4KMovieSearch ads: what it is and how to remove it
4KMovieSearch is a browser hijacker that redirects all search inquiries through a fake search site to show you altered search results with ads. When this potentially unwanted program (PUP) is installed on your device (either as an application or as a browser extension), all your searches go through feed.4kmoviesearch.com.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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4KMovieSearch ads: summary
| Distribution | Freeware bundles, fake Flash Player updates, deceptive ads, torrent sites |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of additional PUPs, malware. Privacy issues, financial losses |
| name | 4KMovieSearch |
| Type | Redirect virus, PUP, browser hijacker |
| Altered browser settings | The new tab, homepage, default search engine |
| Promoted fake search site | feed.4kmoviesearch.com |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 10 more facts
| IP address | 172.67.136.23 |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | Different search engine, ads in search results, slower device performance, redirects to questionable sites, modified browser preferences |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Name | 4KMovieSearch |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Domains | feed.4kmoviesearch.com |
| Ads shown as | Redirects through ad pages |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 3 March 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is 4KMovieSearch ads dangerous?
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
4KMovieSearch – won't find you any movies but alter your browsing settings
4KMovieSearch is a browser hijacker that redirects all search inquiries through a fake search site to show you altered search results with ads.
When this potentially unwanted program (PUP) is installed on your device (either as an application or as a browser extension), all your searches go through feed.4kmoviesearch.com. It doesn't produce any search results. This fake search site shows results from Yahoo, Bing, Searchlee, or other predetermined sources.
Browser hijackers get their name from making modifications to certain browser preferences, including the default search engine, new tab, and start page. By making these changes, 4KMovieSearch virus is able to redirect all search traffic through a site of its choice.
By doing so, it can record various browsing habits and show ads. Browser hijackers are often falsely advertised as tools that will improve the browsing experience and various aspects of devices. PUPs aren't as dangerous as malware, but they still pose threats to user privacy and security. Therefore, they should never be used.
4KMovieSearch browser hijacker and most others can gather various non-identifiable information, such as geolocations, used apps, search inquiries, visited sites, IP addresses, browser/device details, etc. This information is usually used to personalize ads.
If this info landed in the wrong hands, you might get in some trouble, but not as much as with 4KMovieSearch ads. These are usually deceptive, i.e., an ad for a "necessary" software update, or a breaking news story, might redirect you to portals with inappropriate, malicious content, including but not limited to:
In some cases, 4KMovieSearch redirects to these sites might appear out of the blue without you pressing any links or ads. Some of these sites might be harmless, but some might try to draw out private details, try to force into subscribing to push notifications or even download malware automatically through drive-by downloads.
That's why everyone should remove 4KMovieSearch, whether they downloaded it willingly or it ended up on their device unknowingly. To ensure that this browser hijacker is completely eliminated, experts recommend using trustworthy anti-malware software such as or should be used.
Following a successful 4KMovieSearch removal, you have to eliminate its pieces from the Registry and other core system settings and files. Manual deletion is possible but recommended only for highly-experienced users. If you don't consider yourself tech-savvy, you're better of leaving this task to a system diagnostics tool such as the system repair app.
- gaming,
- porn,
- PUP distribution,
- scams,
- gambling, etc.


From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Keep an eye out for additional apps when installing software from a bundle
Potentially unwanted programs can be delivered using many sneaky techniques, but our research suggests that the most popular PUP distribution method is software bundles.
These packs are usually downloaded from third-party software vendors, which gain revenue from promoting such software.
According to one report, PUPs were found in 62% of the top 50 downloads on one of the most common software vendor sites. There are two choices to avoid PUPs from software bundles. First, download all your applications directly from its developers, cutting the middle man out.
Second, if an app is available only with a bundle, select the Advanced/Custom installation mode. Only by doing that will you be able to deselect all other apps from installation. If you'd have chosen Recommended/Quick/Standard mode, all apps would have been installed because they're automatically preselected for that.

From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on 4KMovieSearch
- You can get rid of this annoying PUP by scanning your device with a compatible security tool
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
feed.4kmoviesearch.com
How to remove 4KMovieSearch ads
How to stop the 4KMovieSearch redirects
Work in this order and test a few links after each step, so you know which one was the cause.
Step 1: Check the browser's extensions
Redirects to
feed.4kmoviesearch.comon sites that normally behave mean something in the browser is sending you there. In Chrome openchrome://extensions, in Edge edge://extensions, in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially new tab, search, coupon, PDF or video downloader add-ons. The extension pages look the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Reset the browser if the redirects continue
If
feed.4kmoviesearch.comstill opens after the extensions are gone, put the browser's settings back to their defaults. In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while site permissions, the start page and the search engine are reset.
Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program installed in Windows 11 or Windows 10, so uninstall anything you do not recognise in Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Scan the PC if you downloaded anything from the ads
If you only saw the notifications and clicked nothing, you can stop before this step. If a notification led you to download or run something, delete that file, then scan Windows.
In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan, then choose Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and Scan now. The offline scan restarts the PC and takes about 15 minutes on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Mar 2021 · not reviewed since
Remove 4KMovieSearch browser hijacker before more PUPs are installed on your device
It's a well-known fact in the cybersecurity community that potentially unwanted program operators advertise one another.
Therefore if your device is infected with 4KMovieSearch virus, soon you might have adware, useless toolbars, or other PUP infections.
That's why you shouldn't hesitate for a second and remove 4KMovieSearch. Reliable anti-malware software should be installed on every device these days. It will be useful to eliminate this PUP as well.
All you need to do is update its virus database and perform a full system scan. A proper security tool will do the rest.
Below this paragraph, you'll find our free instructions for 4KMovieSearch removal from your browsers, as that may be needed in case the redirects don't stop. Afterward, please don't forget to fix your system files and clean tracking cookies so you could enjoy your device anew.
Questions about 4KMovieSearch ads
How do I stop feed.4kmoviesearch.com from opening?
Find and remove whatever opens it. Start with the browser's extensions page and remove anything you do not remember adding. Next, open the notification settings and take away permission from sites you do not recognise.
Then check Settings > Apps > Installed apps for programs added around the day the redirects began, and uninstall those. Restart the browser and test a few links after each step.
If feed.4kmoviesearch.com still appears, reset the browser, which restores the default search engine, start page and permissions without deleting bookmarks or saved passwords. Redirects that survive a reset in every browser point to a program in Windows, and a full scan is the next step.
Is it safe that my browser was redirected to feed.4kmoviesearch.com?
Landing on feed.4kmoviesearch.com does not infect the PC by itself. A browser does not run programs from a page without your action. The danger is in the pages that come next:
- some ask you to allow notifications
- some show fake virus warnings
- some offer downloads
- ask for card details
If you only saw those pages and closed them, nothing more is needed than removing whatever caused the redirect. If you allowed notifications, remove that permission.
If you downloaded a file, delete it unopened, or uninstall it if you ran it. If you typed a password or card number on one of the pages, change the password and call your bank.
Why does 4KMovieSearch show me ads?
Because that is its whole purpose. 4KMovieSearch is an ad redirect domain, and its operators are paid for every ad it displays and every click it gets. In this case the ads take the form of redirects through ad pages.
They are chosen by ad networks that accept almost any advertiser, which is why so many look like warnings or prizes. The ads are not a sign that your PC is broken or infected with something worse; they are a sign that something on it, or in the browser, has permission to advertise. Removing that permission or program stops them.
Is feed.4kmoviesearch.com safe to visit?
No. The site feed.4kmoviesearch.com exists to push visitors towards ads, and the pages it leads to include fake virus warnings, fake updates, prize scams and notification prompts. Visiting it once does not infect an up-to-date PC, but anything you click or download there is a gamble.
Do not enter personal details, do not allow notifications and do not call phone numbers it shows. If it opens by itself, close the tab and check the browser's extensions and notification permissions. Blocking the single domain helps little, because the operators register new names regularly.
Do I have to clean every browser?
Yes, if you use more than one. We saw 4KMovieSearch in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, and each browser keeps its own extensions, notification permissions and settings. Chrome and Edge share the same extension format, so one installer can add the same adware to both, while Firefox has its own add-ons.
Check every browser on the PC, including ones you rarely open. If you sync a browser with an account, clean it while signed in, so that the removal reaches your other computers rather than the adware returning from them.
How do I know the ads come from 4KMovieSearch?
Look for redirects to feed.4kmoviesearch.com. That is the trace 4KMovieSearch leaves, and it shows up as redirects through ad pages. Ads that appear on every site, including ones that never carried ads before, point to something on your PC or in the browser rather than to the sites themselves.
A quick test is a private window, where extensions are off by default: if the ads disappear there, an extension is responsible. If they appear even with the browser closed, the source is a notification permission or a program in Windows.
Can adware slow down my PC?
Yes. Adware runs in the background, loads ad scripts, opens extra tabs and contacts its servers, all of which use processor time, memory and bandwidth. Ad-heavy extensions also slow down every page, because they inspect and change it before you see it.
The effect is strongest on older PCs and when several adware programs arrived together. After removal, restart the PC and check Task Manager for anything still using a lot of resources that you do not recognise. Speed usually returns to normal once the ads stop.
I clicked on one of the ads. Am I infected?
Probably not. Clicking an ad usually only opens a page, and a page cannot install programs on an up-to-date Windows PC without your help.
You are at risk only if you then downloaded and ran a file, allowed notifications, entered card or login details, or called a phone number shown on the page. Delete any download and run a full and offline scan.
Change passwords you typed, from a clean device. Call your bank if you gave card details. If you called a number or allowed remote access, see the next question.
Does adware steal passwords?
Ordinary adware is built to show ads, not to steal logins, and most of it never touches saved passwords. The line is blurry, though. Extensions that can read every page could capture what you type, and adware ads sometimes lead to phishing pages that ask for passwords directly.
If you entered credentials on a page reached through an ad, change that password from a clean device and turn on two-step verification. Otherwise, removing ad redirect domain and clearing cookies is usually enough.
Will Fortect remove 4KMovieSearch?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For 4KMovieSearch, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Emisoft: 62% of the Top 50 Download.com applications bundle toolbars and other PUPs (read October 6, 2026)
- Google Chrome Help: Use notifications to get alerts (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)