The GoodbyeSearch search hijacker is an illustration of a standard unwanted program; such applications are promoted enormously nowadays. In this article you will see the precise instructions of “GoodbyeSearch” hijacker removal in various tactics: using anti-malware software and also hand-operated removal technique.
GoodbyeSearch – What is it?
“GoodbyeSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to browse some specific info, for example, about sporting activity events, make your web browser much more safe, enable downloading of any video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nevertheless, the “GoodbyeSearch” plugin is rather ineffective since all such features are currently embedded to your browser and/or system. Such marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific cases, this hijacker is distributed together with free apps.
GoodbyeSearch Search Hijacker
Here is a info for the GoodbyeSearch hijacker
| NAME | GoodbyeSearch |
| Site | Goodbyesearch.com |
| Hosting | AS14061 DigitalOcean, LLC United States, Clifton |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 167.71.248.231 |
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
| Similar behavior | Websafetycheck, Seekforsearch, Prefer |
| Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is GoodbyeSearch hijacker?
Besides its impracticality, GoodbyeSearch hijacker is also considerably unsafe for browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Goodbyesearch.com, and additionally modifies your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the mentioned sign).
Apart from aesthetic changes done by GoodbyeSearch hijacker, you may see that several of your search inquiries are redirecting to the suspicious web pages, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can include links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you try to launch Google search page by force.
But all these activities are more annoying than truly destructive. The major danger, particularly for individuals who have a great deal of secret information in their web browsers, is installed in information collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and other activities are simply gathered by GoodbyeSearch hijacker.
How to remove GoodbyeSearch 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 simple to deal with. Usually, they have an independent application that can be located in the list of installed apps. Due to the particular marketing way of GoodbyeSearch hijacker, it can be simply tracked and removed manually. Nonetheless, if you got GoodbyeSearch in the bundle with a free program, your PC might be contaminated with far more severe malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware tools to delete the GoodbyeSearch PUA and all other malware.
You can make use of Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and eliminating different malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, severe malware, that may be present on your computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and remove 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 malicious programs, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.
You can observe the detected malware sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious apps, you need to wait until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.
To set the action for each 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 need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be counteracted 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 displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing GoodbyeSearch 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.
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Wilbur WoodhamHow to Remove GoodbyeSearch?
Name: GoodbyeSearch
Description: GoodbyeSearch - 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 GoodbyeSearch?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with GoodbyeSearch (Goodbyesearch.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
