How to remove ProSportSearch browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The ProSportSearch search hijacker is an example of a common unwanted program; such applications are distributed enormously these days. On this page you will see the detailed guidelines of “ProSportSearch” hijacker removal in several methods: using anti-malware tools and also hand-operated elimination method.
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ProSportSearch – What is it?

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

Nevertheless, the “ProSportSearch” plugin is quite useless due to the fact that all such functions are already embedded to your browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even qualified users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific scenarios, this hijacker is dispersed along with free apps.

ProSportSearch hijacker - Prosportsearch.com

ProSportSearch Search Hijacker

Here is a short summary for the ProSportSearch hijacker
NAME ProSportSearch
Site Prosportsearch.com
Hosting AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection Type Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address 104.21.16.19
Symptoms Changed search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behavior Pdfconvertersearchnet, Searchinfonow, Smartsportsearch
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is ProSportSearch hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, ProSportSearch hijacker is likewise fairly harmful for web browser use. It changes your search engine to its particular – Prosportsearch.com, and likewise modifies your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Aside from viewable adjustments done by ProSportSearch hijacker, you may discover that a couple of your search inquiries are redirecting to the untrustworthy websites, full of links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can include web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you attempt to launch Google search page forcibly.

However all these actions are much more irritating than truly dangerous. The main danger, primarily for people who have a considerable amount of confidential information in their internet browsers, is installed in information collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as other activities are simply gathered by ProSportSearch hijacker.

How to remove ProSportSearch 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 fairly simple to delete. In many cases, they have an independent app that can be found in the list of installed applications. Due to the certain marketing manner of ProSportSearch hijacker, it can be easily tracked and erased manually. Nonetheless, if you got ProSportSearch in the bundle with a free program, your personal computer might be contaminated with much more serious malwaretrojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware programs to delete the ProSportSearch PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of detecting and eliminating various malware, including mentioned hijacker. But severe malware, that can be present on your personal computer in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To avoid such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete 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 malicious apps, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can spectate the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, 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 virus. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reset browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located 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 ProSportSearch 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 ProSportSearch?

Name: ProSportSearch

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