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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jun 2021

How to remove Search-Results Toolbar

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Julie Splinters · Anti-malware specialist

Search-Results Toolbar is the annoying addition to the browser that gives no value

Search-Results Toolbar by APN is a potentially unwanted program. No matter that it is not considered malicious, we would like to encourage you not to use it. Why? It is one of the ad-supported programs that are ready to redirect your searches to predetermined websites while trying to increase their developers' income. In fact, we have noticed more questions and uncertainties related to the redirect virus. For example, this doubtful application (it has also been labeled as a browser hijacker) can appear on your computer out of nowhere. That's because of a suspicious distribution technique which is known as bundling.

Name Search-Results Toolbar
Type Browser plugin, hijacker, potentially unwanted program
Problems Search engine, new tab, homepage, other settings get changed to this domain; searches get rerouted to other sites, sponsored advertising services
Danger Additional pieces get installed on the machine and web browser, speed of the PC suffers significantly
Distribution Freeware installation procedures when software bundling is used lead to PUP infiltration
Removal Run anti-malware tool to clean the system fully
Tips for the recovery You should check if there are any problems caused by the virus damage with FortectIntego

All details related to this distribution method are revealed in the next paragraph. So, once this redirect virus enters the system, it aims to change your browser's settings without your permission asked. It typically changes the start page and the default search engine to get a chance to flood you with different kinds of advertisements.

Besides, you can also receive sponsored search results that are displayed just to redirect you to affiliate websites. In fact, the particular redirect problem is a common issue among PC users. If you are one of its victims, you should never ignore its activity on your computer.

Make sure you remove this browser hijacker from it before it leads you to the suspicious domain. To remove search-results.com or another questionable search site from your computer, you can use SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes, or other reputable applications. 

It is possible to avoid hijackers and other intruders

This toolbar can easily be installed on your computer voluntarily. Many people have already done that because it offers such features as easy access to Facebook, YouTube, and other popular websites, a search bar, and other things. However, next to these features, this program is used to make easy money from advertising.

The virus may also cause system slowdowns and unwanted redirects to affiliate websites. Moreover, you should know that this toolbar virus can enter your computer silently because it also travels around bundled with freeware, shareware, and other third-party programs. Such programs as Free Video Converter, PDF Creator, HD Video Codecs, Download Accelerator, etc. work as a perfect distribution mechanism for PUPs, so you should be very careful when downloading them on your computer.

If you need to install a questionable program from the web, you should check whether this program is safe enough. It is better to choose Custom or Advanced installation and be more cautious while installing freeware on your computer. If you have already been affected, make sure you take care of the removal properly. 

Search-Results Toolbar removal procedure

If your home page and a default search engine were changed to search-results.com without your approval, you should not waste your time. The same can be said about the hijack. If you noticed such unpleasant changes on your Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and other browser, you should restore them to their previous settings right after that.

If you are an inexperienced user, you should follow the Search-Results removal guide which is listed right below. Also, you can use one of anti-spyware programs to get rid of this browser hijacker. All of these programs have been tested by our security researchers, so we have no doubt that they can remove any threats from your computer.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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