Remove FF Guarded Searching (Free Instructions)

Malicious websites aggressively ask to install FF Guarded Searching add-on

Image of FF Guarded Searching scam website

FF Guarded Searching is a suspicious Mozilla Firefox extension which is harshly promoted via guardedsearchingext.xyz domain. After the installation, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) might replace browser’s search engine and prevent users from reverting these changes. Additionally, it might display tons of aggressive advertisements.

As we have just mentioned, so-called FF Guarded Searching virus is being promoted via the compromised website which uses a malicious JavaScript code. Usually, users get redirected to this site when they visit potentially dangerous websites, for instance, adult-themed, illegal movie streaming or similar sites.

When users end up on the guardedsearchingext.xyz website, they receive a pop-up saying that Firefox prevented from installing FF Guarded Searching extension and gives instructions how users should allow its installation.

The malicious website also gives what permissions FF Guarded Searching malware needs:

Access your data for all websites;
Access browser tabs.

These permissions give PUP the ability to display commercial content on each website you visit, including pop-ups, in-text ads, banners and other types of online advertisements. Additionally, the program might trigger redirects to questionable sites.

Originally, FF Guarded Searching redirect activities are needed for developers to generate revenue from driving traffic to affiliate websites. However, security specialists report that this adware-type cyber threat might force you to visit phishing, technical support scam or even malicious sites where you can suffer from serious cyber crimes.

Therefore, installation of this malicious add-on should be avoided. However, if you accidentally install it, you might find problems with its removal. FF Guarded Searching scam is designed in a way that it might block access to about:addons tab. As soon as the user tries to access Firefox add-ons, the PUP will close it.

Thus, in order to remove FF Guarded Searching from the browser, you will need to run Mozilla Firefox in Safe Mode or reset the browser itself. At the end of the article, you will find detailed instructions how to complete these tasks.

However, you should also consider automatic FF Guarded Searching removal using reputable anti-malware software. We recommend scanning the device with Fortect Intego and after that resetting the browser to make sure that PUP is gone for good.

Imange of FF Guarded Searching virus

Malicious Firefox extension use aggressive techniques to force users into installing it

While the majority browser hijacker or adware-type programs spread with the help of software bundling, FF Guarded Searching hijack is not expected to occur in this way. As we have revealed in the beginning, it is aggressively promoted on malicious websites.

Researchers detected that guardedsearchingext.xyz is one of the domains that spread this add-on. Users typically end up on it when they visit a potentially dangerous website which triggers redirect to it. Even though users can close unexpectedly opened promotional website, these redirects might repeat itself.

This PUP might display a misleading page telling that “Firefox requires a manual update” in order to protect users activities online. It might also deliver fake prompt windows that ask for authentication by entering particular username or password. Obviously, users have no clue what credentials they should type. For this reason, they might be tricked that installing this add-on can solve the problem because malware prevents from closing this browser’s tab.

Though, if you cannot exit this page or close the browser, you should run Windows Task Manager^[1] by simultaneously clicking Ctrl + Alt + Del keys and killing Firefox process.

However, security specialists from utanvirus.se^[2] warn that downloading extensions, plugins or updates from such websites might lead to infiltration of more threatening cyber threats than PUPs. Therefore, you should never install unknown applications from redirect websites.

FF Guarded Searching uninstall instructions

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to remove FF Guarded Searching as an ordinary Firefox add-on. This potentially unwanted application prevents users from accessing the list of extensions unless they reset the browser or run Firefox in Safe Mode by following these steps:

Open Firefox and click the menu button.
Navigate to Help.
Click Restart with Add-ons Disabled… option.
It will deliver Firefox Safe Mode pop-up where you have to choose either Start in Safe Mode or Refresh Firefox options. Choose the one you prefer.

Starting in Safe Mode option will temporarily disable the extensions and other customizations you made to the browser. Thus, you should be able to delete FF Guarded Searching add-on. If you choose Refresh Firefox option,^[3] you will reset browser’s factory settings and save specific information.

However, you can also opt for the automatic FF Guarded Searching removal which allows terminating this suspicious extension with the help of security software. However, don’t forget to update your anti-malware tool before running a full system scan.

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.

How to remove FF Guarded Searching

Malicious websites aggressively ask to install FF Guarded Searching add-on

Malicious Firefox extension use aggressive techniques to force users into installing it