Search.BearShare.com – the search engine that should be avoided
Search.BearShare.com is a questionable search engine developed by Musiclab, LLC. This program is usually promoted in software bundles and might hijack the system silently during installation of freeware or shareware. Once inside, it might alter targeted browser’s settings and set its domain as default search engine or startup page. In order to strengthen its persistence, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) might modify shortcuts or Windows Registry and install helper objects. Thus, Search.BearShare.com removal might be complicated without additional software. If this search engine hijacked your browser, you should not wait until it starts delivering targeted ads[1] or initiates redirects to suspicious websites. It’s better to run a full system scan with FortectIntego or another reputable anti-malware program and make sure that so-called Search.BearShare.com virus is removed from the device entirely.

Search.BearShare.com is available not only in English but Spanish, Deutsch, and other languages. It also offers to search for information not only on a regular web, images, videos, news and maps categories but also in shopping, translation and recipes section. What is more, it also has two buttons that are supposed to allow users to choose in which database search engine should look up for the results. While “Web Search” button redirects searches to ask.com, “BearShare Search” button seems to be inactive. During our research, BearShare did not provide any links in the results page. Thus, this tool is not designed properly and does not provide all functions to its users. It seems that the aim of this program is to promote websites that offer to play free games, listen or download music for free. We have some doubts about a legacy of these sites because of copyright issues. Thus, you should not trust or use services of these websites.
The last reason why you should remove Search.BearShare.com from your browser is unknown terms and conditions how this tool tracks and uses information about you. In the main page, you can find a link that should lead to the Privacy Policy. However, it’s inactive. Hence, it’s unknown what information this browser hijacker collects, whether it shares or sells aggregated details to third-parties or not. This information is crucial because inappropriate data collection may lead to privacy-related issues. Usually, PUPs collect non-personally identifiable information. Analyzed data allows applying behavioral marketing strategy and flooding web browsers with ads, pop-ups, banners and similar commercial content. It’s important to mention suspicious Search.BearShare.com redirect tendencies. This tool might deliver online ads that lead to potentially dangerous websites,[2] such as gaming, gambling or even adult-themed. As we already mentioned that it promotes music download websites that are also classified as high-risk sites. In these Internet sites, you might encounter bigger or smaller cyber infections. Undoubtedly, you should avoid visiting them, and the best way to protect yourself is to get rid of this search engine.

Distribution strategies of this search engine
Search.BearShare.com hijack is often a surprise for computer users. It seems that this website appears out of nowhere. However, there’s no magic here; it’s only incorrect freeware and shareware installation. PUPs often spread in the software bundles and installed silently on the device if users rely on Quick or Standard installation settings. These setups do not openly disclose about third-party software and install them by default. To protect your browser from hijackers, adware, and other undesired applications, you should always opt for Advanced or Custom settings. Following the installation wizard, you need to make sure that any third-party entries are chosen to install. Untick all ticks from pre-selected entries and do not agree to make Search.BearShare.com or another unknown tool as your default one. It may lead to hijacked web browser and other problems.
Instructions for Search.BearShare.com removal
We have mentioned at the beginning that the best way to remove Search.BearShare.com is to employ a professional anti-malware program. Indeed, it helps to detect and get rid of all hijacker-related entries and protect your device from cyber threats in the future. However, we are aware that not all computer users are willing to use additional software and prefer manual removal option. Thus, our team has prepared a detailed Search.BearShare.com removal guidelines at the end of the article. Please follow them carefully!
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

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

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

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

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

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

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

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

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

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

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

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

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

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

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

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