The OnlineSearch search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such applications are distributed enormously these days. On this page you will see the complete information of “OnlineSearch” hijacker removal in various methods: utilizing anti-malware programs and also hand-operated elimination process.
OnlineSearch – What is it?
“OnlineSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to browse some particular details, as an example, about sport events, make your browser far more safe, enable downloading of any type of web video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nonetheless, the “OnlineSearch” plugin is fairly ineffective since all such features are currently integrated to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even professional users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific instances, this hijacker is spread together with free tools.
OnlineSearch Search Hijacker
Here is a short details for the OnlineSearch hijacker
| NAME | OnlineSearch |
| Site | Onlinesearch.io |
| Hosting | AS14061 DigitalOcean, LLC United States, San Francisco |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 192.241.228.85 |
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
| Similar behavior | Incognitosearchbox, Adfreevision, Media |
| Fix Tool |
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC
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How harmful is OnlineSearch hijacker?
Besides its impracticality, OnlineSearch hijacker is also quite harmful for browser usage. It changes your search engine to its particular – Onlinesearch.io, and also alters your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the specified sign).
Aside from viewable transformations done by OnlineSearch hijacker, you can observe that a couple of your search queries are redirecting to the unfamiliar websites, filled with links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you try to start Google search page by force.
But all these activities are more frustrating than truly dangerous. The major danger, specifically for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their browsers, is embedded in data gathering capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, as well as other activities are simply gathered by OnlineSearch hijacker.
How to remove OnlineSearch 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 almost always rather very easy to remove. In many cases, they have an independent application that can be located in the list of installed software. Due to the particular marketing manner of OnlineSearch hijacker, it can be simply tracked and removed manually. Nonetheless, if you got OnlineSearch in the bundle with a free program, your personal computer can be infected with a lot more harmful malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware tools to deal with the OnlineSearch PUA and all various other malware.
You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and removing a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, serious malware, that might be present on your personal computer in the specified situation, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such circumstances, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and erase all malicious programs on your PC 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 scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can spectate the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to perform 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 spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.
Reset 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 virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.
After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing OnlineSearch 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 OnlineSearch?
Name: OnlineSearch
Description: OnlineSearch - 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 OnlineSearch?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with OnlineSearch (Onlinesearch.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
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender
