Advanced Search browser hijacker (virus) - Free Instructions

Advanced Search browser hijacker Removal Guide

What is Advanced Search browser hijacker?

Advanced Search is a browser-hijacking browser extension that introduces ads to your searches

Advanced Search hijack

Advanced Search is a browser hijacker known for altering browser settings without user consent, disrupting the browsing experience significantly. It often modifies default search engines, homepage settings, and new tab preferences to redirect users to its own domain, typically advancedsearches.net or a similar variation based on the user's geographic location.

These redirects may lead to unfamiliar websites and expose users to an influx of intrusive ads, which can be both frustrating and potentially harmful. It is worth noting that even legitimate search services, such as bing.com, can be used.

One of the most notable traits of Advanced Search is its persistence. It commonly infiltrates devices through bundled software installations or deceptive online advertisements. Once installed, removing it can be quite challenging as its components are often deeply integrated into the browser's configuration, making manual removal complex.

Advanced Search is also known to integrate tracking mechanisms within web browsers, enabling it to monitor user activity, such as visited websites and search habits. This collected data may be used for targeted advertising or sold to third parties, raising serious concerns about user privacy and data security.

Name Advanced Search
Type Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted application
Distribution Fake ads, software bundles
Symptoms Homepage and new tab address hijacked by the extension; promotional links are displayed as top search results; intrusive ads on various visited websites
Risks Data tracking from various third parties, exposure to suspicious ads, redirects to questionable sites, installation of other PUPs
Removal You can eliminate the browser hijacker by adjusting your browser's settings. Scanning your system with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner security software will confirm that there is no adware or malware running in the background
Other tips Cleaning web browsers is one of the secondary things you should do after PUP/malware removal to secure your privacy. You can use FortectIntego to do it quickly

Distribution exploitation of browser hijackers

Users often discover browser hijackers like Advanced Search on their systems without knowing when or how they were installed. A common reason for this is bundled software installations. Free programs downloaded from the internet may include additional, unwanted applications hidden within their setup packages. Users who skip through installation steps without reading them carefully may unknowingly give permission for these extra programs to be installed.

Another frequent method involves deceptive online advertisements or pop-ups. These can mimic system notifications or offer enticing deals, prompting users to click. Clicking on such ads often triggers automated downloads, leading to the installation of malware, including browser hijackers, without further user input.

Typical ways users unintentionally install browser hijackers include:

  • Bundled software installations. Freeware or shareware often comes with hidden programs that install alongside the main application.
  • Fake ads and pop-ups. Clicking on suspicious banners or alerts can result in automatic downloads of unwanted programs.

In some cases, users may also encounter infected websites that exploit browser vulnerabilities to initiate downloads without consent. Peer-to-peer file-sharing networks pose another risk, as files obtained through these platforms may contain embedded malware.

Staying vigilant while downloading software or browsing the internet can help prevent such infections. Carefully reviewing installation prompts and avoiding suspicious links or ads can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering a browser hijacker.

Advanced Search

Dangers of potentially unwanted applications

Although browser hijackers like Advanced Search are not as harmful as some computer viruses, they still pose a significant risk, particularly if installed without the user's awareness. Their primary impact is disrupting the browsing experience by altering search settings, homepages, and other browser functions.

These hijackers often manipulate search results to display non-organic links, typically labeled as ads at the top of search pages. Many users unknowingly click on these links, mistaking them for genuine results, which can lead to unreliable or misleading websites.

It’s also common for browser hijackers to masquerade as helpful tools. They claim to provide features like “improved” or “secure” searches, using enticing descriptions to draw users in. In reality, these programs modify search engines and inject extra advertisements into search results. This strategy allows developers to generate revenue through pay-per-click schemes while offering little to no actual value to users.

In conclusion, while browser hijackers do not directly harm your system, they can cause serious disruptions to your browsing. The increased presence of ads and potential for third-party tracking not only affects user convenience but also raises privacy concerns. Despite their claims of being beneficial, their overall impact on the browsing experience is overwhelmingly negative.

Remove the browser hijacker

Although browser hijackers are not as dangerous as traditional malware, they can still be highly disruptive. These programs interfere with your browsing experience and often compromise your privacy by tracking your online activities. Ignoring their presence or allowing them to operate unnoticed can lead to further issues. Removing potentially unwanted programs is always recommended, as they provide no real benefit to the user.

Advanced Search, for instance, often installs itself as a browser extension. The first step in addressing it is to identify and remove the extension from your browser. However, it’s essential to check your system for more severe malware beforehand. Using reliable tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes can quickly scan your device for any hidden threats. Once your system is confirmed to be virus-free, you can safely proceed with removing the hijacker extension.

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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

  • Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the window's top-right).
  • Select Add-ons.
  • Here, select the unwanted plugin and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

MS Edge (Chromium)

  • Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  • Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Safari

  • Click Safari > Preferences…
  • In the new window, pick Extensions.
  • Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.Remove extensions from Safari

Internet Explorer

  • 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.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Don't forget to remove other leftover components

As previously discussed, browser hijackers like Advanced Search are known for their ability to track user data, a behavior they share with many other potentially unwanted applications. User information is valuable to marketing companies, and these programs often gather it using methods such as cookies, web beacons, and tracking pixels. Once collected, this data can be sold or shared for financial gain.

Even after Advanced Search is removed, these small tracking components may remain on your device. They often reside in web caches and can continue to operate unnoticed. For this reason, it’s crucial to thoroughly clear your browser caches, as this not only removes leftover trackers but also improves your overall security. Regularly performing this task can help prevent browsing issues like bugs and errors.

The simplest way to get rid of residual files and trackers left behind by unwanted programs is by using FortectIntego. This tool efficiently removes trackers, junk files, and any malware-related issues such as system crashes or application errors. If you prefer to handle this process manually, you can follow the steps provided below:

Google 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.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

  • Click Menu and pick Options.
  • Go to Privacy & Security section.
  • Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  • Click on Clear Data…
  • Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content, and press Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

MS Edge (Chromium)

  • Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  • Select Privacy and services.
  • Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  • Under Time range, pick All time.
  • Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Safari

  • Click Safari > Clear History…
  • From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
  • Confirm with Clear History.Clear cookies and website data from Safari

Internet Explorer

  • Click on the Gear icon > Internet options and select the Advanced tab.
  • Select Reset.
  • In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer
Offer
do it now!
Download
Fortect Happiness
Guarantee
Download
Intego Happiness
Guarantee
Compatible with Microsoft Windows Compatible with macOS
What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

How to prevent from getting browser hijacker

Do not let government spy on you

The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet. 

You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.

Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.

Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack

Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact – you can set this process to be performed automatically.

When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.

About the author
Ugnius Kiguolis
Ugnius Kiguolis - The mastermind

If this free guide helped you and you are satisfied with our service, please consider making a donation to keep this service alive. Even a smallest amount will be appreciated.

Contact Ugnius Kiguolis
About the company Esolutions