Planet Search Browser Hijacker Removal

Planet Search is a browser add-on designed to enhance users’ search experience. It offers additional features and functionality to improve search results. When installed, Planet Search replaces the default search engine in the user’s browser and becomes the primary tool for conducting online searches. However, it is important to note that Planet Search also collects data on users’ browsing habits.

Once Planet Search is installed, it automatically sets Planet search as the default search engine. This means that whenever users perform a search on the web, their queries are directed to Planet search. On the surface, Planet search may appear to be a customized search engine, tailored to meet individual preferences and needs. However, in reality, “Planet Search” often redirects the search queries to Bing.com, which serves as the underlying search engine.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

Removing Planet Search 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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Planet Search – What is it?

It is essential for users to be aware that while Planet Search promises improved search results, its primary function revolves around replacing the default search engine and gathering data on users’ browsing activities. This data collection aspect raises concerns regarding privacy and the potential sharing of personal information. Therefore, users should carefully consider the implications before installing and using Planet Search as a browser add-on.

The “Planet Search” plugin is pretty useless due to the fact that all such features are already built-in to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However in some cases even qualified users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific instances, this hijacker is spread together with free software.

Here is a info for the Planet Search hijacker

How harmful is Planet Search hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Planet Search hijacker is also really unsafe for web browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its specific – Planet search, and likewise changes your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Aside from viewable transformations done by Planet Search hijacker, you may observe that a number of your search inquiries are redirecting to the uncertain websites, full of web links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can include links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you try to start Google search page forcibly.

But all these actions are more annoying than truly hazardous. The biggest danger, primarily for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their internet browsers, is installed in information collecting capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and various other activities are simply gathered by Planet Search hijacker.

How to remove Planet Search 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 generally pretty very easy to deal with. Usually, they have a separate application that can be seen in the list of installed applications. Due to the particular marketing manner of Planet Search hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got Planet Search in the bundle with a free program, your personal computer might be infected with a lot more serious malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you use anti-malware tools to deal with the Planet Search PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender¹ – it is capable of discovering and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, serious malware, that can exist on your PC in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such scenarios, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase 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 viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can spectate the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every detected 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.

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 intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

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

Deleteing Planet Search 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. 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. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :


After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

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.

1. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender