Remove Nearbyme.io browser redirect

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The NearByMe search hijacker is an example of an average unwanted program; such applications are distributed massively nowadays. On this page you will see the precise directions of “NearByMe” hijacker elimination in different ways: using anti-malware software and manual removal process.
Nearbyme.io is the address (URL) of a fake search engine.

Nearbyme.io is the address (URL) of a fake search engine.

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Removing NearByMe 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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NearByMe – What is it?

“NearByMe” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some particular info, as an example, about sport events, make your browser a lot more secure, enable downloading of any type of video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “NearByMe” plugin is pretty ineffective because all such functions are currently built-in to your browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But sometimes even professional users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain instances, this hijacker is spread together with free tools.

NearByMe hijacker - Nearbyme.io

NearByMe Search Hijacker

Here is a short details for the NearByMe hijacker
NAMENearByMe
SiteNearbyme.io
HostingAS14061 DigitalOcean, LLC
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address192.241.229.243
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorHistorybuffer, Searcheeboo, Lightningfastsearch/
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is NearByMe hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, NearByMe hijacker is likewise quite harmful for browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its particular – Nearbyme.io, and likewise transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified symbol).

In addition to aesthetic alterations done by NearByMe hijacker, you might observe that some of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious web pages, filled with web links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can include web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you attempt to open Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are more irritating than truly hazardous. The most important threat, primarily for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in information gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, as well as other activities are easily gathered by NearByMe hijacker.

How to remove NearByMe 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 rather very easy to remove. For the most part, they have an independent application that can be found in the list of installed applications. Because of the particular marketing manner of NearByMe hijacker, it can be simply tracked and deleted manually. However, if you got NearByMe in the package with a free applications, your personal computer may be contaminated with much more dangerous malwaretrojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware tools to deal with the NearByMe PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and removing a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. But significant malware, that might be present on your PC in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antivirus program by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such situations, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all malicious programs on your PC 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 directories.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can spectate the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible harm till the scan process. But to choose 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 every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all the viruses will be removed to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reset 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 counteracted by any malware, 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 shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing NearByMe 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 NearByMe?

Name: NearByMe

Description: NearByMe - 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 NearByMe?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with NearByMe (Nearbyme.io), 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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