LoveSportsSearch – a browser hijacker that redirects your searches and inserts ads
LoveSportsSearch is a browser hijacker that changes various browser settings, like the home page and the new tab preferences, and directs all search queries through a newly assigned system search engine – lovesportssearch.com. The new default search engine is a fake search site due to the fact that it doesn't generate any search results itself. It redirects all inquiries to search.yahoo.com.
The browser hijacker is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (or PUP for short) due to the stealthy distribution and installation techniques. Most PUPs are installed on devices without direct permission. On top of that, browser hijackers are capable of collecting browsing and personal data, including IP addresses, visited sites, search queries, geolocations, and so on. This compiled information might be shared with third parties for marketing purposes, thus resulting in privacy issues.
| name | LoveSportsSearch browser hijacker |
|---|---|
| type | Browser hijacker |
| symptoms | All search inquiries go through lovesportssearch.com to search.yahoo.com. The new tab and home page settings are changed to the promoted search engine. |
| Risks | Browser hijackers could redirect users to malicious third-party sites. Also, these PUPs gather and might sell the user's private and browsing data. |
| Distribution | Deceptive ads, Software bundles |
| Removal | Uninstall the hijacker either manually with our free guide at the bottom of this article or with the help of reliable anti-malware software |
| system fix | Make sure to run a full system check with the FortectIntego app to make sure there are no hazardous changes made to the system settings |
Although browser hijackers aren't defined as malware,[1] that is not to say that no harm might come the users' way. Apart from the fact that it might collect and then sell private and browsing info, it might redirect its users to various malicious sites.
This browser hijacker might be on your device in two forms, either as a browser extension or as software (or both). If you've installed this software and are no longer satisfied with it, or if you have no idea how it got into your computer, then remove LoveSportsSearch with our free instructions provided at the bottom of this article. Although, if you had to deal with extension elimination before, this process should not be too difficult for you.
Remember to scan your device with a trustworthy anti-malware software like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to make sure that LoveSportsSearch removal was successful and that no additional PUPs or malware found its way while you were using the browser hijacking application.
Since PUPs can make modifications to system settings, which may lead to unstable device behavior, experts[2] recommend scanning your device with a powerful system tool like the FortectIntego app and reverting any possible changes that the the unwanted app might have done.
LoveSportsSearch is not the only browser hijacker that stems from this family – its developers previously created almost identical apps known as ProStreamsSearch, HDMusicStreamSearch, TopSportsSearch, ProSearchConverter, and many others.
Most popular methods of potentially unwanted programs distribution
Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) can be spread using at least a couple of ways, but the most common distribution method is software bundling.[3] When downloading software, not from original distributors, users might end up with a software bundle, meaning that additional applications are offered with the original app.
These bundles might contain any number of PUPs, but our research suggests that usually 2 additional applications are offered. If the user chooses Standard or Quick setup, then all of these PUPs are automatically installed because all boxes opting in for the installation are preselected.
Users should always pick the Custom or Advanced installation mode because only then they can deselect all the pre-ticked boxes and evade PUPs from installing on their devices. Moreover, try to download software from legitimate developers, they very rarely use software bundling.
LoveSportsSearch removal tutorial for all devices
Although potentially unwanted programs like LoveSportsSearch virus isn't as hazardous as malware, it still poses a risk for its users. When using this browser hijacker people could become victims of cybercrime because of browsing and personal data collection and possible redirections to malicious sites.
That's why we recommend users to remove LoveSportsSearch from their devices before more harm came their way. We are providing a free guide on how to do it just below this paragraph. After you uninstall the browser hijacker, scan your system with reliable anti-malware tools to make sure there are no additional PUPs or malware on your device.
PUPs commonly insert themselves into the system registry and might change other core system settings, so a system tune-up is in order. Use powerful system repair or tweaking tools to get all the original settings/values back to their normal state.
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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