware, including named hijacker. However, severe malware, that might exist on your computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To avoid such situations, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all malicious programs 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 viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can spectate the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with 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.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To set the action for each spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious program. By default, all malware will be removed 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 is not able to be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

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

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing GameSearchWorld 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 GameSearchWorld?

Name: GameSearchWorld

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