What is ShopSearch browser plugin? — Fix Guide

The ShopSearch search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such programs are promoted enormously these days. In this article you will see the complete information of “ShopSearch” hijacker removal in different ways: making use of anti-malware programs and hand-operated removal procedure.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

Removing ShopSearch 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.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Gridinsoft Anti-Malware 6-day trial available.
EULA | Privacy Policy | 10% Off Coupon

Subscribe to our Telegram channel to be the first to know about news and our exclusive materials on information security.

ShopSearch – What is it?

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

Nonetheless, the “ShopSearch” plugin is quite pointless because all such features are currently built-in to your browser and/or system. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However sometimes even professional users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific scenarios, this hijacker is dispersed together with free programs.

ShopSearch Search Hijacker

Here is a summary for the ShopSearch hijacker

How harmful is ShopSearch hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, ShopSearch hijacker is additionally considerably hazardous for browser usage. It changes your search engine to its particular – Myshopsearch.com, and likewise modifies your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Aside from viewable modifications done by ShopSearch hijacker, you might discover that several of your search inquiries are redirecting to the untrustworthy websites, filled with web links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can have links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you try to open Google search page by force.

However all these actions are a lot more frustrating than truly damaging. The major danger, specifically for individuals who have a huge amount of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, as well as various other activities are easily gathered by ShopSearch hijacker.

How to remove ShopSearch 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 simple to delete. In many cases, they have an independent application that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. As a result of the specific distribution way of ShopSearch hijacker, it can be easily tracked and erased by hand. Nonetheless, if you got ShopSearch in the bundle with a free applications, your computer may be contaminated with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware tools to deal with the ShopSearch PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and eliminating different malware, including named hijacker. However, severe malware, that may be present on your PC in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To keep away from such scenarios, it is better to utilize 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 malicious apps, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible harm till 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 every detected malicious 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 reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing ShopSearch 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.

How to Remove ShopSearch?

Name: ShopSearch

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

Sending

User Review

3.25 (4 votes)

Comments Rating 0 (0 reviews)

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender