Remove Search.hquickemailaccess.biz (Removal Guide)

Search.hquickemailaccess.biz – an URL you might see once your browser gets hijacked by a potentially unwanted program

Search.hquickemailaccess.biz is a web address that can be set as a homepage of your browser seemingly out of nowhere. While the website can be accessed by anybody at any time, it is mostly related to browser hijacking – a process where a potentially unwanted application^[1] changes web browser settings without permission. In this particular case, the unwanted activity is likely related to the Quick Email Access extension or add-on.

The Search.hquickemailaccess.biz hijack occurs unexpectedly because most users do not install potentially unwanted programs deliberately but are rather tricked into doing so during the installation of freeware. Once installed, the app would change the homepage and new tab address to hxxps://search.hquickemailaccess.biz and redirect all search results to Yahoo, inserting sponsored links and ads in the process. In the background, users who have the extension installed would be subjected to data tracking, which is later shared with affiliates and other third-parties for marketing purposes.

Name	Search.hquickemailaccess.biz
Type	Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program
IP address	52.22.109.21
Related	Search.emailaccessonline.com, Search.hemailaccessonline.com
Distribution	While browser-hijacking apps may be installed deliberately, they are mostly distributed via software bundles or deceptive ads/fake updates
Symptoms	Quick Email Access extension or application is installed on the system/browser; homepage and new tab address are set to Search.hquickemailaccess.biz; all search results are redirected to Yahoo; search results are filled with sponsored links and ads
Risks	While browser hijackers are not considered to be very dangerous, its prolonged usage (or the presence there of) might indicate/result in malware infections. Also, due to altered search results, users might find it difficult to find relevant information online
Removal	You can uninstall potentially unwanted programs by following the manual guide below or by scanning the computer with powerful anti-malware
Optional steps	Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings. To revert these changes and remediate the OS, perform a full system scan with Fortect Intego repair software

Browser hijackers are not initially considered a major security threat by industry experts, but rather more as a nuisance. Nevertheless, there are several reasons why you should remove Search.hquickemailaccess.biz from your web browsers immediately – we explain why in detail.

First of all, some users might be calling it Search.hquickemailaccess.biz virus due to unexpected appearance on the browser. While this term is technically not correct (viruses and infect other applications in order to spread), it has some merit. The reason why so many users find the app seemingly out of nowhere lies within its distribution technique, which is known as software bundling. This is the main reason which results in the installation without direct permission.

Regardless of whether you installed the PUP deliberately or not, the infection symptoms can be seen immediately:

Search.hquickemailaccess.biz is set as your homepage and new tab address;
Quick Email Access extension installed on your web browser;
Unknown extensions or applications installed on your system;
All searches are redirected to search.yahoo.com and are filled with ads/sponsored links;
Overall increased amount of advertisements.

While the visible browser hijacker behavior might seem annoying and intrusive, it is by far the least damaging. Just like any other program of this type, it collects a variety of data about you (IP address, ISP, technical details of your device, geo-location, timestamps, search queries, etc.) for targeted advertising purposes. This also means that all the information Search.hquickemailaccess.biz collects is shared with unknown third-parties.

It is important to note that Quick Email Access might not be why your homepage is changed to Search.hquickemailaccess.biz, as there could be installed apps on your system responsible for the change. Therefore, you should check the installed program section manually, as we explain below. Alternatively, you could simply scan the device with SpyHunter Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes Malwarebytes, or another reputable anti-malware.

The usage of security software is overall very important, according to novirus.uk^[2] experts. Without it, browser hijackers would be the least of your worries, as invisible and much more dangerous threats such as trojans,^[3] worms, viruses, etc., can cause significant damage to the computer and compromise your online safety.

Thus, after Search.hquickemailaccess.biz removal, if your anti-malware found something stealthy, you should delete it immediately. After that, we also recommend using Fortect Intego repair software that could remediate the corrupted system files.

Prevent unexpected PUP infiltration with these easy tips

Most users by now know that dangerous malware is distributed via malicious spam emails or injected after launching a software crack. However, many users are still relatively careless when it comes to installing programs from third parties. Since third party sources are generally considered to be safe (which they are, mostly), many users do not bother being attentive when they choose and install new programs, which is a huge mistake.

Software distribution websites often offer a bunch of free software for your disposal. The upkeep of the website and people that work on it does cost money, so everything needs to be monetized in another way. Of course, one of the most prevalent methods is advertisements and offers provided by various parties. Commission payments are typically provided per each install made.

Therefore, it is in the distributors' biggest interest to make users install as many apps as possible, even if they don't exactly want them. For that, installers that contain several applications are created, and optional components are often hidden from sight. To avoid being tricked by such deceptive tactics, you need to watch every step of the installation: remove the ticks from checkboxes, opt for Advanced/Custom settings instead of Recommended/Quick ones, watch out for misleading button placements and always read the fine print. Finally, installing a reputable anti-malware program would also help you to prevent PUPs.

Delete the related browser extension to eliminate the Search.hquickemailaccess.biz URL from your browser

As previously mentioned, the so-called Search.hquickemailaccess.biz virus is not actually a virus but rather a potentially unwanted application. It feeds you ads and collects information about you in order to monetize your clicks and sponsored site visits. Thus, Search.hquickemailaccess.biz removal is also a mandatory process if you want to ensure your online privacy and also computer safety – mainly because there could be other, more dangerous programs that came along the PUP from suspicious websites.

To remove Search.hquickemailaccess.biz hijacker, you need to access the settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or another web browser and uninstall the Quick Email Access extension. If you are not sure how to do that, please check the step-by-step guide we provide below. If, after performing these steps, you still see unwanted browser behavior, you should also check the installed apps on your system or perform a full system scan with reputable anti-malware software.

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 Search.hquickemailaccess.biz

Search.hquickemailaccess.biz – an URL you might see once your browser gets hijacked by a potentially unwanted program

Prevent unexpected PUP infiltration with these easy tips